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Psalms 118

29 verses

TL;DR

Psalm 118 celebrates God's enduring mercy, the psalmist’s personal deliverance, and the triumph of faith over opposition.

Summary

The psalm opens with a call to give thanks for the LORD’s good nature and everlasting mercy, inviting Israel, the house of Aaron, and all who fear God to join in that declaration. It recounts the psalmist’s distress and the LORD’s response, which lifts him to a great place, assuring him that God is on his side and that fear of man or princes is futile. The psalm emphasizes that trusting in the LORD is preferable to relying on human help, and declares that even though nations surround the psalmist, victory will come through God’s name. It describes how adversaries are likened to bees and are quenched, yet the psalmist remains steadfast, with God’s right hand executing valiant acts. The psalm shifts to a hymn of praise, speaking of the LORD as strength, song, and salvation, and celebrates the “stone the builders rejected” that becomes the cornerstone, symbolizing divine providence. It concludes with a call for rejoicing on the day God has made, a plea for salvation and prosperity, and a reaffirmation that the LORD’s mercies endure forever.

Outline
  1. Invocation of praise and testimony of God’s mercy
  2. Personal deliverance and the superiority of faith over earthly powers
  3. Worship of God’s enduring power and the celebration of divine salvation
Themes
Faith over fearDivine deliveranceTriumph of God’s mercy
Keywords
mercyfaithstrengthright handsalvationpraisetrustvictorystonecornerstone
People
Israelhouse of AaronLORD
Places
tabernaclesgates of righteousnesshouse of the LORDcorneraltar
Things
mercyright handstonegatesongstrengthsalvationbeeshorns of the altar
Key Verses
  • Psalms 118:5: Shows God’s response to distress and elevation of the psalmist
  • Psalms 118:8: Emphasizes trusting in God over human leaders
  • Psalms 118:22: Illustrates the paradox of the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone
Questions
  • How does Psalm 118 describe the relationship between trust in God and confidence in human leaders?
  • In what ways does the psalmist portray divine deliverance, and how can this be applied today?
  • What is the significance of the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone in the context of this psalm?
  • How does the imagery of bees and horns of the altar contribute to the overall message?
Sentiment

positive
celebratory, trusting, victorious