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Psalm 118

A Song of Victory

1

O give thanks to the L ord, for he is good;

his steadfast love endures forever!

 

2

Let Israel say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

3

Let the house of Aaron say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

4

Let those who fear the L ord say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

 

5

Out of my distress I called on the L ord;

the L ord answered me and set me in a broad place.

6

With the L ord on my side I do not fear.

What can mortals do to me?

7

The L ord is on my side to help me;

I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

8

It is better to take refuge in the L ord

than to put confidence in mortals.

9

It is better to take refuge in the L ord

than to put confidence in princes.

 

10

All nations surrounded me;

in the name of the L ord I cut them off!

11

They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;

in the name of the L ord I cut them off!

12

They surrounded me like bees;

they blazed like a fire of thorns;

in the name of the L ord I cut them off!

13

I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,

but the L ord helped me.

14

The L ord is my strength and my might;

he has become my salvation.

 

15

There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:

“The right hand of the L ord does valiantly;

16

the right hand of the L ord is exalted;

the right hand of the L ord does valiantly.”

17

I shall not die, but I shall live,

and recount the deeds of the L ord.

18

The L ord has punished me severely,

but he did not give me over to death.

 

19

Open to me the gates of righteousness,

that I may enter through them

and give thanks to the L ord.

 

20

This is the gate of the L ord;

the righteous shall enter through it.

 

21

I thank you that you have answered me

and have become my salvation.

22

The stone that the builders rejected

has become the chief cornerstone.

23

This is the L ord’s doing;

it is marvelous in our eyes.

24

This is the day that the L ord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25

Save us, we beseech you, O L ord!

O L ord, we beseech you, give us success!

 

26

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the L ord.

We bless you from the house of the L ord.

27

The L ord is God,

and he has given us light.

Bind the festal procession with branches,

up to the horns of the altar.

 

28

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;

you are my God, I will extol you.

 

29

O give thanks to the L ord, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever.


19 Open unto me the gates of righteousness 392392     The gates of the temple, or doors of the tabernacle, are supposed to have been called the gates of righteousness, because they were intended for the reception of those only who were righteous. Under the influence of ardent zeal, David here sets himself to testify his gratitude, commanding the temple to be opened to him, as if the oblations were all already prepared. He now confirms what he said formerly, That he would render thanks to God publicly in the properly constituted assembly of the faithful. It was the practice of the priests to open the doors of the temple to the people; it appears, however, that David here alludes to his long exile, which supposition is corroborated by the following verse. Having been for a long period prevented from having access to the sanctuary, and even from coming within sight of it, he now rejoices and exults at being again admitted to offer sacrifice unto God. And he declares that he will not approach as the hypocrites were wont to do, whom God, by the prophet Isaiah, reproaches with treading his courts in vain, but that he will come with the sacrifice of praise, (Isaiah 1:12) Fully persuaded that he drew near in the spirit of genuine devotion, he says it is proper that the doors of the temple, which lately he durst not enter, should be opened to him and such as he. It is, says he, the gate of Jehovah, and, therefore, he will open it for the just. The meaning is, that banished as David had been from the temple and from his country, now that the kingdom is in a better condition, both he and all the true worshippers of God regained their right to approach his sanctuary. Thus he indirectly mourns over the profanation of the temple, in that, while under the tyranny of Saul, it was occupied by the profane contemners of God, as if it had been a kennel for dogs and other unclean animals. This abomination, the temple being for a long time a den of thieves, is here inveighed against; but now that it is patent to the righteous, he declares it to be God’s holy house. What occurred in the days of Saul is visible in these days, God’s bitter enemies most wickedly and shamefully occupying his sanctuary. The Pope would not be Antichrist if he did not sit in the temple of God, (2 Thessalonians 2:4). Having, by his vile pollutions, converted all temples into brothels, let us endeavor as much as we can to purge them, and prepare them for the pure worship of God. And as it has pleased Him to choose his holy habitation among us, let us exert ourselves to remove all the defilements and abominations which disfigure the purity of the Church. David then relates briefly the reason of his offering the sacrifice of praise to God, namely, that he had been preserved by his grace.


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