Psalm 118 Part 1

I feel like this is a sacred moment and that I am on holy ground! This is the choral Hosanna that Jesus sung in the face of death at the conclusion of the last supper, just before leaving for the Garden of Gethsemane. As Jesus sang these words of triumph they must have meant so much to Him. V8 is the centre of the Bible both physically and spiritually. 

Ezra 3:10-11 has psalm 118 being sung at the founding of the second temple and there it is attributed to David. Luther said of this psalm “This is my own beloved psalm. Although the entire Psalter and all of Holy Scripture are dear to me as my only comfort and source of life, I fell in love with this psalm especially. Therefore, I call it my own. When emperors and kings, the wise and the learned, and even saints could not aid me, this psalm proved a friend and helped me out of many great troubles. As a result, it is dearer to me than all the wealth, honour, and power of the pope, the Turk, and the emperor. I would be most unwilling to trade this psalm for all of it.”

This psalm begins and ends with the declaration “His lovingkindness endures forever.” It is a statement of fact and of gratitude, noting that God’s chesed – His loyal covenant love, His (mercy NKJV) lovingkindness – will never be taken from His people. This phrase is liturgical, occurring 4 times in the first 4 verses as an appreciation of God’s people, praising the great unfailing love (NRSV) of the covenant, promise-keeping God! It calls on 3 groups of people: the whole house of Israel, the priests, and “those who fear Yahweh.” (Gentiles who have taken refuge beneath the wings of Israel’s God.) 

It is wonderful to think of Jesus confidently singing v5-6 with His disciples on the night of His betrayal and arrest, and before His suffering and crucifixion. Like none other ever has, Jesus would call ‘on the LORD in distress’ and see God’s faithful answer.