Psalms 118
Big idea: The last psalm of the Hallel, and the crowd on Palm Sunday was quoting it: Save us now — hosanna — blessed is he who comes in Yahweh's name. Its centre is a builder's yard. The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this is Yahweh's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Jesus applies that verse to himself, and Peter repeats it before the same council that rejected him. And in between sit some of the plainest sentences in Scripture: it is better to take refuge in Yahweh than to put confidence in princes. This is the day that Yahweh has made.
Psalm 118 ends the Hallel at the altar. Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, and it is about one thing.
118:1–14 — Better to take refuge in Yahweh
The last of the Hallel, sung at Passover — so this is plausibly the hymn Jesus and the disciples sang before Gethsemane. It opens with a call-and-response the congregation answers three times, and then narrows to one voice surrounded on all sides. The bees in verse 12 are the image to keep: not an army but a swarm, too many to fight and impossible to ignore.
1 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever. 2 Let Israel now say that his loving kindness endures forever. 3 Let the house of Aaron now say that his loving kindness endures forever. 4 Now let those who fear Yahweh say that his loving kindness endures forever. 5 Out of my distress, I called on Yah. Yah answered me with freedom. 6 Yahweh is on my side. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 7 Yahweh is on my side among those who help me. Therefore I will look in triumph at those who hate me. 8 It is better to take refuge in Yahweh, than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in Yahweh, than to put confidence in princes. 10 All the nations surrounded me, but in Yahweh’s name I cut them off. 11 They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me. In Yahweh’s name I indeed cut them off. 12 They surrounded me like bees. They are quenched like the burning thorns. In Yahweh’s name I cut them off. 13 You pushed me back hard, to make me fall, but Yahweh helped me. 14 Yah is my strength and song. He has become my salvation.
118:15–24 — The stone which the builders rejected
The middle movement holds two of the most-quoted verses in the Bible, and both are usually read out of context. The rejected stone is a building-site image — a block the professionals discarded turning out to be the one the corner rests on — and Jesus applies it to himself in all three synoptics. And 'this is the day' is not about any pleasant morning; it is about the day the stone was set.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous. “The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly. 16 The right hand of Yahweh is exalted! The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly!” 17 I will not die, but live, and declare Yah’s works. 18 Yah has punished me severely, but he has not given me over to death. 19 Open to me the gates of righteousness. I will enter into them. I will give thanks to Yah. 20 This is the gate of Yahweh; the righteous will enter into it. 21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me, and have become my salvation. 22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 This is Yahweh’s doing. It is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day that Yahweh has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!
118:25–29 — Blessed is he who comes
The close is the crowd's part, and two of its lines were shouted on Palm Sunday. 'Save us now' is HOSANNA — a plea, not a cheer — and 'blessed is he who comes in Yahweh's name' was the greeting for pilgrims arriving at the festival. The Gospels record both being used of one man entering Jerusalem, which is what the crowd knew they were quoting.
25 Save us now, we beg you, Yahweh! Yahweh, we beg you, send prosperity now. 26 Blessed is he who comes in Yahweh’s name! We have blessed you out of Yahweh’s house. 27 Yahweh is God, and he has given us light. Bind the sacrifice with cords, even to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you. You are my God, I will exalt you. 29 Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).