This Psalm is one of the Psalms that was sung during the Passover festival, and as Jesus Himself sang this song in the upper room, the dimensions of this Psalm changed into a triumph song because Jesus conquered death on the Cross and liberated us from the devil’s false allegations. If we have the confidence that we too have conquered death because Jesus conquered it, the meaning of this Psalm will have a different perspective in our transformed lives.
God Is Good
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Let Israel say:
“His love endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say:
“His love endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say:
“His love endures forever.” – Psalm 118:1-4 (NIV)
The Psalmist articulates a justified rationale for expressing gratitude to God, recognizing His inherent goodness. We hold our young children in high esteem as virtuous individuals, encouraging them to aspire toward a life of righteousness. Occasionally, we deem our governing authorities—such as kings or ministers—as commendable, based on our experiences of the benefits they provide during their tenure. Thus, we must question whether we are sufficiently capable of valuing God as a benevolent being. Furthermore, do we profess our love for Him solely based on His goodness? Are we prepared to maintain an attitude of love toward Him, even in the absence of tangible manifestations of His goodness due to various circumstances?
The second part of this couplet holds substantial meaning, illustrating the eternal nature of God’s love, regardless of our ability to appreciate His goodness. This fundamental truth is often obscured by the deceptive arguments of false teachers, who aim to hinder believers from approaching God with an open mind.
Seeking God, During Troublesome Periods
When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD;
he brought me into a spacious place.
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in humans.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes. – Psalm 118:5-9 (NIV)
It is a widespread norm for believers to seek God exclusively on Sundays. Moreover, some individuals turn to God solely in times of distress. Regrettably, not all believers invoke God in their tribulations; instead, they attribute their challenges to the devil, claiming that they are being tormented while adhering to the teachings of the Son of God. This erroneous belief is significantly prevalent, leading believers to concentrate on the devil rather than directing their gaze towards their Father.
Here, the Psalmist is granted the grace of God to beseech Him in times of distress, affirming that God has delivered him into a spacious place. This engendered a misguided confidence within the author, who believed that, with God at his side, no mortal could prevail against him. Throughout the Old Testament, we observe that although God remained with His people, He permitted their adversaries to triumph in order to discipline them. It is a flawed assumption to believe God’s presence offers immunity from the trials and tribulations encountered in various aspects of life. In Psalm 23, David eloquently depicts a scene wherein God prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies. We frequently misinterpret these enemies as fellow citizens who cause us distress. In truth, this pertains to those who present legal accusations intended to condemn us to eternal death. Should we grasp this incredible truth, we will find ourselves inviting our earthly adversaries to share in the bounty that God spreads before us in their sight.
It is essential for every believer to comprehend the concept of a spacious place. When Isaac encountered hostility after digging each well, he refrained from opposing his adversaries, holding onto the belief that if God is with him, none can seize the well he and his servants had excavated. Instead, Isaac, demonstrating faith in the expansive scope of God’s provision, chose not to contest over a particular matter but entrusted everything to his enemies, confident that God would grant him something superior. Consequently, God protected him from his foes, and at a certain location, no one contended with Isaac for the well, which he named Rehoboth, thereby acknowledging God’s grace that led him to a spacious place. The boundaries of God encompass abundance, and we need not concern ourselves with specific conflicts but rather entrust everything to God.
I Will Not Die But Live
The LORD is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!
The LORD’s right hand is lifted high;
the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!”
I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the LORD has done. – Psalm 118:14-17 (NIV)
Certainly, this proclamation of victory is predicated upon the triumph bestowed by God upon His people over their adversaries. The war was of such critical importance that one’s survival was uncertain. However, upon receiving victory from God, a joyful sound reverberated throughout the tents of the righteous. Although the Psalm refers to God’s people as righteous and associates their righteousness with their victory, this interpretation is flawed. Regardless of our inherent unworthiness, God delivers us from our enemies. While we were still transgressors, God redeemed us by offering His Son as atonement for our iniquities.
Each time we endure a life-threatening experience, we express our gratitude to God for preserving our lives. However, God has bestowed upon us a gift surpassing our expectations: He grants us eternal life and welcomes us into His Kingdom with joy.
The LORD Has Chastened Me
The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
Open for me the gates of the righteous;
I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD
through which the righteous may enter.
I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation. – Psalm 118:18-21 (NIV)
God does not take pleasure in the demise of the wicked; rather, He disciplines them to draw them closer to Him. This Psalm urges us to regard the chastening of God with utmost seriousness and to amend our lives to align with His will. David articulates this experience in one of his Psalms, recognizing that he had gone astray before encountering affliction, but subsequently chose to obey His Word. Furthermore, David underscores that it was beneficial for him to face affliction, as it enabled him to learn God’s decrees (Psalm 119:67,71). The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews similarly underscores the significance of embracing God’s chastisement within our hearts (Hebrews 12:5-11). Only by adhering to the corrections God implements in our lives can we ultimately enter His Kingdom. In this context, the Psalmist reflects upon God’s interventions he has received and attributes his salvation solely to God.
The Corner Stone
The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
The LORD has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.
LORD, save us!
LORD, grant us success! – Psalm 118:22-25 (NIV)
The unseen spiritual realm possesses a foundational cornerstone, and those who profess belief in Jesus Christ’s mission to redeem sinners through His sacrificial death have commenced the construction of their faith and lives upon this cornerstone. Mary, the mother of Jesus, along with the disciple John, serves as forerunners in establishing their lives on Jesus, thus setting a precedent for all who seek spiritual fulfillment to build their lives on the foundation of Jesus, a foundation that will endure trials by fire (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). This spiritual edifice is known only to those who have embraced Jesus as their Savior, and it is magnificent in their perception.
The Psalmist urges individuals to celebrate, for God has bestowed upon us the grace to comprehend His redemptive work. However, for many, this very truth has transformed into a source of difficulty. For the Jews, including the Pharisees, Sadducees, and teachers of the law, the message of the cross has indeed become a stumbling block (1 Corinthians 1:23). These people were fixated on the physical temple and failed to grasp the spiritual temple Jesus referred to when He proclaimed the resurrection of His body on the third day, a body that was slain for the sake of sinners.
You Are MY God
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.
The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever. – Psalm 118:26-29 (NIV)
When Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, the people acclaimed Him with the words, “Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the LORD.” However, it is worth pondering why the Psalmist commended the One Who Comes in the name of the LORD when no visibly significant event had transpired to warrant such praise. This Psalm invites us to deepen our understanding of cultivating a personal relationship with God, thereby welcoming Him into our hearts. This segment of Psalm 118 illustrates the personal relationship and the experiences the Psalmist has encountered with the LORD. Do we possess such a personal experience that allows us to refer to Him as Our God, or do we merely regard Him as the God of our forefathers? We cannot truly hail Him as our God unless we have a personal encounter and maintain a consistent connection with the LORD. This experience provides us with an awareness of His enduring love, as Paul articulated, asking who or what could separate him from the love of God.
My Heavenly Father, I express my gratitude for the honor of addressing You as my Father. I implore Your guidance that I may sustain this unique relationship until I am reunited with You in eternity.
The Jordan Valley 
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