Continuing a chronological Bible study:
(Psalm 118:1) O give thanks to the Lord for He is good; because His mercy is forever.
David had just been made king over all Israel and dwelt in the City of David, formerly Zion. His days of hiding out from Saul and his enemies had come to an end. He had much for which to be thankful, so it is plausible he could have written a psalm of thanksgiving at this time. He began his psalm by encouraging people to give thanks to the Lord for He was good and His mercy was forever. It's not only when we have been given the thing we desired that we should be thankful. We are thankful because our God is all good and just; He can be nothing but that, so we can have faith that the right thing will happen in the end, even if we don't see the big picture at the time. All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). We are thankful that the Lord is ever merciful, and in His loving mercy, we do not have to suffer just punishment for our sins but can turn to Jesus to cover them.
(2) Let Israel now say that His mercy is forever.
Israel was now one again under King David, and David called on all Israel to acknowledge that the Lord's mercy was forever as He had brought His people to this moment.
(3) Let the house of Aaron now say that His mercy is forever. (4) Let them who fear the Lord now say that His mercy is forever.
David called on the priests and their ministers to acknowledge that the Lord's mercy was forever. He called on all who feared the Lord to acknowledge that His mercy endured forever. David exhorted the people three times to say that the Lord's mercy was forever. We are not only to believe but to proclaim the goodness of God. Romans 10:9 tells us to believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus.
(5) I called upon the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me and set me in a large place.
David had called upon the Lord when he was distressed, and the Lord had answered him. He set him in a large place with space and freedom on every side.
(6) The Lord is on my side, I will not fear; what can man do to me?
As long as the Lord is with us, we have nothing to fear because He is all-good and merciful, and He works things together for good. What can mere man really do to us? He may take our lives, but he cannot take our souls, and actually, he cannot even take our lives if it is not within God's will. And we can trust that if a man does take our lives, God will use it for good because He is all-good and merciful and can be nothing but; it's His very nature.
(7) The Lord takes my part with them who help me; therefore shall I see upon them who hate me.
The Lord helped both David and his men, and He sent men to help David. Because the Lord was with him, David would look upon his enemies, look them straight in the face, and have no fear.
(8) Better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. (9) Better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
David declared it was better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in men or even princes. Mere men will always disappoint, but the Lord is faithful.
(10) All nations compassed me about, but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. (11) They compassed me about, yea, they compassed me about, but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
David was surrounded by all the pagan nations round about the promised land, and some still within the promised land, but he had confidence that in the name of the Lord, and as it was God's will that these nations be destroyed, he would destroy them. So confident was he that he repeated it two more times.
(12) They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns, for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
Although his enemies had swarmed him like bees, they were quenched as the fire of thorns that burns a hot blaze but quickly leaves only a pile of ashes. A fourth time David stated that in the name of the Lord he would destroy them.
(13) You have thrust sore at me that I might fall, but the Lord helped me.
Although his enemies had pushed violently against him trying to take him down, the Lord had helped him.
(14) The Lord is my strength and song and has become my salvation.
The Lord was David's strength, and it was a song of praise to only Him that he wrote and sang. The Lord was his salvation, having saved him and brought him to his position as king of Israel.
(15) The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. (16) The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the dwelling of the righteous. We are only considered righteous because of God's love and mercy in sending us Jesus to atone for our sins. That is the reason for our joy, and it is because of Him only that we are saved. The right hand of the Lord acts powerfully; it is exalted above all and acts nobly and excellently.
(17) I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.
David did not die in his affliction, but lived, and he would declare the works of the Lord. Because of Jesus, we may never die, and we should proclaim those works of the Lord who gives us that everlasting life.
(18) The Lord has chastened me sore, but He has not given me over to death.
David admitted that the Lord had allowed many afflictions to torment him, but we need to remember that even in those times, the Lord uses it for good. He may allow those afflictions to teach us patience, to open our eyes to truth, and to have us look to Him, our only means to salvation. Although the Lord had chastened David, refining him to be a good king, He had not given him over to death, and for that David was grateful.
(19) Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go into them; I will praise the Lord, (20) This gate of the Lord into which the righteous shall enter.
Many of the commentators that I study thought David meant for porters to open the gates of the temple for him. David used much symbolic language in his psalms, so I rather think this was a plea to be allowed to enter the Lord's presence, which he would eagerly do, where he would praise Him. David desired this special access to the Lord that only the righteous could have.
(21) I will praise You, for You have heard me and have become my salvation.
David praised his Lord for hearing him and being his salvation, saving him from his troubles, yes, but more importantly, saving his eternal soul.
(22) The stone the builders refused has become the head of the corner. (23) This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
David spoke prophetically about the stone the builders refused. In a way, it applied to himself, as Saul and even all the tribes except Judah had rejected him, but he had become king of Israel, and that had been the Lord's doing from the beginning. It was a wondrous thing to see how God raised up a shepherd boy to be His chosen king. Of course, these were the very words of and about Jesus. In Matthew 21:42, Jesus referred to this very scripture when He asked if the chief priests and elders had read it. In Acts 4:11, Peter told the priests and elders that Jesus was the stone that had been rejected by the builders, and He had become the cornerstone.
(24) This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
This was the day that the Lord had brought fulfillment. David was king, and the people would rejoice and be glad. I can't help but think that this could be our prayer for each and every day. Every day is a day the Lord has made. No matter what is going on in our lives, He has allowed us to see another day which offers a new beginning, a day of endless possibilities. It's exciting to see what He will do! We will rejoice and be glad for our Lord has made this day.
(25) Save now, I beseech You, O Lord; O Lord, I beseech You, send now prosperity.
God save the king! David prayed that the Lord make him prosper as a king and send prosperity to their land.
(26) Blessed He who comes in the name of the Lord; we have blessed You out of the house of the Lord.
While these could be words said by the people about David, they are most assuredly prophetic words spoken by David about the coming Messiah. The people said these very words at Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem when they adorned His way and cried, "Hosanna!" They were also the words of Jesus Himself speaking about Himself in Matthew 23:29.
(27) God is the Lord who has showed us light; bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
I believe the sense of this verse is that because the Lord had restored His people from darkness to light, they would willingly offer sacrifices to Him.
(28) You are my God, and I will praise You; my God, I will exalt You.
David acknowledged that the Lord was his God, and he would raise Him up with his words and in his heart and praise Him.
(29) O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy is forever.
David ended his psalm as he began it, with an exhortation for thanks to the Lord because He was forever good and merciful. Thus ends a very beautiful psalm. Personally, I feel like this psalm reads more like an actual song than do some of David's other psalms, because of the repetitions, sort of like a chorus. Actually, this psalm is part of the great Hallel, a song of praise, sung on great occasions such as some of the Jewish festivals.
