February 28
Reading: Psalm 118
1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for 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 LORD say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
5 Out of my distress I called on the LORD;
the LORD answered me and set me free.
6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7 The LORD is on my side as my helper;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
10 All nations surrounded me;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
12 They surrounded me like bees;
they went out like a fire among thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
15 Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
16 the right hand of the LORD exalts,
the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!”
17 I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the LORD.
18 The LORD has disciplined me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD;
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 cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save us, we pray, O LORD!
O LORD, we pray, give us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, 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 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
Psalm 118 is the sixth and last psalm of the Egyptian Hallel, sung by the Jewish people every Passover to commemorate their salvation from Egypt. This psalm was obviously written to be used in responsive worship. This psalm moves.
It begins with thanksgiving to the Lord for His “hesed,” His loving covenant faithfulness. (vss. 1-4) It moves on to a celebration of the Lord’s help amid distress. (vss. 5-14) The celebration turns into worship and thanksgiving for the Lord who has “become my salvation.” (vss. 15-21) Finally, the psalm takes a Messianic turn and rejoices in the one “who comes in the name of the Lord.” (vss. 22-29) It is this last section that deserves special focus.
In the final eight verses of this psalm are myriads of connections to other Scriptures, Old Testament and New. Though a mystery when it was written, we can now see that “the stone that the builders rejected” which “has become the cornerstone” (vs. 22) is a reference to Jesus Christ at His coming. (Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11, 1 Peter 2:7) Verses 25-26 are what was sung by the crowds on that first Palm Sunday as Jesus entered Jerusalem. The prayer “Hosanna” means “Save us Lord.” (Matthew 21:9)
Verses 26-29 are an invitation to come into the Temple to worship God, to thank Him, and to present sacrifices to the Lord. But ultimately, it is the Messianic King who “comes in the name of the Lord.” He will enter his holy city and present Himself as the offering that God requires. He will come Himself to save us. For this we now give thanks.
Psalm 118:24 reads, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” This oft quoted passage is used by many to celebrate the gift of God of the moment we are in. There is certainly nothing wrong with such a celebration. But that is not what this verse means. It is an invitation to celebrate the day when the Messiah comes to save us, when he did come and present Himself as our forever sacrifice.