David loved to think and talk about God’s goodness. He was grateful both for God’s goodness and His mercy. In Psalm 23:6, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
David encouraged Israel especially the priests (the house of Aaron) and God-fearers to unite their voices in declaring that the Lord’s mercy endures forever.
“I called on the Lord in distress. The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.” Psalm 118:5
David found himself trapped by overwhelming problems with no clear way out. Then, he called upon the Lord. The Lord answered David by providing for him a peaceful and spacious place to grow. He was very grateful for God’s merciful intervention on his behalf.
“The Lord is on my side. I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is for me among those who help me. Therefore, I shall see my desire on those who hate me. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.” Psalm 118:6-9
The proper response to God’s goodness and mercy is to trust in Him more than you fear what anyone or anything else can do to you. Even princes cannot provide the security that God gives. Those who trust in God receive His help. [1]
“All nations surrounded me, but in the Name of the Lord, I will destroy them. They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me, but in the Name of the Lord, I will destroy them. They surrounded me like bees. They were quenched like a fire of thorns. For in the Name of the Lord I will destroy them.” Psalm 118:10-12
The Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, Ammonites, and other nations surrounded David’s nation and thought to destroy them, but David held up before them the Name of the Lord.
In similar fashion, when the disciples of Jesus encountered satanic activity, they rebuked the devil in the Name of Jesus and he fled before the Lord. In Luke 10:17, seventy-two disciples of Jesus reported to Him, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your Name!” In Acts 16:18, the Apostle Paul commanded a spirit of divination to come out of a slave girl “in the Name of Jesus Christ.” In Mark 16:17, the resurrected Jesus stated that one of the signs that would accompany believers is that they would cast out demons in His Name.
David repeats, “They compassed me about” two times. This shows how determined and persistent his enemies were. Even after suffering defeat, they regrouped and attacked again. He compares them to a swarm of bees—numerous, noisy, and dangerous. Yet like bees that die after stinging, their attacks ultimately led to their own defeat. [2]
In Matthew 12:28-29, Jesus told the Pharisees that He casted out demons by the Spirit of God. Jesus taught us to enter the strong man’s house (the devil’s stronghold) by the Spirit of the Lord and bind up the strong man and plunder his goods. By the Spirit of Lord we declare, “I bind you Satan in the Name of Jesus and rebuke you from this person or situation.”
David compared his enemies to thorns on fire. Thorns burn quickly and noisily. So it was with David’s enemies. Their anger flared quickly and died quickly. [3]
“You pushed me violently, that I might fall, but the Lord helped me.” Psalm 118:13
David’s enemies wanted to ruin him. In the same way, Satan constantly attacks believers, seeking to ruin us in one way or another, but the Lord is our helper.
“The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous. The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted. The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.” Psalm 118:14-16
Who was the Lord to David? The Lord was his strength, song and salvation. What were the righteous people of God talking about in their homes? They were rejoicing. God had saved them. He had done valiantly for them. The word “valiantly” means that God’s saving work on their behalf was far beyond what they expected.
David mentions “the right hand of the Lord” three times. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, sits at the right hand of God the Father. It is in the Name of Jesus we have the victory.
“I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death.” Psalm 118:17-18
God disciplined David but did not abandon him. In a similar way, though Jesus died on the cross for our sin, God did not leave Him in the grave or allow His body to decay. Death could not hold Him. David also believed that God would ultimately defeat every one of his enemies. [4]
David viewed the attacks of his enemies as chastening from the Lord. The word for chastening (יָסַר yasar) in Hebrew can mean to chasten with blows or figuratively with words. [5] David’s enemies acted out of hatred, but God turned their hatred into a learning moment for David. What others did to destroy him God used to make him stronger.
Much of David’s experience points forward to Jesus Christ. Many hated Christ without cause. Jews and Romans surrounded Him. Satan tempted Him. His enemies mocked and rejected Him. Above all, the Father allowed Him to suffer so that by His wounds we might be healed. [6]
“Open to me the gates of righteousness. I will go through them, and I will praise the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord, through which the righteous shall enter.” Psalm 118:19-20
The temple gates were called “the gates of righteousness” because those whom God made righteous entered there. Many understand the righteous gates as a picture of Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” In John 10:9, Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” Christ alone is the open gate to God.
“I will praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my salvation.” Psalm 118:21
Our purpose in God’s presence is to worship Him. This also reminds us to long for heaven, where we will enter God’s presence forever and praise Him without end. [7]
“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” Psalm 118:22
The rejected stone became the head stone. God raised Jesus to the highest place of honor. Christ is the chief cornerstone who unites believing Jews and Gentiles into one spiritual temple. He is also the foundation of our faith and the One who through whom God saves us. [8]
God highly exalted Jesus because He humbled Himself for the sake of saving others.
Jesus Messiah is the foundation stone of salvation. Yet the Jewish leaders rejected Him. They refused to believe He was the promised Messiah. They confessed to Governor Pilate, “We have no king but Caesar.” They threw away the Savior sent to them by God like a worthless stone. [9]
“This was the Lord’s doing. It is marvelous in our eyes.” Psalm 118:23
Among all the things that our eyes see, may the vision of the Son of God giving His life as a ransom for our soul always appear marvelous in our eyes!
“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
This verse can refer to the entire Gospel age—the day of salvation that God has established. It also applies to the Lord’s Day when Christians gather each week to celebrate His victory over sin, death and the devil. [10]
“Save now, I pray, O Lord! O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.” Psalm 118:25-26
As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds welcomed Him with the Hebrew words, “Ana-Yahweh” (אָנָּא יְהוָה) which we transliterate and say in English “Hosanna,” meaning, “Save, now!” [11]
Jesus is the One sent to save us by the Father. He deserves an enthusiastic welcome from us. He is truly worthy of our praise! We also pray for Christ to “save, now” lost souls among us.
Psalm 118:19-26 contain one of the clearest Old Testament prophecies about the suffering, resurrection, and exaltation of Jesus Christ. The apostle Peter directly applies this passage to Christ in Acts 4:11. [12]
“God is the Lord, and He has given us light. Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.” Psalm 118:27
God has given to us the light of truth and salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. The command to “bind the sacrifice with cords unto the horns of the altar” speaks of dying to self to save others. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. He removed our sins and gave us His Holy Spirit. Now, when He says to us, “Take up your cross and follow Me,” He means that we too should lay down our lives for the sake of God’s glory and the salvation of others. We do this by telling others what He has done for them, and by praying for them.
“You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You. O, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.” Psalm 118:28-29
God’s goodness and everlasting mercy came to us in the person of Jesus Christ. In Luke 2:14, the angels praised God when Christ came into the world, singing, “Glory to God in the highest.” [13]
David praised God personally, saying, “You are my God, and I will praise You.” Then, he invited us to join with him in praising the Lord. So, let us praise Him! “Thank You Lord for Your goodness and mercy. We praise and exalt You. Thank You for saving our souls and giving to us Your Holy Spirit. All glory, praise and honor be to You forever and ever. Amen!”
[1-4] Material developed, added to and edited for Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[5] Strong’s Hebrew & Chaldee Dictionary of the Old Testament
[6-10] Material developed, added to and edited for Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[11] Strong’s Hebrew & Chaldee Dictionary of the Old Testament
[12-13] Material developed, added to and edited for Matthew Henry’s Commentary
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