Psalms 118:18

"Jehovah hath chastened me sore;

But he hath not given me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness:

I will enter into them, I will give thanks unto Jehovah.

This is the gate of Jehovah;

The righteous shall enter into it."

"Jehovah hath chastened me sore" (Psalms 118:18). The hardships, sufferings, anxieties, and constant threat of death that hounded the steps of David during the final years of Saul's reign fully qualify as the object of such a reference as this. David rejoiced that, at least, God had saved him from death. Therefore King David will enter the Tabernacle with thanksgivings, sacrifices, and praises to God.

"The gates of righteousness" (Psalms 118:19). This means that only the righteous were supposed to enter; but, of course, the wicked also found their way through the gates on occasion. Some of the wickedest people in history were the evil High Priests of Israel, Annas and Caiaphas being those who engineered the crucifixion of the Messiah.

This was the gate of "righteousness" in another sense. God's presence was manifested in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle; and, as Delitzsch pointed out, "The word `righteousness' comprehends within itself all of the attributes of God mentioned in Exodus 34:6ff."