118:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good and his loyal love endures!
The author is unknown. The author may have been Moses, since Psalms 113–118 formed the Egyptian Hallel songs. Hallel means “Praise God.” These songs were sung during the Jewish festivals and on holy days. Psalm 113-114 were sung before the meal on Passover. Psalms 115-118 were sung after the meal. Jesus sang these songs on Passover with His disciples. This wonderful psalm is the last of the Hallel psalms; for this reason we know it was the psalm which our Lord sang with His disciples the night before His death.
During the Lord’s last Passover, the cup was passed around seven times. The last cup was the “cup of salvation,” or the “cup of Yeshua.” Jesus did not drink of this seventh cup. He said, “I’ll not drink this cup with you, I’ll drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” After this seventh and last cup, they “sung a hymn and went out.” This last hymn was Psalm 118.
The psalmist asked the congregation to give thanks to the Lord, because He is good. Jehovah possesses a loyal love for Israel, meaning that God loves Israel so much that He will never break His covenants with them.
118:2 Let Israel say, “Yes, his loyal love endures!” 118:3 Let the family of Aaron say, “Yes, his loyal love endures!”
The congregation of Israel was to respond that God’s loyal love endures. The Levites were to respond in the same way. There is a good chance that the psalmist was Moses. He would shout out verse 1. Israel would respond with verse 2. The Levites would respond with verse 3.
118:4 Let the loyal followers of the Lord say, “Yes, his loyal love endures!”
The “loyal followers of the Lord” are the Jewish Messianic believers who study and apply Bible doctrine. They were also to repeat in unison this same verse.
118:5 In my distress I cried out to the Lord. The Lord answered me and put me in a wide open place.
The psalmist was rescued from distress and placed in a wide open place. This may have been Moses calling out from the persecution of Pharaoh. Moses was taken to the desert and trained by Jehovah.
118:6 The Lord is on my side, I am not afraid! What can people do to me?
The psalmist was given a task to perform by Jehovah Himself. As long as he was performing God’s will, then he was immortal. No one could stop him from completing this task. The Lord Jesus Christ went to the cross without fear. Believers should study and apply the Bible at the deepest level. They will be given a task by God. They will be protected until this divine task is completed.
118:7 The Lord is on my side as my helper. I look in triumph on those who hate me.
Jehovah is on the side of the psalmist. If God is with the believer, then nothing can stop the believer from accomplishing God’s purpose.
118:8 It is better to take shelter in the Lord than to trust in people.
Many theologians teach that this verse is the Bible’s middle verse. It confirms that God (not man) is the Creator, Savior, Judge and eternal King.
The idols of the modern youth are rock stars, athletes, and movie stars who have little or no Bible doctrine. These rock stars, athletes, and movie stars possess the morals of the satanic world system. Promiscuity, adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, and materialism engross their lifestyle. Youth should be separated from these evil men and women. It is better to make the Lord Jesus Christ one’s role model.
118:9 It is better to take shelter in the Lord than to trust in princes.
Many theologians claim that this is the middle verse of the Bible. Everyone who is ever born has a choice of taking shelter in God or men. Since the broad road leads to destruction, most men decide to take shelter in other men. These men may be political leaders, religious leaders, business leaders, athletic leaders, entertainment leaders, or educational leaders. If man places his trust in other men, then he will be betrayed. Judas betrayed Jesus. Men will betray even a righteous men.
118:10 All the nations surrounded me. Indeed, in the name of the Lord I pushed them away.
Rome was a powerful empire which consisted of many tribute nations. They surrounded the Lord Jesus Christ and crucified Him. Once they executed the God of the universe like a common criminal, then their nation was lost. After 1,000 years of being a world power, Rome ended and never rose again.
118:11 They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me. Indeed, in the name of the Lord I pushed them away.
A little Jewish blind man brought down the Roman Empire. His name was Paul.
118:12 They surrounded me like bees. But they disappeared as quickly as a fire among thorns. Indeed, in the name of the Lord I pushed them away.
The Roman soldiers surrounded the Lord Jesus Christ like bees. They attempted to sting Him, but the Romans disappeared as quickly as thorns which are burned by fire.
118:13 “You aggressively attacked me and tried to knock me down, but the Lord helped me.
The Roman nation attempted to silence the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, but God the Father raised Him from the dead.
118:14 The Lord gives me strength and protects me; he has become my deliverer.”
Was Moses the original author of Psalm 118? Moses came from Egypt. Psalms 113-118 are called the Egyptian Hallel Psalms. These words are identical to Moses’ words in Exodus 15:2.
118:15 They celebrate deliverance in the tents of the godly. The Lord’s right hand conquers,
Notice that when this song was written, Israel was still living in tents. This celebration could have been after the drowning of Pharaoh’s army at the Red Sea.
118:16 the Lord’s right hand gives victory, the Lord’s right hand conquers.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the right hand of God.
118:17 I will not die, but live, and I will proclaim what the Lord has done.
The psalmist will be resurrected from the dead, just as the Lord Jesus Christ was delivered from the dead.
118:18 The Lord severely punished me, but he did not hand me over to death.
Jehovah severely punished the psalmist, but Jehovah did not let him die. If this psalmist was Moses, then this could refer to his discipline from striking the rock twice at Meribah. If it is Jesus, then it could refer to Jesus taking upon Him the sins of the world and then being raised from the dead.
118:19 Open for me the gates of the just king’s temple! I will enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
What is the gate of the Lord? Jesus made it clear that He was the gate of the Lord. He said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10:9).
118:20 This is the Lord’s gate— the godly enter through it.
The godly are those who study and apply Bible doctrine. They will enter through the Lord’s gate so that they can serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus may have had this psalm in mind when He taught about “the narrow gate.”
118:21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me, and have become my deliverer.
The psalmist thanked Jehovah for delivering him into safety.
118:22 The stone which the builders discarded has become the cornerstone.
In Matthew 21:42, the Lord Jesus Christ declared that He was this cornerstone who was rejected. The builders were the Jews who rejected Jesus as their Messiah. Mature believers will establish their doctrine on this strong foundation. Unbelievers and immature believers will stumble over this stone.
118:23 This is the Lord’s work. We consider it amazing!
The rejection of the stone was Jehovah’s work. Jews will stumble over the stone. Gentiles will make this stone their foundation of Bible doctrine.
The Hebrew word for “amazing” is פָּלָא (pala), meaning a miracle which can only be performed by God. The divine miracle is that Jesus was rejected by the Jews, but He brought salvation to both Jews and Gentiles.
118:24 This is the day the Lord has brought about. We will be happy and rejoice in it.
“The day the Lord has brought about” is the atonement of Jesus on the cross. It is the day of salvation. All Jews and Gentiles will rejoice on this day.
118:25 Please Lord, deliver! Please Lord, grant us success!
The psalmist asked Jehovah to give Israel success. In Hebrew, “deliver” is הֹושִׁ֘יעָ֥ה נָּ֑א (hosah-nah), which is “Hosanna,” or “save now.” When Jesus entered into Jerusalem on an unbroken colt, then the Jewish people sang this verse.
118:26 May the one who comes in the name of the Lord be blessed! We will pronounce blessings on you in the Lord’s temple.
The one who comes in the name of the Lord is the Messiah. Jesus told the Jews that He would not return to Jerusalem until they cry out, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Therefore, the Second Coming must meet a certain pre-ordained condition. The Rapture is imminent and can come at any time.
118:27 The Lord is God and he has delivered us. Tie the offering with ropes to the horns of the altar!
Jehovah delivered Israel from Egypt. Therefore, Israel should tie a sacrifice to God on the horns of the altar. The Lord Jesus Christ was the final sacrifice who was bound to the cross.
118:28 You are my God and I will give you thanks! You are my God and I will praise you!
The psalmist will give the God of Israel thanksgiving and praise.
118:29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good and his loyal love endures
Man is totally depraved and evil. Only God is good. Jesus said to the young man, “Why do you call me good? Only God is good.” The point which Jesus was making to the young man was that Jesus was God in human flesh.