Day 1 – Introduction to the Text Psalm 118 Psalm 118 ends what are known as the Egyptian Hallel psalms (Pss 113- 118), Hallel coming from the Hebrew word family used for “Hallelujah,” which means “to praise.” The psalm may have been sung during a thanksgiving service led by the Davidic king or “when pilgrims came together for grand celebrations during which a priest or Levite spoke on behalf of the congregation (vv. 5–21)” (VanGemeren, 851). According to the Talmud (Jewish commentaries on the Mishnah, a codification of the oral legal teachings on the law of Moses), Psalm 118 was sung during the Feast of Tabernacles, as well as during the Passover Seder. As discussed in our study of Psalm 110, it is important to note the structure or pattern used when studying a psalm. While the pattern in Psalm 110 was easy to identify, it is a little more complex with Psalm 118. VanGemeren (851) sees the structure as follows: A Call to Communal Thanksgiving (vv. 1–4) B Thanksgiving (vv. 5–21) A′ Thanksgiving Liturgy (vv. 22–29) Mark Futato views a different pattern as follows: A Give thanks to the LORD (v. 1) B The Goodness and enduring love of God (vv. 5-18) C The Thanksgiving Liturgy (vv. 19-28) A′ Give thanks to the LORD (v. 29) As noted by James Montgomery Boice, Psalm 118 was Martin Luther’s favorite psalm. In the preface to his exposition on Psalm 118, Luther wrote, “When emperors and kings, the wise and the learned, and even saints could not aid me, this psalm proved a friend and helped me out of many great troubles. As a result, it is dearer to me than all the wealth, honor, and power of the pope, the Turk, and the emperor. I would be most unwilling to trade this psalm for all of it” (Boice, 963). Scripture Memory: Psalm 118:22-23 1 Day 2 – Observe the Text Read Psalm 118 1. What type of imagery do you see employed in Psalm 118? 2. How would you structure this psalm? 3. List some of the things the psalmist is thankful to God for? 4. What do verses 1-4 say about God’s lovingkindness? 5. How do verses 5-9 contrast trusting in the LORD with trusting in men? 6. Who enters through the gates of righteousness (vv 19-20)? 7. What does the psalmist proclaim about the works of God (vv 22-24)? 2 Day 3 – Interpret the Text Read Psalm 118 again Verses 1-4: The refrain of v. 1 is a familiar one (v. 29; see 106:1; 107:1; cf. Ezr 3:11). All Israel had enjoyed the benefits of God’s ‘goodness’ (ṭôb) and ‘love’ (ḥesed): the congregation of Israel, the priests (‘house of Aaron’), and ‘those who fear the LORD’ (vv. 2–4; cf. 115:9–11; …). The people of God’s kingdom (Ex 19:5–6; Ps 114:1) and the priests—the descendants of Aaron—confess that Yahweh is King and that he is “good” and “loving” in his covenantal fidelity. From these verses Calvin, 4:378, correctly deduces the reality of God’s kingdom in the OT: “[the] kingdom [of Christ], no doubt, extended to the Gentiles, but its commencement and first-fruits were among God’s chosen people’” (VanGemeren, 852). Verses 5-9: From my distress… “As one who has experienced the ‘goodness’ and ‘love’ of the Lord, an individual gives testimony of how the Lord has delivered him. Who is the individual? Among the suggestions are the king, Israel as a corporate body, and a priest/Levite” (853). The LORD is for me… “God outweighs the dangers. Therefore, although we may be as alone or even in as immediate danger as David was, yet we can still say, ‘I will not be afraid, because I trust in God.’ In Romans 8 Paul wrote, ‘We face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered,’ quoting from Psalm 44:22 (Rom 8:36). But he added, ‘I am convinced that neither death nor life, … nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Rom 8:38-39)” (Boice, 965). Than to trust in man…princes. “It is reported by people who count such things that there are 31,174 verses in the Bible, and if that is so, then these verses, the 15,587th and the 15,588th, are the middle verses…. What do you suppose the middle verse should say? Shouldn’t the middle verse of the Bible be John 3:16, or its equivalent? Or something from Psalm 23? At least it should be about God’s love, perhaps ‘God is love’ (1 John 4:8). Actually, the middle verses of the Bible are none of these or anything else we might naturally expect, though in their simplicity they are of vast importance. Significantly, they are about putting our trust in God rather than in mere human beings” (ibid.). 3 Verses 10-12: “Three times the psalmist tells us his foes were defeated ‘with the authority [name] of the LORD’ (118:10–12). This last reference is reminiscent of David, when he said that Goliath came against him with ‘sword, spear, and javelin’ but that David came with a far more powerful arsenal, as he came ‘in the name of the LORD’ (1 Sam 17:45)” (Futato, 365). Verses 13-18: The LORD is my strength and song…salvation “The Lord is the ‘strength,’ ‘song,’ and ‘salvation’ of his people (v. 14). The word ‘strength’ denotes his power in saving (68:28; 86:16; 89:10; 132:8; Isa 51:9), while ‘salvation’ (yešûʿâ; cf. v. 15, ‘victory’ [yešûʿâ]) suggests the whole process of his mighty acts, his judgment on the adversaries, and his help to his children, including the final climactic celebrations of his victory. The second word (‘song’) occurs three times in the bound phrase ‘my strength and my song’ (here; Ex 15:2; Isa 12:2). In these contexts ‘song’ could mean ‘victory song,’ but some have suggested a cognate meaning of ‘protection,’ related to a Ugaritic idiom” (VanGemeren, 854-855). The right hand of the LORD… “It is the Lord’s right hand, the hand of his skill, the hand of his greatest power, the hand which is accustomed to defend his saints. When that is lifted up, it lifts up all who trust in him, and it casts down all who resist him” (Spurgeon, 107). Verses 19-24: the gates of righteousness… “The temple of God was viewed as his palace. Consequently, its architecture featured walls, gates, and courtyards, as would the citadel or palace complex of any king” (Walton, 406). The stone which the builders rejected… “V. 22 points back to that disheartened disdain of the small troubles beginning which was at work among the builders (Ezra 3:10) at the laying of the foundation-stone, and then further at the interruption of the buidling. That rejected (disdained) corner-stone is i.e., the head-stone of the corner (Job 38:6), which ,פִּנָּה רֹאשׁ nevertheless become being laid upon the corner, supports and protects the stately edifice—an emblem of the power and dignity to which Israel has attained in the midst of the peoples out of deep humiliation” (Keil and Delitzsch, 724). 4 Day 4 – Apply the Text Read Psalm 118 one more time. 1. How often do you thank God for all that He has done in your life? What do you mostly thank Him for? 2. What things cause you to fear? How do you normally deal with it? 3. At one time or another, we have all felt like we were “surrounded” by enemies. Who or what do you turn to in those types of moments and why? 4. How does Psalm 118 give us hope in the Christian life? 5 Day 5 – Implement the Text Review and reflect on your study of the passage 1. How has studying Psalm 118 impacted your understanding of God and His sovereignty? 2. How does Psalm 118 help you to see Christ as necessary for your life? 3. How could you use Psalm 118 in your daily witness to unbelievers? 6 Bibliography Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update. Boice, James Montgomery. Psalms 107-150: An Expositional Commentary. Vol. 3. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1998. Futato, Mark D. “The Book of Psalms.” In Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 7: The Book of Psalms, The Book of Proverbs. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2009. Keil, Carl Friedrich, and Franz Delitzsch. Commentary on the Old Testament. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1996. Spurgeon, C. H. The Treasury of David: Psalms 88-110. Vol. 4. London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers, n.d. VanGemeren, Willem A. “Psalms.” In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms (Revised Edition), edited by Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland, Vol. 5. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008. Walton, John H. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Old Testament): The Minor Prophets, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs. Vol. 5. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009. 7 Sermon Notes .