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Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 118:1-29

Psalms 118This is the last in this series of the Egyptian Hallel psalms (Psalms 113-118). It describes a festal procession to the temple to praise and sacrifice to the Lord. The historical background may be the dedication of the restored walls and gates of Jerusalem in Ezra and Nehemiah’s time, following the return from Babylonian captivity, in 444 B.C. [Note: Wiersbe, The . . . Wisdom . . ., p. 306.] It contains elements of communal thanksgiving, individual thanksgiving, and liturgical psalms.... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 118:5-9

The writer gave personal testimony to God’s deliverance of him in answer to prayer. Setting him in "a large place" (Psalms 118:5, NASB) pictures freedom to move about without constraint. Since God was with him, he did not need to fear what other people might do to him (cf. Hebrews 13:6). Furthermore the Lord would be his helper, so he could expect to prevail over his adversaries. Therefore it is better to trust in Yahweh than to place one’s confidence in men, even the most powerful of men.... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 118:1-29

This Ps. was evidently written for the Temple worship on the occasion of some great festival (Psalms 118:24), when it might be used as a processional hymn. It has been variously referred (a) to the time when Zerubbabel laid the foundation of the second Temple; (b) to the time of Nehemiah; (c) to the cleansing of the Temple by Judas Maccabæus. It is a noble song. Luther declared that he owed more to Psalms 118 than to all the princes and friends who supported him.Psalms 118:1-18, dealing with... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Psalms 118:1-29

A Cry of Faith and Joy Psalms 118:17 We shall never, I suppose, know from whose lips and heart this cry of faith and joy first sprang. One thing is clear there has been a great danger threatening the very life of a man or a nation. There has been more than danger there has been the very presence of death; but the hour of suspense has now passed, and the man or the nation survives. Doubt has gone, certainty takes its place, and that certainty gives the thought of service, of newness of life, of... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:1-29

Psalms 118:1-29THIS is unmistakably a psalm for use in the Temple worship, and probably meant to be sung antiphonally, on some day of national rejoicing (Psalms 118:24). A general concurrence of opinion points to the period of the Restoration from Babylon as its date, as in the case of many psalms in this Book 5 but different events connected with that restoration have been selected. The psalm implies the completion of the Temple, and therefore shuts out any point prior to that. Delitzsch fixes... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Psalms 118:1-29

Psalm 118-119 Psalms 118:0 Christ the Head of the Corner 1. His mercy endureth forever (Psalms 118:1-7 ) 2. The past experience (Psalms 118:8-12 ) 3. Jehovah My Salvation (Psalms 118:13-19 ) 4. The rejected stone the head of the corner (Psalms 118:20-29 ) This Psalm is the last one which is used from ancient times by the Jews in celebrating the Passover in the home. The Psalms sung begin with Psalms 113:1-9 and end with this Psalm, the one hundred-eighteenth. It is called the... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:1-29

The first psalm in this lesson is one of the imprecatory or cursing psalms, in the interpretation of which we should keep in mind the principles already stated: (1) that the writer speaks as a prophet; (2) that the enemies are not merely personal to him but enemies of God; (3) that they are not individuals so much as nations; and (4) that they are considered at a time when the incorrigible condition has been reached, and they have become permanently fixed in opposition to the Most High. The... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Psalms 118:6-21

I make no pause in these verses, because I think they contain a beautiful subject, in reference to the Lord Jesus in his ministry; and it were a pity to interrupt the reading. Let the Reader, when he hath read them, contemplate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and see whether there is not a very plain allusion to our Lord in what is here said. Nay, doth it not strike him that Christ is the speaker? It is said that this patient sufferer doth not fear men nor princes. And how was this... read more

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