Psa 109:1

SUPERSCRIPTION: “OF DAVID. A PSALM.”

Vv 1-5: David is distressed because of his enemies; vv 6-19: Their curses against him; vv 20-27: David’s distress; vv 28,29: His enemies; vv 30,31: Saved!

At end of v 5, insert “Saying”: thus vv 6-19 are the imprecations of David’s enemies against him. (Other examples: Psa 2:6; 9:12; 22:7; 30:8; 39:3; 41:5; 52:6; 116:4; 132:2,11.)

HISTORICAL SETTING: Absalom’s rebellion, Ahithophel’s deceptions, and esp the cursing of David by Shimei (2Sa 16:5-13).

Psa 109:2

LYING TONGUES: (NT) Psa 27:12. Cp v 4 in the LXX: “Instead of loving me, they falsely accused me.”

Psa 109:3

THEY SURROUND ME: “Then the Jews came round about him” (Joh 10:24).

THEY ATTACK ME WITHOUT CAUSE: Joh 15:25; cp Psa 35:19; 69:4; 119:161.

Psa 109:5

THEY REPAY ME EVIL FOR GOOD: Psa 35:11-13. Were some who testified against Jesus themselves recipients of his miracles? Was Judas so blessed?

Psa 109:6

V 5 should be followed with “saying…” — leading to the curses of David’s enemies recorded in vv 6-20 (cp 2Sa 16:5-13). (Cp Psa 2:2… “saying” in AV, explaining the quotation in Psa 2:3.) (WEnj 205,206)

LET AN ACCUSER STAND AT HIS RIGHT HAND: (NT) The “satan” was Judas; Jesus used the word “diabolos” about him (John 6:70; 13:2, and cp v 26 there), who was to have been chief witness for the “prosecution”. (“Stand at the right hand” is legal language — cp v 7 here; Jdg 6:31; Zec 3:1. The RSV has: “Let an accuser bring him to trial”.) But at the last minute, apparently even after coming to the very scene of judgment (note the implication of “saw” in Mat 27:3), Judas refused to play his assigned, and paid-for, part. Thus he left the prosecution in a quandary with no organized case against Jesus (Mat 26:60). And instead of Judas standing at his right hand, Jesus had an angel there (Psa 109:31; 110:5)!

Psa 109:7

LET HIM BE FOUND GUILTY: (NT) Jesus in Mar 14:64.

Psa 109:8

Absalom’s ambition to be king. And as for Absalom, HIS days were few: 2Sa 18:17; cp Psa 55:23.

MAY HIS DAYS BE FEW: Jesus lived less than 1/2 a normal lifespan.

MAY ANOTHER TAKE HIS PLACE OF LEADERSHIP: The astute Ittai the Gittite took over Ahithophel’s preeminence (2Sa 15:19-22; 18:2,5). Ahithophel, like his NT counterpart Judas, then committed suicide (2Sa 17:23). (NT) In NT “leadership” becomes “episkope” = oversight, responsibility (Act 1:20).

Psa 109:9

Shimei’s eagerness to see David slain.

Psa 109:11

STRANGERS: That is, Gentiles, among whom David will have to seek refuge.

Psa 109:13

MAY HIS DESCENDANTS BE CUT OFF: Absalom attempted this when he had Amnon slain, and when he gave his other brothers cause to fear for their own lives (2Sa 13:29,30).

(NT) Cp Isa 53:8,10: “Who shall declare his generation?… cut off from the land of the living…”

Psa 109:14

THE INIQUITY OF HIS FATHERS: (NT) The fall of Adam, and the resultant inheritance of “sin” for all his posterity (Rom 5:12-19), came through all the way to Jesus (Psa 89:50).

THE SIN OF HIS MOTHER: Looking back to Ruth, a virtuous woman unjustly accused (Rth 1:4; 3:8,14)?

(NT) Cp innuendo of Joh 8:41: “WE are not born of fornication.”

Psa 109:16

Accusation against David re Bathsheba and esp Uriah (2Sa 12:3,4)?

Psa 109:17

MAY IT COME ON HIM: The curses Shimei aimed at David came back on his own head (1Ki 2:36-46).

Psa 109:18

IT ENTERED INTO HIS BODY LIKE WATER: “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and came there out blood and water” (Joh 19:34).

Psa 109:19

Cp the High Priest’s robe, torn in anger at the words of Christ: Mat 26:65.

Psa 109:20

THE LORD’S PAYMENT: Or “from the Lord” (AV). Re Shimei: “For the Lord hath bidden him” (2Sa 16:11).

Psa 109:22

(NT) Jesus’ lament about being forsaken on the cross (Psa 22:1; Mat 27:46; Mar 15:34).

Psa 109:23

I AM SHAKEN OFF LIKE A LOCUST: A ref to the shaking off of a garment of an unwelcome insect. Alternative: “I am tossed up and down like a locust” (AV): The flying locusts are tossed up and down, and whirled round and round by the ever varying currents of the mountain winds (LB 419; Exo 10:19; Joe 2:20).

Psa 109:24

MY KNEES GIVE WAY: (NT) Christ’s inability to carry his own cross to the place of execution (Mar 15:21).

FASTING: (NT) True of Jesus in the days before his crucifixion?

Psa 109:27

(NT) Jesus was delivered by the determination of God Himself (Psa 22:31; Mat 27:54; Act 2:23,24; 4:28).

Psa 109:30

IN THE GREAT THRONG I WILL PRAISE HIM: ‘If I find favor with God, He will bring me again, and show me His ark and His habitation’ (2Sa 15:25).

Psa 110:1

SUPERSCRIPTION: “OF DAVID. A PSALM.”

HISTORICAL CONTEXT: 2Sa 6: The ark brought to Zion. The king, David, takes part of priest, in linen ephod, offering sacrifice, blessing the people, bringing forth bread and wine, like Melchizedek (2Sa 6:19; cp Gen 14:18; Heb 7:1; Isa 25:6; Luk 22:17,18; Mat 26:26-29). Then there follows 2Sa 8: the king conquers surrounding nations.

THE LORD SAYS TO MY LORD: “Yahweh said unto my Adon.” Other OT prophecies of virgin birth: Psa 22:9,10; 69:8; 89:26,27; 132:11; Gen 3:15; Pro 30:19; Isa 7:14; Jer 31:22; Mic 5:2.

SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND: Ct Psa 109:31. A dual occupancy of God’s heavenly throne: Rev 3:21; 7:17; 22:1.

RIGHT HAND: Strength (Exo 15:6; Psa 20:6; 63:8; 118:15,16); righteousness (Psa 48:10); authority (Isa 62:8); honor (Gen 48:13-18; 1Ki 2:19); salvation (Psa 17:7; 60:5); and fellowship (Psa 16:11).

UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET: Cp Jos 10:24; 1Sa 17:51: trampling under foot in conquest. Or, alternatively, “footstool” = place where God is worshiped (Psa 132:7), ie the ark (Psa 99:5). So, “until I make your enemies your worshipers”!

Psa 110:2

YOUR MIGHTY SCEPTER: The iron rod to rule God’s enemies (Psa 2:8,9; Isa 11:1,4; Rev 2:26,27; 12:5; 19:5; Dan 2:35,45). Cp Num 17:10: Aaron’s rod exalted above others.

Psa 110:3

(NT) Or, from LXX, “From the womb before the morning I begat thee!” The virgin birth of Christ!

WILLING: Heb “nedebah” = freewill offerings (RV mg). Cp Exo 25:2; 35:5,21,22,29.

HOLY MAJESTY: “Beauties of holiness” (AV): cp 1Ch 6:29; 2Ch 20:21; Psa 29:10; 96:9. RSV and RV mg have “upon the holy mountains” (“harar” / mountain in Heb, instead of “hadar” / beauty).

DEW: Sym effects of Holy Spirit, causing the resurrection of the faithful in the “morning” of Christ’s coming (cp Isa 26:19; 2Sa 23:4; Psa 133:3). Also, sym a multitude (2Sa 17:12; Mic 5:7), enjoying the favor of the king (Pro 19:2); and/or the unfailing compassions of God for His people (Gen 27:28; Lam 3:22,23); and/or the manna fresh every morning (Num 1:9).

The LXX reads: “With thee is dominion in the day of thy power, in the splendours of thy saints: I have begotten thee from the womb before the morning”: the Virgin Birth in the OT: Psa 71:6; 89:26,27; 110:3, LXX; Gen 3:15; 49:1,25; Isa 7:14; 49:1; Jer 31:22; Mic 5:1,2; 2Sa 7:14.

Psa 110:4

THE LORD HAS SWORN: The three great and quite immutable oaths of God: to Abraham (Gen 22:16; Luk 1:73; Heb 6:13-18); to Israel (Num 14:21: the Land has not yet been filled with the Glory); and to David (Psa 89:35-37). To this latter oath David himself responded with an oath of his own (Psa 132:2-5). There is also the angelic oath on God’s behalf concerning an unchangeable 3 1/2 years at the end of the age (Dan 12:7). Jer 22:5 has another divine oath which within a few years found most tragic fulfillment: “But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation.”

Psa 110:5

“The Lord at thy (Messiah’s) right hand: The apparent contradiction with Psa 110:1 is resolved by reading Psa 110:1 — along with Psa 16:11 — (Christ at God’s right hand) — meaning: Christ ascended to heavenly glory; whereas v 5 here (God at Christ’s right hand) meaning: Christ upon the earth. Compare v 5 also with Psa 16:8 (God at Christ’s right hand) — this time with reference to Jesus on trial (cp also Psa 109:31).

Psa 110:6

HE WILL JUDGE AMONG THE NATIONS, HEAPING UP THE DEAD: Cp Eze 38:21,22; 39:4,11-20.

CRUSHING THE RULERS OF THE WHOLE EARTH: “He shall wound the heads over many countries” (RV mg) (Gen 3:15). Or, better, “over the wide earth”. Or, as JT translates: “He shall strike through the head of a wide dominion.” This seems to echo David’s experience in 1Sa 17:51,54 — the slaying of the Philistine champion (“heads”, plural = “the great head”?). This will be the real fulfillment of Gen 3:15.

“The High Priest of the universe, when he comes to rule, is not coming with a narcotic and a lullaby. He is coming with power and with purity. He will make no truce with the things which hurt and harm mankind. He will end the paltry tricks of human government which enslave men behind iron or bamboo curtains. He will destroy those who invent diabolical things for the destruction of the earth which was made to reflect the glory of God” (DG).

Psa 110:7

David, when he was pursuing the marauding Amalekites, stopped at the brook Besor and refreshed his company (1Sa 30:9), before going on to win a victory. And Gideon with his 300 men, “faint, yet pursuing”, passed over the brook Jordan on his way to a rout of the enemy (Jdg 8:4).

(NT) Finally, Jesus, passing through “the valley of the shadow of death” (Psa 23:4), drinks of the “bitter waters” of tears and sorrows (Psa 102:9; 80:5) — is this the Kidron, “the king’s vale”? Or is this instead the clear, cool brook of the water of life and truth (Isa 55:1; Joh 4:14) — where Jesus oft refreshed himself spiritually?

THEREFORE HE WILL LIFT UP HIS HEAD: “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth” (Phi 2:8-10).

Psa 111:1

See Lesson, Acrostics.

See Lesson, Psalms, “Hallelujah”.

COUNCIL… ASSEMBLY: Passover terms: “Council” = “cowd” (assembly in AV) = the smaller, family-type unit gathered around one lamb. “Assembly” = “edah” (congregation in AV) = the whole nation of Israel assembled.

Psa 111:2

THE WORKS OF THE LORD: The plagues upon Egypt.

PONDERED: “Studied” (RSV). Impl painstaking attention to all the details of the Exodus story; the “Haggadah”, or “setting forth”: Exo 12:26-28; Rom 3:25; 1Co 11:26.

Psa 111:4

HE HAS CAUSED HIS WONDERS TO BE REMEMBERED: As a memorial to all generation: cp Exo 13:9,10.

THE LORD IS GRACIOUS AND COMPASSIONATE: “And God heard their groaning…” (Exo 2:24,25; cp Exo 34:6,7).

Psa 111:5

FOOD: The passover meal or, possibly, the manna in the wilderness (Exo 16; Num 11).

HE REMEMBERS HIS COVENANT FOREVER: “This day shall be unto you for a memorial… throughout your generations… forever” (Exo 12:14).

Psa 111:6

THE LANDS OF OTHER NATIONS: The land of the Canaanites, promised to Abraham and to Israel (Gen 15:14-21).

Psa 111:9

REDEMPTION: Esp appropriate for Passover: Exo 8:23; 13:13; Deu 7:8; 13:5.

Psa 111:10

THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM: Job 28:28; Pro 1:7; 9:10; 15:33; Ecc 12:13. Cp “BEGINNING of months” (Exo 12:2), for Passover.

Psa 112:1

See Lesson, Acrostics.

CONTEXT: The life of Hezekiah.

Psa 112:2

HIS CHILDREN WILL BE MIGHTY IN THE LAND: Hezekiah’s lack of a son (Psa 127:3-5; 128:3) to continue the Davidic line was a great grief. His immed son Manasseh was scarcely the looked-for seed, but Jesus was!

(NT) Believers new-born in Christ (Psa 22:30; Isa 53:10; Psa 102:18; 103:22; 104:31; 145:5,9,10), to inherit the “Land” or earth (Mat 5:5; Rev 5:9,10).

Psa 112:3

WEALTH AND RICHES ARE IN HIS HOUSE: (NT) With regard to Christ, equivalent to “his righteousness”!

Psa 112:4

EVEN IN DARKNESS LIGHT DAWNS FOR THE UPRIGHT: (NT) Jesus’ resurrection (Mat 28:3,4; Luk 24:4).

Psa 112:5

GOOD WILL COME TO HIM WHO IS GENEROUS AND LENDS FREELY: Lev 25:35-38; Deu 15:7-10; Job 31:16-22; Psa 37:21; Pro 19:17; 25:21,22; Luk 6:35.

WHO CONDUCTS HIS AFFAIRS WITH JUSTICE: Like a good steward of the gifts that come from God (1Co 4:2; 1Pe 4:10), the man of discretion will not lavish blessings upon others without thought and planning.

Psa 112:6

A RIGHTEOUS MAN WILL BE REMEMBERED FOREVER: (NT) The breaking of bread? Immortality? Or the combining of the two in the age to come (Luk 22:16,l8).

Psa 112:7

HE WILL HAVE NO FEAR OF BAD NEWS: Hezekiah receiving the news of Sennacherib’s advance on Jerusalem (2Ki 19:6; 2Ch 32:1,2).

HIS HEART IS STEADFAST, TRUSTING IN THE LORD: Hezekiah’s words: “Be strong and courageous….” (2Ch 32:6-8).

Psa 112:8

IN THE END HE WILL LOOK IN TRIUMPH ON HIS FOES: 185,000 dead (Isa 37:36)!

Psa 112:9

HE HATH SCATTERED ABROAD HIS GIFTS TO THE POOR: Cited by Paul in 2Co 9:9. As God gives gifts (ie immortality) to men through Christ, so men should give gifts (material things) to others: Pro 11:24; Mat 5:7.

HORN: Implying triumph over adversaries (Psa 18:2; 75:10; 89:17,24; 92:10; 132:17; 1Sa 2:1,10; 2Sa 22:3; Luk 1:69).

HONOR: The gifts of 2Ch 32:23.

Psa 112:10

HE WILL GNASH HIS TEETH: (NT) The anger of the Sanhedrin, directed against Stephen (Act 7:54).

THE LONGINGS OF THE WICKED WILL COME TO NOTHING: That is, that which they long for.

Psa 113:1

THE PASSOVER HALLEL: PSALMS 113-118: Called the Egyptian, or the Common, Hallel — to distinguish from the Great Hallel (Psa 120-136). By tradition, Psa 113, 114 were sung before the meal, and Psa 115-118 after the meal (Mat 26:30; Mar 14:26). Thus the last hymns sung by Jesus before his arrest and trial and crucifixion.

A summary of the “Passover Hallel”: (1) Psa 113 praises God’s majesty. (2) Psa 114 speaks of deliverance. (3) Psa 115 praises God for the deliverance. (4) Psa 116 praises God for the one through whom the deliverance came. (5) Psa 117 is the appeal by the saints to the mortal nations in the millennium. (6) Psa 118 is the praise of Jesus and the redeemed.

Psa 113:3

“From rising to setting of sun” identifies this psalm as esp for temple use. Cp day when lambs were slain “between the evenings” (Exo 12:6, AVm). Cp also Malachi’s use of this v (Mal 1:11). Also, “from east (rising of sun) to west (setting)” is general direction of gospel’s spread.

Psa 113:4

THE LORD IS EXALTED OVER ALL THE NATIONS: And, implicitly, over the gods of all the nations (Psa 47:2; 95:3; 96:4,5; 97:9).

Psa 113:5

WHO IS LIKE THE LORD?: Suggests “Michael” (like El): cp Isa 40:18,25; Exo 15:11; Deu 3:24.

Psa 113:6

WHO STOOPS DOWN: Himself? Or, “who humbles (ie who humbles others, like the angels)” by showing them the work of His hands, the heavens (cp Isa 40:26)?

Psa 113:8

HE SEATS THEM WITH PRINCES, WITH THE PRINCES OF THEIR PEOPLE: Our spiritual privileges are of the highest order. “Among princes” is the place of the most select society. “Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1Jo 1:3). There is no “high society” like this! “We are a chosen generation, a peculiar people, a royal priesthood” (1Pe 2:9). “We are come unto the general assembly and church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven” (Heb 12:23). The saints have an audience in the “court of heaven”: princes have admission to royalty when common people must stand afar off. “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father” (Eph 2:18). “Let us come boldly’, says the apostle, ‘to the throne of the heavenly grace” (Heb 4:16).

Among princes there is abundant wealth, but what is the wealth of princes compared with the riches of believers? for “all things are yours, and ye are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s” (1Co 3:23). “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom 8:32).

Princes have peculiar power. A prince of God has great influence: he wields a ruler’s scepter in his own domain; he sits with Jesus upon his throne: “He hath made us kings and priests unto God, and we shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev 5:10).

Princes have special honor. For what is human grandeur to this, “He hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:6)? We share the honor of Christ, and compared with this, earthly honors are not worth a thought. Communion with Jesus is a richer gem than ever glittered in any imperial crown. Union with the Lord is a crown of glory outshining all the blaze of imperial pomp and circumstance.

Psa 114:1

CONTEXT: Israel’s exodus from Egypt (see Psa 113:1n).

THE HOUSE OF JACOB: An indirect reminder of Jacob’s hope to return to the Land (Gen 28:13,14,19; 48:3,4).

FROM A PEOPLE OF FOREIGN TONGUE: Cp Psa 81:5; Deu 28:49. Not only the Egyptians (Gen 42:23), but also the Assyrians (Isa 28:11; 33:19). But ct Isa 19:18,22-25; Zep 3:9; Zec 14:9!

Psa 114:2

The establishing of God’s covenant with the nation of Israel at Sinai.

Psa 114:3

Foes “flee” at the coming of a mightier force!

Psa 114:4

THE MOUNTAINS SKIPPED LIKE RAMS: Sw “danced” in Ecc 3:4. Rams in Psa 29:6; 68:16; Hab 3:10. Earthquakes accompany awesome manifestations of God: Exo 19:18; Jdg 5:4; Psa 77:18; 114:4; Isa 2:10-22; Jer 4:24; Eze 38:20; Joe 3:16; Amo 9:1,5; Zec 14:4; Rev 6:12; 11:19; 16:18.

Psa 114:7

TREMBLE: “Chuwl”, a word associated with childbirth (Psa 29:8,9; 77:16; Isa 13:8; 23:4,5; 26:17,18; 45:10; 54:1; 66:7,8; Mic 4:10). The Land of Israel was “travailing” to bring forth the new nation of God’s people in its midst!

Cp similar language for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions: Psa 77:18; 97:4,5; 104:32.

Psa 115:1

SUBJECT: Scorn against idols. Poss author: Isaiah (Isa 44:9-20; 46:1-10). Cp 2Ch 32:17,19; Isa 3614,16,18; Psa 42:10; 74:10,18,22,23; 79:10,12.

LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS: “Mercy and truth” (AV). A technical term for God’s promises (Mic 7:20; Gen 24:27; 32:9,10; Psa 40:10; 85:10).

Psa 115:2

The idiocy, from the pagan point of view, in worshiping a God no one can see! Well, where was He? — they asked. To their consternation and eternal sorrow, they were soon to discover that — though the God of Israel dwelt in heaven (v 3) — His might and power and glory were centered in Jerusalem.

Psa 115:3

Cp the Lord’s Prayer (Mat 6:9-11; Luk 11:2-4): “Which art in heaven… Thy will be done”; and v 1: “Hallowed by Thy Name”.

Psa 115:4

Their idols are silver and gold. And so today many men worship silver and gold in a slightly different form! Are they any less “idolatrous” (see Col 3:5)?

MADE BY THE HANDS OF MEN: “Of a truth, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries. And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them” (Isa 37:18,19). “And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man” (2Ch 32:19).

Psa 115:5

Vv 5-7: THEY HAVE MOUTHS… EYES… EARS… NOSES… HANDS… FEET…: So these idols should at least have the senses which a man has. But not they! Not one characteristic of life or intelligence. Thus they are called “vanities” and “nothing” (ie, “no-gods”) by Paul (Act 14:15-17; 1Co 8:4-6; see BThes 38,39). Yet such “nothings” are worshiped by the most powerful nation on earth. “Lord, what fools these mortals be!”

EYES, BUT THEY CANNOT SEE: “Half dazzled peering through the lens, Self-blinded by the test-tube’s reek, They gauge the wave length of the tones, But hear not the Creator speak.

“O fools and blind! O fools and blind! The blinder since you think you see; Tracing the veining of the leaf, You miss the glory of the tree.

“The feather of the painted wing You view with microscopic eye, Laying each nerve and tendon bare, Yet never see the butterfly.

“You seek the reptiles in the slime Of oozy cave and cavern dim, And see not circling overhead The chariots of the Cherubim” (CAL).

Psa 115:8

THOSE WHO MAKE THEM WILL BE LIKE THEM: Like the idols, they who manufacture and then worship them will one day be silent (v 17) — in their graves! Even now, they are “deaf”, “dumb”, “blind”, and totally insensible to the Glory of God all around them. (Cp Christ’s rebuke of the “blind” Pharisees: Joh 3:19,20; 9:39-41; 12:40.) That man grows more and more like what he admires or worships is a principle well-attested in Deu 7:26 — and just as true today as in Moses’ time: “Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.”

AND SO WILL ALL WHO TRUST IN THEM: “Trust” leads on to vv 9-11. What a contrast! Note Isa 37:10. It may be that “Israel”, in v 9 here, means Hezekiah himself. This usage is common in Isaiah (eg, Isa 41:8,9; 43:1,5; 44:1,2,21).

Psa 115:10

HOUSE OF AARON: The high priest Urijah, whom Hezekiah inherited from his worthless father Ahaz, was a feeble flatterer and parasite (2Ki 16:10-16), soon to be replaced by the worthy Eliakim (Isa 22:20-22; 37:2).

Psa 115:11

YOU WHO FEAR HIM: That is, those out of the estranged northern tribes who rallied to Hezekiah’s reformation and Passover (2Ch 30:1-12).

HELP AND SHIELD: Cp Psa 33:20. A chanted refrain (vv 9-11)! “For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake” (Isa 37:35).

Psa 115:12

The High Priest’s blessing: Num 6:23-27.

Psa 115:13

Quoted in Rev 11:18; 19:5.

Psa 115:14

Hezekiah’s anxiety that he might die childless, and the Davidic covenant be cut off (Psa 112;2; 113:9).

Psa 115:16

THE EARTH HE HAS GIVEN TO MAN: Either as an eternal inheritance in His Messianic Kingdom (v 18), or as an eternal sleeping place (v 17)! Heaven and earth are eventually combined in a lasting redemption through the Messiah (v 18).

For the earth as the eternal reward of the righteous, see (a small sampling of proof-texts!) Gen 13:15; Num 14:21; Psa 37:11,29; Pro 10:30; 11:31; Isa 11:9; 45:18; Dan 2:44; 7:27; Zec 14:16; Mat 5:5; Luk 13:28; Rom 4:13; Rev 2:26,27; 5:10.

Are there ramifications here regarding man’s insatiable quest to explore outer space? Do more disasters await those who refuse to be content with the terrestrial home provided mankind by God?

Psa 115:17

THOSE WHO GO DOWN TO SILENCE: Not up into heaven to play a harp for ever!? Cp Hezekiah’s psalm: “For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth” (Isa 38:18,19). Even a righteous man like Hezekiah knew he would not go to heaven at death (cp Joh 3:13; Act 2:29,34).

For death as an unconscious state, see Psa 6:5; 88:10-12; 104:33; 146:3,4; Ecc 9:5,6,10.

This v is particularly fitting to describe the Egyptian army overwhelmed under the waves of the Red Sea.

Psa 116:1

See Lesson, Psalms, “Hallelujah”.

SETTING: Hezekiah’s life: his sufferings (vv 3,10), prayer for restoration (vv 1,4), recovery (vv 6,8,15), his gratitude to God (vv 9,12,13,16,17), and his enthusiasm for the praise of God (vv 2,14,18,19).

Psa 116:3

“The sorrows of death compassed me” (Psa 18:4,5). The language of sacrifice: the sacrifice being bound to the altar (Psa 118:27; cp Gen 22:9; Mat 26:38).

THE ANGUISH OF THE GRAVE: Cp Act 2:24: “The pains (birth-pangs) of death”.

Psa 116:4

Gethsemane: “Let this cup pass from me” (Mat 26:39; Mar 14:35,36; Luk 22:42).

Psa 116:7

BE AT REST: Language used of the Ark of God’s covenant: Num 10:35,36; Psa 132:8,14).

Psa 116:8

MY EYES FROM TEARS: (NT) The “strong crying and tears” (Heb 5:7; Luk 22:41-44).

Psa 116:10

“We also believe, and therefore speak the message of the gospel” (2Co 4:13). Because we believe, therefore we speak!

Psa 116:11

The deceit in the time of Hezekiah: that of the Assyrians, “treacherous dealers” (Isa 21:2; 24:16; 33:1). Also, that of the princes of Judah, who forgot their faith in God and trusted instead in the Egyptians.

Quoted by Paul in Rom 3:4: “Every man a liar”; both Jews and Gentiles all under sin.

DISMAY: “Haste” in AV: sw Exo 12:11 (Passover): related to Jesus at the Last Supper?

Psa 116:12

Vv 12,13: Arguing back from the Hezekiah prototype, the benefits spoken of here are the Lord’s resurrection and divine glory; and “the cup of salvation (the cup of “Jesus”!) — also one of the traditional cups of wine at the Passover — will be the fulfillment of Mat 26:28,29,39.

In v 13, “salvation” is in fact plural (yeshuoth), possibly another intensive plural: ie, “the cup of the great, or absolute, salvation”!

Psa 116:15

THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS: The death is that of Jesus. But in him there is also the representative deaths of all the faithful (Rom 6:3,8; 14:8; 1Co 15:29; 2Co 5:14; 6:9; Gal 2:20; 6:14).

“Death is not sad if the life has been wholly lived in and unto God. It is but brief rest from faithful labor, sweet sleep oblivious of all sorrow and care, awaiting joyful and eternal reunion with the choicest, loveliest, most beautiful characters of all ages: the very pick of the human race. How pleasant is good company! Let us so endeavor to live each moment wholly within God and His Truth and His Purpose and His Love, that we may — with humble, trusting confidence — at last close our eyes to this life in perfect peace: total, thankful joy — without fear, without regret” (GVG).

Psa 116:16

THE SON OF YOUR MAIDSERVANT: Cp Psa 86:16. One of the OT anticipations of the Virgin Birth (cp Gen 3:15; 49:1,25; Psa 22:9; 71:6; 89:26,27; 110:3; Isa 7:14; 49:1; Jer 31:22; Mic 5:1,2; 2Sa 7:14).

FREED ME FROM MY CHAINS: First tied to altar (v 3), then freed!

Psa 116:17

A THANK OFFERING: “The two words that should always be on the tip of our mind’s tongue are ‘Thank God.’ Not just ‘God,’ but ‘Thank God.’ This is the atmosphere and environment in which our inner heart must constantly dwell. It is wholesome, holy, beautiful, and serene. But cannot Love exist without prior benefit? Is it not purer so? Must Love be built merely on thankfulness for something received? Well, are we speaking of theory, or reality? And are we speaking of the primary Root, or of the subsequent Flower? ‘We love because He first loved us,’ John says. Could we do it, if He hadn’t? No. We are mere flesh. We would not have either the knowledge or the power ourselves. Let us get a true picture of the flesh: not the proud human fantasy of it. God had to show us, and motivate us. Our thanks are for the power and enlightenment of His Love — the essential root of all we can ever be. Once He has set in motion this glorious process, once He has lit the Lamp and kindled the fire, then Love indeed can go forth and initiate goodness without prior benefit, because its living roots always reach back to this, and to Him” (GVG).

Psa 117:1

See Lesson, Psalms, “Hallelujah”.

NATIONS… PEOPLES: “Goyim” / “amim” = Gentiles and Jews. The only place in the 12 “Hallel” Psalms where the Gentiles are explicitly brought in to share in the praise of God, and — more than this — even to lead the praise. For other instances of Gentiles praising God, see Psa 57:9; 67:2,4; 72:11,17; 96:3,10; 98:2; 108:3; Isa 11:10; 42:1,6; 4;9:6; 60:3,5,11,16; 62:2; 66:19. This praise, from a variety of peoples, is echoed in Rev 7:9.

Psa 117:2

LOVE… FAITHFULNESS: “Mercy” and “truth” (AV): the covenants of promise (Psa 115:1).

Psa 118:1

CONTEXT: Hezekiah.

Psa 118:4

THOSE WHO FEAR THE LORD: An expression used in Acts of Gentile believers (Act 10:2,22,35; 13:16; 16:38; 19:17; cp Rev 11:18; 19:5).

Psa 118:5

BY SETTING ME FREE: “In a large place” (AV): Psa 18:18,19. A roomy place, so pleasant to one who had been shut up because of his sickness. The temple court (vv 19,20).

Psa 118:6

The Assyrian threat against Jerusalem coincided with the king’s sickness (Isa 38:5,6).

Psa 118:8

TO TRUST IN MAN: The Assyrians and Hezekiah’s own counselors were alike “treacherous dealers” (Isa 21:2; 24:16; 33:1).

Psa 118:10

ALL THE NATIONS SURROUNDED ME: The Assyrians, like the Romans, boosted their military strength by enrolling mercenaries from other nations (Psa 47:3; 48:4; 76:12; 79:6; Isa 5:26,30; 29:7; 30:28; 34:1,2; Mic 4:11).

(NT) All nations = the Jew Caiaphas, the Roman Pilate, and the Edomite Herod (Psa 2:1,2; cp Luk 23:12; Act 4:25-28).

Psa 118:12

THEY SWARMED AROUND ME LIKE BEES: “The bee that is in the land of Assyria” (Isa 7:14; cp Deu 1:44). Or, by a small change, could read “they assaulted me with words.” Rabshakeh’s sustained propaganda (Psa 42:10; 44:13,14,16; 74:10; 102:8; 2Ki 19:4,16,22,23; Isa 37:4,17,23,24).

BURNING THORNS: Gathered as fuel in the ANE. Make a quick, hot fire. Thus, quick and sudden destruction (2Sa 23:6,7; Psa 58:9; Ecc 7:6,7; Isa 9:18; 10:17; Nah 1:10).

Psa 118:14

MY SONG: (NT) This most important part of the “Passover Hallel” was quite prob the final hymn sung by Jesus at the Last Supper (Mat 26:30).

Psa 118:15

SHOUTS OF JOY AND VICTORY: The Assyrians besieged Jerusalem at Passover (Isa 30:29,31; 31:5; 33:19,20; cp Isa 26:20,21 with Exo 12:22; and Isa 37:36 with Exo 12:23).

THE LORD’S RIGHT HAND HAS DONE MIGHTY THINGS: The angel of the Lord destroying the Assyrians (Isa 37:36).

RIGHT HAND: Strength (Exo 15:6; Psa 20:6; 63:8; 118:15,16); righteousness (Psa 48:10); authority (Isa 62:8); honor (Gen 48:13-18; 1Ki 2:19); salvation (Psa 17:7; 60:5); and fellowship (Psa 16:11).

Psa 118:17

I WILL NOT DIE BUT LIVE: The triumphant reversal of Isaiah’s words, in God’s message to Hezekiah: “Thou shalt die, and not live” (Isa 38:1).

This v was quoted by John Wycliffe to his enemies on his deathbed — words fulfilled, of course, in the continued success of the English Bible.

Psa 118:19

OPEN FOR ME THE GATES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: The gates closed by Hezekiah’s unrighteous father (2Ch 29:3; Isa 38:22).

(NT) Hezekiah celebrated his recovery by a special thanksgiving in the house of the Lord. So also Jesus, on the day of his resurrection, ascended to his Father’s presence (Joh 20:17). This he did to show the tokens of his sacrifice (the wounds in his hands and feet and side), fulfilling the type of the High Priest going once yearly into the presence of God on the Day of Atonement, bearing the blood of sacrifice for the sins of the nation.

(Henry Sulley writes: “Ecclesiasticism makes a fearful travesty of this psalm in the ceremony of a bishop knocking with his jeweled crook at a cathedral door.”)

And in days to come Jerusalem will see “the gates of righteousness” opened so that a King of Righteousness, a King of Glory, may come in (Psa 110:4; 24:7,10; Isa 26:2).

Psa 118:22

(NT) This “stone” is specifically interpreted as the Messiah in Mat 21:42-44: “Jesus saith unto them, ‘Did ye never read the scriptures, “The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes”? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder’ ” (cp Mar 12:10,11; Luk 20:17).

To his quotation of Psa 118 Jesus adds (in Mat 21:44) an allusion to the “stone of stumbling” of Isa 8:14,15 — equating both the rejected stone and the stone of stumbling to himself. Peter confirms this, and also joins Isa 8 together with the tried and precious cornerstone of Isa 28:16: “To whom [ie, to the Lord] coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed [ie, rejected: Psa 118:22] indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively [living] stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, ‘Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded’ [Isa 28:16]. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious {Isa 28:16]: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner [Psa 118:22], and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence [Isa 8:14], even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient” (1Pe 2:4-8).

The repeated use by Jesus and the apostles (cp Paul in Rom 9:32,33 and Eph 2:20-22) of these Old Testament “stone” prophecies calls for special attention. Undoubtedly they saw the great altar-stone of Zion as emblematic of the sacrificial work of the Messiah.

The One who came to offer his life as the perfect sacrifice was rejected in that task by the would-be spiritual heads of Israel (Act 4:11); but it was through that very rejection, and only because of it, that Jesus was actually offered as the sacrifice for the sins of all men. And so the cross of Christ, while precious to some, became at the same time a source of confusion and offence, or stumbling, to others (1Co 1:18-29, especially v 23). But, like the original altar-stone, Christ too can never be moved or replaced (1Co 3:11). He is, and will be, the sure foundation of all the apostles and prophets, and in and around him the whole “building” of God’s holy temple has been, is being, and will be framed (Eph 2:20-22; cp Dan 2:34,35,44).

Psa 118:24

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE: A Passover deliverance outstripping that in the time of Moses.

“Thank God for every new day. Make each one a fresh, thankful, enthusiastic new beginning. Yesterday’s follies, failures, fleshlinesses, weaknesses, time-wastings, are all gone with the night: analyzed, and self-searchingly and prayerfully — ever conscious of its own weakness and limitation and need” (GVG).

Psa 118:25

The Land was devastated, crops and herds destroyed by the invaders. yet within a few months, there was to be a great recovery to more than normal prosperity (Psa 67:6; 81:16; 85:12; 96:12; Isa 35:1,6,7; 41:18; 43:19; 44:23).

(NT) “Hosanna” = “save”, related to Jesus (Savior). These words were quoted by the people at the time of Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Mat 21:9,15; Mar 11:9,10; Joh 12:13).

Psa 118:26

BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD: The priests in the temple throw open the gates for the king to enter in solemn procession, to offer a special sacrifice of thanksgiving.

(NT) By NT times, the “Coming One” had become a well-recognized title of Messiah (Mat 3:11; 11:3; 23:39; Luk 3:15,16; 13:35; 19:38; Joh 1:39; 6:14; 11:27; 12:13; Rev 1:7).

FROM THE HOUSE OF THE LORD WE BLESS YOU: The High Priest blessing of Num 6:23-27.

Psa 118:27

“Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar” (cp Psa 116:3; Gen 22:9). Or simply, “Bring the sacrifice, bound with cords, to…” The NIV — “join in the festal procession” — is related to “Palm Sunday” (Mat 21:8)?

Jesus used a scourge of small cords to cleanse the temple by driving out the animals and money-changers. It was this action which settled the fate of Jesus. Now he would be bound with cords and led away to crucifixion.