I. Read Psalm 118.
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
and his loyal love endures!
2 Let Israel say,
“Yes, his loyal love endures!”
3 Let the family of Aaron say,
“Yes, his loyal love endures!”
4 Let the loyal followers of the Lord say,
“Yes, his loyal love endures!”
5 In my distress I cried out to the Lord.
The Lord answered me and put me in a wide open place.
6 The Lord is on my side, I am not afraid!
What can people do to me?
7 The Lord is on my side as my helper.
I look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take shelter in the Lord
than to trust in people.
9 It is better to take shelter in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me.
Indeed, in the name of the Lord I pushed them away.
11 They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me.
Indeed, in the name of the Lord I pushed them away.
12 They surrounded me like bees.
But they disappeared as quickly as a fire among thorns.
Indeed, in the name of the Lord I pushed them away.
13 “You aggressively attacked me and tried to knock me down,
but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord gives me strength and protects me;
he has become my deliverer.”
15 They celebrate deliverance in the tents of the godly.
The Lord’s right hand conquers,
16 the Lord’s right hand gives victory,
the Lord’s right hand conquers.
17 I will not die, but live,
and I will proclaim what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord severely punished me,
but he did not hand me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of the just king’s temple!
I will enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the Lord’s gate—
the godly enter through it.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me,
and have become my deliverer.
22 The stone which the builders discarded
has become the cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s work.
We consider it amazing!
24 This is the day the Lord has brought about.
We will be happy and rejoice in it.
25 Please Lord, deliver!
Please Lord, grant us success!
26 May the one who comes in the name of the Lord be blessed!
We will pronounce blessings on you in the Lord’s temple.
27 The Lord is God and he has delivered us.
Tie the offering with ropes
to the horns of the altar!
28 You are my God and I will give you thanks!
You are my God and I will praise you!
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
and his loyal love endures!
Introduction – This Psalm was sung by travelers coming to Jerusalem to worship (after the exile). It focuses upon the goodness of the Lord for those entering into His presence in His House. It is used by worshipers on the original Palm Sunday and since then in the Church to mark that time: Psalms 118:25–26 – “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD; We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.” This Psalm includes some marvelous prophetic words that Jesus cited in the temple area during Holy Week. Jesus was the chief cornerstone, but the builders rejected Him. Yet through this rejection, God has acted. The latter verses in the Psalm make it clear that God was doing something marvelous by the rejection of Jesus. The rejection of the chief cornerstone, means the building will be rebuilt. The religious leaders of Jerusalem in the first century rejected Jesus as the cornerstone of the holy temple of God. They were trying to build a different building. Their foundation was their works done in self-righteousness, their dead rites, and their political collusion. Their unrighteousness becomes clearer and clearer as they successfully plot the murder of Jesus. When Jesus went to the temple in fulfillment of Psalm 118, He announced in the words of Jeremiah 7, this temple would be no place of refuge for them. Not one stone would be left standing on the other. Jesus was intent on building another house, another temple, the Church from all nations.
Answer these questions in your own words:
- According to this Psalm, who is the Messiah and what will he do?
- From your knowledge of history, why do you think God let Jerusalem’s temple be destroyed in 70 A.D.?
- The Apostle Paul wrote to Christians, “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1Corinthians 3:16). What are a few things you could do to strengthen your own part in the Church?
- This Psalm speaks of the worshiper who enters into the gates and give thanks (vv19ff). How can you enter into God’s house with this same spirit? Are there ways you could be better prepared for worship (arriving promptly, resting well the night before, learning about the Word to be taught or preached, learning music, etc.)?
II. Pray Psalm 118. Write out a short prayer expressing your response to this psalm.
III. Sing Psalm 118. Worship the Messiah by singing this psalm. Listen to or download this version of Psalm 118 (Music notation is in the Outline). Listen to another version of the Psalm.
31 Days with God 