The Book of Psalms
Psalm 118
Psalm CXVIII · Vol. II, pp. 1062–1063
1 An exhortation to praise God for his mercy. 5 The psalmist by his own experience showeth how good it is to trust in God. 19 Under the type of the psalmist the coming of Christ in his kingdom is expressed.
6 Theh LORD is on my side;2 I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
h Ps.56.4,9,11;27.1-3. He.13.6. Ro.8.31. Is.51.12.
2 Heb. for me.
7 Thei LORD taketh my part with them that help me; jtherefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
10 Alln nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.3
n 2 Sa.v. viii. x. xviii. Ps.18.30-45;27.3;60.12; 22.12,16. Ac.4.27,28. Re.16.14;20.8,9.
3 Heb. cut them off.
11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
12 Theyo compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will 4destroy them.5
4 Heb. cut down.
5 The first clause of the verse brings out the vast number of the writer's enemies, and galling and unceasing character of their attacks made upon him. The second clause adopts another figure, designed to show the rapidity and quickness with which they were destroyed. As the flames burn up the dry, sun-scorched brambles and thorns during the heat of an eastern summer, so these wanton persecutors are swept away.—P.
o 2 Sa.23.6. 1 Sa.23.26. De.1.44. Ps.58.9; 83.14. Is.27.4. Ec.7.6. Na.1.10. 1 Ch.xiv. xviii.-xx.
13 pThou6 hast thrust sore at me that I might fall; but the LORD helped me.
6 Thou.—Satan, the adversary, from the wilderness to the cross.—C.
15 Ther voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: sthe right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
21 I ywill praise thee; for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
y Ex.xv. Ju.v. 1 Sa.2.1-10. 2 Sa.xxii. Ps.9.1,14;103.1-5.
22 Thez stone which the builders refused is become the head-stone of the corner.8
z Mat.21.42. Mar.12.10. Col.1.18. Lu.20.17. Ac.4.11. Ep.2.20;1.20-23. 1 Pe.2.4,7.
8 In the great buildings erected by Phœnician and Jewish architects, the corner-stones were of colossal magnitude, and were squared and hewn with great care and precision. Noble specimens of corner-stones may still be seen at the angles of the massive wall of the temple inclosure in Jerusalem. The 'head-stone' signifies not the top-stone, but the chief stone. We would now term it the foundation stone.—P.
26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: dwe have blessed1 you out of the house of the LORD.
d Nu.6.23-26. De.10.8. 1 Ch.16.2. Ps.134.3.
1 We have blessed. That is, the believing multitude who received Christ, calling him blessed, and the children shouting Hosanna in the very temple! Mat.21.9-15.—C.
27 Gode is the LORD, which hath showed us light: gbind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
Notes
Ver. 5. I called. There are sufficient characteristics in this psalm to demonstrate that Christ is the speaker. But it is unnecessary to examine them, as the psalm is thrice in the New Testament directly applied to Christ; and, on one of these occasions, in his own presence, see ver. 26, compare with Mat. 21. 9; on another by his own lips, Mat. 23. 39; and again, ver. 22 is applied to our Lord by Peter, Ac. 4. 11. C.
Ver. 10. All nations, &c. This was literally fulfilled when the Jews in the persons of the congregated multitude, and the Romans in the persons of Pilate and the soldiers, encompassed our Lord at his trial and crucifixion. C.
Ver. 12. Destroy them. This has been fully verified in the dispersion of the Jews, and the utter dismemberment of the Roman empire; nay, in the literal destruction of the effeminate emperors, their profligate legions, and idolatrous subjects—by the irruption of those northern nations that now occupy their fields, their cities, and adopt their name. C.
Ver. 19. Surely none but Christ ever entered by the gates of righteousness, presenting himself 'without spot' before God. Others follow, only because washed by his blood, and accepted in him. C.
Reflections.—Animated are the saints' praises to their God, when the mercy that is in his nature and relation to all is clearly discerned; the mercies he hath granted are kindly reviewed; and the mercies he hath in store and in promise are firmly believed! No wonder that such invite all around them to sing of his everlasting mercy and grace! No wonder they pour contempt on all created confidences, and disregard all opposition from earth and hell! No wonder they ascribe the glory of all to God; that they ask all from God; that they gratefully dedicate themselves, and all that they have, to his service; and exert all their powers to exalt his honour and spread his renown!—But chiefly let us here behold Jesus and his sure mercies.—He was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death. Terrible was his distress, innumerable his conflicts with the enemies of our salvation! But, trusting in God, complete was his victory, and glorious his deliverance! Solemn was his ascension into heaven. And, crowned with glory and honour, invested with all power in heaven and on earth, and furnished with all gifts, all blessings, for men, he reigns upon his throne above. Encouraged by these views, let us welcome him into our hearts, families, and churches, and devote ourselves to his service. And believingly claiming him and his Father as our God, our all in all, let us ever exult in his praise.