Psalm 118

As I read through this psalm on the first pass, my thought was, “wow, I know a lot of this psalm already!” Maybe you felt the same way.  It is a popular psalm because of how it was used and memorized by the Jews.  This psalm was sung as a song of thanksgiving enroute to the temple to worship God! We also see clips of it quoted in the New Testament by Jesus and Peter in their interactions with others.  The Jewish people were very familiar with this psalm, which is why it is repeated often.  There are also modern songs that echo some of the verses in it.  In my study bible it is broken up into sections.  As David writes on different themes, it get separated to accentuate them, so we will walk together section by section today.

v.1-4
David starts with an exhortation of thanksgiving.  This is how we should start any prayer, song, or interaction with God.  The very fact that we have breath and conscientiousness to interact with Him is cause for jubilation and praise.  When I wake up in the morning, I try to remember to first thank God for another day.  It is only appropriate that we recognize God’s love and thank Him for it, because we don’t deserve it!

v. 5-9
The English language here doesn’t do much justice in understanding what God has done for David.  We read in my distress and then You placed me in a large place.  When I read this, it seems awkward.  Yet, the original meaning is to say, “I was in a tight spot and you got me out of it.”  We know through David’s story that he at one point was hiding in a cave, then became the king of Israel.  That’s surely from a tight spot to a large one!  This isn’t just in reference to physical location, but also emotional and spiritual.  He was down and out: rejected, hunted, and persecuted.  Then he became the ruler of an entire nation! Take a moment to pause and reflect upon a time when God got you out of a difficult situation.  Maybe He didn’t pluck you out, but rather helped you navigate the treacherous path from a place of hardship to one of respite.  In Hebrews 13, the author references this Psalm as a reminder to love others well and not be afraid of what they will do to us. The Apostle Paul also echoes this in Romans 8:31:

What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

I love how David says, “I shall look with satisfaction on those who hate me.”  Other translations use the word “triumph” instead of “satisfaction,” with the specific Hebrew word referring to God’s triumph and victory over sin and death, not man’s triumph as a result of human might.

v. 10-14

David recalls when the nations came against Israel and he, as king, defeated them.  This wasn’t in his own might or acumen, but rather through God’s righteousness and help!  He doesn’t credit the strength of the army, but rather God’s strength.  I can recall from my childhood a song that sang, “you are my strength and my song…” this is where it comes from!  Not only does God give us strength, but He gives us joy amidst the battle and a victory cry worth singing. But how do we harness that?  Surely God doesn’t grant everyone or every nation victory.  In conflict, whether on a personal or grand scale, there always seems to be a “loser.”  Comically, I think about people praying for their sports team to win. I’m quite sure there are prayers coming from both sides of the field!  So then, who does God grant the victory to?  Is it the side that has more prayers?  Is it the side that has better “quality” prayers?  In David’s context, the game of life, we understand the answer.  In sports games, I don’t think this rule really applies and to prevent the devolution of the importance of this psalm, let us look to the next passage for the answer.

v.15-18
The righteous receive the victory because the Lord is with them!  Now, does this apply to sports teams too?  It might, but in the grander scheme of God’s Kingdom, I think we also need to define our perspective of victory.  When it comes to team sports and competition, the victory isn’t necessarily about who scores the most points, rather if you truly understand the point behind sports and competition.  The victory in this sense (as an effort to put the analogy to bed before it stops relating to spirituality and God) is more about teamwork, personal growth, and strengthening of relationships.  God isn’t glorified because a specific team wins the Super Bowl or World Series, rather He is glorified by how the players (and fans) behave. Consider that the next time you watch a game…

We see in the bible quite often, and particularly the Old Testament, this reference to “the righteous.”  We must take caution as we consider what righteousness really means.  It refers to those who are set apart, holy, and honoring to God.  Israel is God’s chosen people, set apart per se, but there are many times when they do not act holy and righteous!  In fact, this is the whole reason why we need Jesus in the first place!  In Romans 3, Paul writes that, “there is no one righteous, not even one.”  Guess where he pulled that from?  David’s psalms!  (14 and 53 to be exact). You see, we need God in order to be righteous.  Again in Galatians 6 as Paul talks about the armor of God, where He clothes us in His victory over the evil forces, powers, and principalities of this dark world, God clothes us with the breastplate of righteousness…not something we can do on our own, but something we need to be given.  It is then and only then can we proceed to walk in righteousness.

v. 19-21
David acknowledges this as he continues by saying that after the Lord has disciplined him and corrected him to walk on the straight and narrow path can he walk through the gate of righteousness.  David mentioned this before in Psalm 23 and Jesus later refers to this in Matthew 7 when He says:

13 “Enter through the narrow gate, because broad is the gate and spacious is the road that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it, 14 because narrow is the gate and constricted is the road that leads to life, and there are few who find it!

We discover that not only is this the path to righteousness, but Jesus is the gate!  Only through Him can we be righteous because He is the embodiment of righteousness.  So, let us be wary of considering our own righteousness, which in God’s eyes is like “dirty rags” in reference to producing our own holiness.  When our actions are birthed our of God’s righteousness by walking in His path and following His direction, will our deeds be righteous and holy.

v.22-29
Verse 22 is well known, quoted by Peter in Acts 4:10, proclaiming to the Jews that they had rejected Jesus.  David then praises Yahweh for orchestrating it!  It is marvelous in our eyes, meaning something we could not have concocted on our own.  He follows it up with, “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”  Many of you longtime churchgoers might have now begun singing it in your head.  I recall multiple car rides home from church on Sundays as a child singing this in canon with my dad and brother.  

David proceeds praising God for His sovereignty, goodness, protection, provision, and victory in our lives.  He calls a party to assemble and worship God!  I invite you to do the same.  Thank God for what He has brought you through.  Praise Him that He is still with us: guiding, protecting, and saving.  Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.