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Please choose a passage in Psalms 118
Psalm 118 begins with a common exhortation to "Give thanks to the LORD." The reason he provides for us to give thanks is: "for He is good." The psalmist’s proof that the LORD is good is: "For His lovingkindness is everlasting." The psalmist’s gratitude for God’s lovingkindness is established up front and it permeates the entirety of Psalm 118. Psalm 118 is the climactic finale of group of five consecutive praise psalms called "the Hallel."
The psalmist concludes his introductory chorus by emphatically reinforcing the truth that the LORD’s lovingkindness is everlasting. He does this by repeating three times what he said in verse 1. He calls upon Israel, the Levites, and those who fear the LORD to speak this bedrock truth with their own mouths
The psalmist begins his poetic narrative (Psalm 118:5-27) by recalling a time when he called out to the LORD in his distress. The LORD answered and exalted him. The psalmist does not fear because the LORD is with Him and wonders aloud—what can man do to me? He concludes that he can trust the LORD, and rest content to not pay back the evil they have done him because the LORD is among those who help him and the LORD will save and vindicate him.
The psalmist punctuates his poetic narrative to make the claims that it is better to refuge in the LORD than to trust in man or in princes.
Three times the psalmist recounts how the nations surrounded him. Three times the psalmist boasts "In the name of the LORD I will cut them off." He describes how the LORD will extinguish his enemies with fire. The psalmist addresses his enemy who pushed him violently to remind him that he did not fall because the LORD helped him. This section within this Hosanna Psalm ends with the psalmist’s boast of praise that the LORD is his strength and song and has become his salvation.
The Psalmist continues his poetic narrative testifying to the LORD’s everlasting kindness by depicting a rejoicing camp following the stunning victory in battle. The tents of the righteous are full of joyful shouting as they praise the right hand of the LORD. The psalmist marvels that he is not dead but still alive. In verse 18, the psalmist reflects upon how the LORD has used these severe circumstances to mature him in His faith.
With this portion of scripture, the psalmist continues his poetic narrative with a triumphal parade of the righteous entering the LORD’s gate. The lines of this song are prophetic of Jesus the Messiah’s triumphal entrance into Jerusalem.
The Psalmist punctuates his poetic narrative with a memorable architectural metaphor. He says that the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. The psalmist originally applied this to himself. But it also applies to the Messiah. Jesus and New Testament writers use this prophecy to explain how Jesus’s rejection by the religious leaders of Israel did not disqualify Him from being the LORD’s Messiah.
The psalmist continues his poetic narrative testifying of the LORD’s salvation with a praise that this day is the day of salvation which the LORD has made. He then beseeches the LORD to send the Messiah, before saying "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD." This portion of Psalm 118 gives voice to what the crowds proclaimed of Jesus the Messiah as He triumphantly entered Jerusalem.
The psalmist completes his poetic narrative with a declaration that the LORD is God and has given us light. He presents a final scene depicting a festival sacrifice offered in love to God for rescuing him. The language used is prophetic of Jesus the Messiah, who is both the Light of the world and our Passover sacrifice.
Psalm 118 concludes with a familiar refrain: "Give thanks to the LORD for He is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting."
Psalm Chapter 118 concludes a collection of psalms (Psalms 113-118) known as the Egyptian Hallel, traditionally sung during Jewish festivals like Passover. This psalm invites worshipers to give thanks, opening with, “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting” (Psalm 118:1). It highlights a communal celebration of God’s steadfast love while calling on Israel, priests, and all who fear the LORD to join in praise. The repetition of thanksgiving underscores the steadfast loyalty and covenant faithfulness of God toward His people.
The psalmist portrays a dramatic contrast between human threats and God’s salvation. Surrounded by enemies, the speaker experiences deliverance and exclaims: “The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?” (Psalm 118:6). This confidence pervades the text, emphasizing the psalmist’s reliance on God rather than on human power. The city of Jerusalem could serve as a setting for such praise, as pilgrims would sing these psalms while ascending to the Temple Mount to celebrate God’s salvific deeds. Jerusalem was a central location in Israel’s worship and remains significant throughout the biblical narrative as the city of David and the place where the Temple was built (10th century BC under King Solomon).
A pivotal moment in this psalm occurs in the declaration: “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone” (Psalm 118:22). Early Christian interpretation sees this as a prophecy that finds ultimate fulfillment in Jesus (Matthew 21:42). By highlighting the reversal of fortune for a once—rejected stone, the psalmist underscores God’s transformative power. Moreover, the famous line, “This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24) reminds God’s people to celebrate His deliverance and kindness in every generation. Tying to the broader biblical story, Jesus too was rejected, yet He ultimately became the foundation of salvation for all who believe.
Psalm 118 thus calls for unwavering gratitude and trust in the LORD, whose kindness endures. It encourages readers to remember God’s past acts of salvation and to respond in thanksgiving. As part of the Book of Psalms, it reminds believers that worship is at the heart of a faithful life. By paralleling the themes of redemption and covenant faithfulness, the psalm offers hope that God always works for the good of His people. This enduring message resonates throughout both the Old and New Testaments, inviting all generations to praise the God of their salvation.
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