Psalm 118 Part 3

Good songs, good promises, good proverbs, and good doctrines are none the worse for age. David quotes Miriam’s song from v12b-14 (Exodus 15:2.) When the LORD is our ‘strength,’ it means that He is our resource and our refuge. We look to Him for our needs, and we are never unsatisfied. When the LORD is our ‘song,’ it means that He is our joy and our happiness. We find our purpose and life in Him, and He never disappoints. When the LORD is our ‘salvation,’ it means we put our trust for help and deliverance in none other. He is our rest and rescue. To seek God and to receive Him is to receive all these profound gifts.

When delivered, the psalmist breaks into the ancient strain, which had gone up on the shores of the sullen sea that rolled over Pharaoh’s army, and is still true after centuries have intervened: ‘Yahweh is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation.’ Miriam sang it, David sang it, the restored exiles sang it, Jesus and the disciples sung it, tried and trustful people in every age have sung and will sing it, till there are no more foes; and then, by the shores of the sea of glass mingled with fire, the calm victors will lift again the undying ‘song of Moses and of the Lamb’ (Rev 15:3) We will sing of His unfailing love throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.

The tents of the righteous’ v15 alludes to the ‘Feast of Tabernacles’ where Israel dwelt in tents and the song of Miriam was sung.
The psalmist was confident that God would keep him from death in the present crisis (v17.) As Jesus sang this song at the last supper with His disciples, He could proclaim this confidently – that death would keep no hold upon Him, but He would ‘live, and declare the works of the LORD.’
V17 was also precious to men like John Wycliffe and Martin Luther, who faced threats to their lives due to their reformation efforts. Luther had this verse written on his study wall.