ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Psalms 118

Psalm Ps. 118. This joyful psalm calls on all of God’s people to praise the Lord for his steadfast love (vv. 1–4). It then moves to what seems to be a personal testimony of God’s rescue from distress (vv. 5–18), and then to a worship service at the Lord’s house, which involves the whole people again (vv. 19–29). The psalm describes a festive procession into Jerusalem after some great deliverance. It was the last psalm Jesus sang at the Last Supper with his disciples before they left for Gethsemane (Matt. 26:30). The “I” giving the personal testimony identifies himself with the trials of the whole people. God’s many acts of deliverance show that his “steadfast love endures forever” and is not limited to one generation.

Ps. 118:1–4 The opening section calls on the congregation to give thanks to the Lord, for he is good (full of generosity; see 23:6; 25:7–8). Each group mentioned should recite this marvelous truth: God’s steadfast love endures forever. (See Psalm 136 for a similar repetition of this phrase.)

Ps. 118:8–9 The experiences of God’s help show that it is better to take refuge in the Lord (see note on 31:1–2; see 62:8) than to trust in man, particularly in princes (that is, in merely human power, which the enemies of 118:7 seem to trust in; see 146:3).

Ps. 118:10–13 This section recalls a particular battle. All nations surrounded me (when they should have joined me in worship; see 117:1). They would have killed me, but the Lord helped me, and in the name of the Lord (that is, acting as his representative) I cut them off.

Ps. 118:14–16 The deliverance of vv. 10–13 leads to celebration in the camp of God’s people. Verse 14 uses the victory song of Ex. 15:2 (see Isa. 12:2). The right hand of the Lord. See Ex. 15:6.

Ps. 118:17–18 The experience of deliverance leads the psalmist to say, I shall not die, but I shall live. God extends life so that I might recount the deeds of the Lord.

Ps. 118:19–21 The gates of righteousness are the gates of the temple, through which the worshipers enter.

Ps. 118:22–23 The cornerstone is probably the large stone at the corner of the temple’s foundation (see Isa. 28:16). The psalm compares Israel to such a stone. The world’s great powers had thought little of Israel, but God had chosen his people to be the cornerstone of his great plan for the world. This is the Lord’s doing; it is not a mere human accomplishment.

Ps. 118:25 Save us, we pray. See vv. 14–15, 21; and note on 3:2.

Ps. 118:26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! See Matt. 21:9; Mark 11:9; Luke 19:38; John 12:13.

Ps. 118:28–29 See note on vv. 1–4.