---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Psalms 118"
description: "PSALM 118   :-. After invoking others to unite in praise, the writer
celebrates God"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/psalms/118"
---

PSALM 118

. After invoking others to unite in praise, the writer
celebrates God's protecting and delivering care towards him, and then
represents himself and the people of God as entering the sanctuary
and uniting in solemn praise, with prayer for a continued blessing.
Whether composed by David on his accession to power, or by some later
writer in memory of the restoration from Babylon, its tone is joyful
and trusting, and, in describing the fortune and destiny of the
Jewish Church and its visible head, it is typically prophetical of
the Christian Church and her greater and invisible Head.

**1-4.** The trine repetitions are
emphatic (compare [Psalms 118:10-12](../../../kjv/psalms/118/10-12);
[Psalms 118:15](../../../kjv/psalms/118/15); [Psalms 118:16](../../../kjv/psalms/118/16);
[Psalms 115:12](../../../kjv/psalms/115/12); [Psalms 115:13](../../../kjv/psalms/115/13)).
**Let . . . say**—Oh! that
Israel may say.
**now**—as in [Psalms 115:13](../../../kjv/psalms/115/13); so in [Psalms 118:3](../../../kjv/psalms/118/3);
[Psalms 118:4](../../../kjv/psalms/118/4). After "now say"
supply "give thanks."
**that his mercy**—or, "*for*
His mercy."

**5. distress**—literally,
"straits," to which "large place" corresponds, as
in [Psalms 4:1](../../../kjv/psalms/4/1); [Psalms 31:8](../../../kjv/psalms/31/8).

**6, 7.** Men are helpless to hurt
him, if God be with him ([Psalms 56:9](../../../kjv/psalms/56/9)),
and, if enemies, they will be vanquished ([Psalms 56:9](../../../kjv/psalms/56/9)).

**8, 9.** Even the most powerful men
are less to be trusted than God.

**10-12.** Though as numerous and
irritating as bees [[Psalms 118:12](../../../kjv/psalms/118/12)],
by God's help his enemies would be destroyed.

**12. as the fire of thorns**—suddenly.
**in the name,** c.—by the
power ([Psalms 20:5](../../../kjv/psalms/20/5) [Psalms 124:8](../../../kjv/psalms/124/8)).

**13-16.** The enemy is triumphantly
addressed as if present.

**15. rejoicing and salvation**—the
latter as cause of the former.

**16. right hand . . . is exalted**—His
power greatly exerted.

**17, 18.** He would live, because
confident his life would be for God's glory.

**19-21.** Whether an actual or
figurative entrance into God's house be meant, the purpose of solemn
praise is intimated, in which only the righteous would or could
engage.

**22, 23.** These words are applied
by Christ ([Matthew 21:42](../../../kjv/matthew/21/42)) to
Himself, as the foundation of the Church (compare [Acts 4:11](../../../kjv/acts/4/11);
[Ephesians 2:20](../../../kjv/ephesians/2/20); [1 Peter 2:4](../../../kjv/1-peter/2/4);
[1 Peter 2:7](../../../kjv/1-peter/2/7)). It may here denote
God's wondrous exaltation to power and influence of him whom the
rulers of the nation despised. Whether (see on [1 Peter 2:7](../../../kjv/1-peter/2/7)) David or Zerubbabel (compare [Haggai 2:2](../../../kjv/haggai/2/2);
[Zechariah 4:7-10](../../../kjv/zechariah/4/7-10)) be primarily
meant, there is here typically represented God's more wonderful
doings in exalting Christ, crucified as an impostor, to be the Prince
and Saviour and Head of His Church.

**24. This is the day**—or period
distinguished by God's favor of all others.

**25. Save now**—*Hebrew,*
"*Hosanna*" (compare , &c., as to *now*) a form of prayer (), since, in our use, of praise.

**26. he that cometh . . . Lord**—As
above intimated, this may be applied to the visible head of the
Jewish Church entering the sanctuary, as leading the procession;
typically it belongs to Him of whom the phrase became an epithet
([Malachi 3:1](../../../kjv/malachi/3/1); [Matthew 21:9](../../../kjv/matthew/21/9)).

**27-29. showed us light**—or
favor ([Psalms 27:1](../../../kjv/psalms/27/1); [Psalms 97:11](../../../kjv/psalms/97/11)).
With the sacrificial victim brought bound to the altar is united the
more spiritual offering of praise ([Psalms 50:14](../../../kjv/psalms/50/14);
[Psalms 50:23](../../../kjv/psalms/50/23)), expressed in the
terms with which the Psalm opened.

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