Day 182, Psalms 117-118

Psalm 117
The Lord’s Faithfulness Endures Forever

*The shortest psalm in the Psalter–and the shortest chapter in the Bible–Psalm 117 is an expanded Hallelujah (sometimes joined with Psalm 118). It may originally have served as the conclusion to the preceding collection of Hallelujah psalms (Psalms 111-116)–of which it is the seventh.

All nations and people are called on to praise the Lord (as in Psalm 47:1; Psalm 67:3-5; Psalm 96:7; Psalm 98:4; Psalm 100:1) for his great love and enduring faithfulness toward Israel.

Thus the Hallelujahs of the Old Testament Psalter, when fully expounded, express that great truth, so often emphasized in the Old Testament, that the destiny of all peoples is involved in what God was doing in and for his people Israel (see Psalm 2:8-12; Psalm 47:9; Psalm 67:2; Psalm 72:17; Psalm 102:15; Psalm 110; Genesis 12:3; Deuteronomy 32:43; 1 Kings 8:41-43; etc.)

Praise the Lord, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord
endures forever.
Praise the Lord!
-Psalm 117

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Psalm 118
His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

*A hymn of thanksgiving for deliverance from enemies. Of the many interpretations of this psalm, three have gained the most adherents:

1. A Davidic king leads the nation in a liturgy of thanksgiving for deliverance and victory after a hard-fought battle with a powerful confederacy of nations.

2. Israel celebrates–probably at the Feast of Tabernacles–her deliverance from Egypt and victory over the Canaanites.

3. The postexilic Jews celebrate deliverance from their enemies, either at the dedication of the second temple (see Ezra 6:16) or at the dedication of the rebuilt walls of Jerusalem (see Nehemiah 12:37-43).

Oh give thanks to the Lord,
for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
-118:1

Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me free.
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
The Lord is on my side as my helper;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in man.
-118:5-8

I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
but the Lord helped me.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
Glad songs of salvation
are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,
the right hand of the Lord exalts,
the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”
-118:13-16

I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the Lord.
The Lord has disciplined me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
-118:17-18

Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.
I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
-118:19-21

This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
-118:24

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
The Lord is God,
and he made his light to shine upon us.
-118:26-27

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
Oh give thanks to the Lord,
for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
-118:28-29