Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

PSALM 118: THE STONE REJECTED BY THE BUILDERS My Strength and Song

This Psalm captures the joy and celebration of a procession of worshippers who are journeying through the gates of the temple to the altar of sacrifice. It was most likely composed during the dedica- tion of the rebuilt temple recorded in the Book of Ezra: “The Temple of God was then dedicated with great joy by the people of Israel, the priests, the Levites and the rest of the people who had returned from exile.” (Ezra 6:16) It is an antiphonal song; arranged so the various groups of priests, Levites and wor- shippers could sing the different verses. The middle section, verses 5-21 recounts the suffering of an individual and their deliverance from death and it was ‘ …interpreted as applying to Jesus Christ, his suffering, and his resurrection 1 ’ by the early church. It is one of the strongest Messianic psalms as Jesus and his Apostles quote two of its verses (22, 26) extensively in the New Testament. This is the last of the great “Hallal”, Psalms 113-118 that is tra- ditionally sung during the Passover celebration and most likely part of the hymns sung by Jesus and his disciples the night before his crucifixion. There are many parallels between this psalm and the triumphal entry into Jerusalem where Jesus was greeted by palm branches and shouts of Hosanna. This was Martin Luther’s favorite psalm; “This is my psalm, my chosen Psalm…this Psalm is nearest my heart…it is my friend 2 .”

The author uses repetition in this song as a way of emphasis: • “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!” 2 times. • “His faithful love endures forever.” 5 times. • “The Lord is for me…” 2 times. • “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in…” 2 times. • “I destroyed them all in the name of the Lord.” 3 times. • “The strong right arm of the Lord…” 3 times.

It is outlined in five sections:

I THANKS TO THE LORD - v. 1-4

Setting Out to the Festival Setting Your Trust Upon God

II TRUST THE LORD

v. 5-9

III TRIUMPH IV THE GATES

v.10-18 v.19-21 v.22-29

Saved from Death

Seeking His Presence

V THIS IS THE DAY

Success through His Sacrifice

I

THANKS TO THE LORD - v. 1-4

Setting Out to the Festival

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Let the congregation of Israel repeat: ‘His faithful love endures forever.’ Let Aaron’s descendants, the priests, repeat: ‘His faithful love endures forever.’ Let all who fear the Lord repeat: ‘His faithful love endures forever.’” (1-4)

This is the antiphonal section where a single worship leader called the congregation of Israel, the groups of priests and Levites and the Gentile ‘God-fearers’ to sing the national anthem of God’s faithful love in response. It was God’s love that brought them out of Egypt and now it was his love that returned them to their land after 70 years of captivity in Babylon preparing them to receive the coming Messiah: “So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faith- fulness.” (Jn. 1:14) This theme has always been the church’s greatest song.

II

TRUST THE LORD - v. 5-9

Setting Your Trust Upon God

“In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and rescued me. The Lord is for me, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me.”(5-7)

Now begins an individual’s song of thanksgiving that is sung in the middle of the festival proces- sion; ‘The salvation he has experienced personally is inseparably joined to the salvation of the whole

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