Psalms 118

These psalms are called the Egyptian Hallel. Hallel means “praise.” Jewish people use these psalms during Passover, which began when God brought Israel out of Egypt in the exodus. The people recite Psalms 113–114 before the Passover meal, and Psalms 115–118 are recited afterward.

The psalmist joyfully thanks the Lord for his goodness and urges others to trust in his loving devotion (Psalm 118:1–4, 29). This poem is the last of the Egyptian Hallel (Psalms 113–118).

Israel … the house of Aaron … those who fear the LORD: These three groups represent the entire covenant community (compare Psalms 115:9–11; 135:19–20).

The Lord alone is the psalmist’s helper.

• The LORD is on my side: Compare Romans 8:31; Hebrews 13:6.

• God's presence removes the need to fear people (Psalm 56:11). The psalmist joyfully expects God’s rescue (Psalm 59:10; Psalm 112:8).

Trusting in the Lord is better than placing confidence in even the most powerful human leaders (Psalms 118:6; 146:3).

• Strength comes from the name of the LORD. This is shown by the threefold repetition of the attackers, the name of the LORD, and the victory he gives.

• Even when hostile people surrounded the psalmist, the Lord extinguished them like burning thorns (see Isaiah 9:18; 10:17).

The psalmist celebrates the victory of the Lord’s strong right hand, which kept him from death.

God has restored the psalmist from death to life, so he praises the Lord publicly (see Psalm 116:6, 12–19).

The cornerstone shapes and supports a building or arch. It is the most important of all the stones. The Lord selects and places this stone for his sanctuary (Isaiah 28:16).

Jesus referred to himself as this cornerstone (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10–11; Luke 20:17; see Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6–7).

The psalmist sees his own salvation as the beginning of a new day in which the Lord will do great things.

This is the day that the LORD has made: The Lord's victory has begun, but it will be completed on another day (Psalm 118:25).

The psalmist ends with prayer and thanksgiving, anticipating an even greater revelation of God’s victory and rescue.

• The one who comes in the name of the Lord brings the Lord’s complete victory (see Psalm 118:10–12).

• When Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem, the crowds shouted blessings. They used phrases from this verse (Matthew 21:9; Mark 11:9; Luke 19:38; John 12:13).

  Jesus quoted this passage as he wept over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:39; Luke 13:35).