Westminster Annotations, Psalms · Psalm 118
PSAL. CXVIII.
Vers. 1. OGive thanks unto the Lord, &c.] 1 Chron. 16. 8. Psal. 106. 1. and 107. 1. and 136. 1. Because God, by creating David king, shewed his mercy towards his afflicted Church, the prophet doth not onelyonly himself thank God, but exhorteth all the people to do the same.
V. 3. Let the house of Aaron now say] See Notes on psal. 115. 10.
V. 5. in distresse] Heb. out of distresse. The more troubles oppresse us, the more instant ought we to be in prayer.
in distresse the Lord answered me] Psal. 120. 1.
in a large place] Psal. 18. 20.
V. 6. The Lord is on my side, I will not fear] Psal. 56. 4, 11. Heb. 13. 6.
on my side] Heb. for me.
what can man do unto me?] He doubted not but God would maintain him against all enemies, because he had placed him in the kingdom, psal. 27. 1, 2.
V. 7. with them that help me] Psal. 54. 4.
V. 8. then to put confidence in man] He sheweth, that he had trusted in vain, if he had put his confidence in man, to have been preferred to the kingdom: but, putting his trust in God, he obtained it.
V. 9. It is better to trust in the Lord, then to put confidence in princes] Psal. 146. 2.
V. 10. will I] Or, I did, as psal. 119. 23.
destroy them] Heb. cut them off. Or, I did destroy them.
V. 11. will] Or, did.
V. 12. bees] Deut. 1, 44.
destroy] Heb. cut down.
V. 13. Thou hast thrust sore at me] He noteth Saul, his chief enemie.
V. 14. The Lord is my strength and song] Exod. 15. 2. Isa. 12. 2.
and song] In that he was delivered, it came not of himself, nor of the power of man, but onelyonly of Gods favour, therefore he will praise him cheerfully, psal. 69. 30.
V. 15. The voice of rejoycing] He meaneth, that other good men should have cause of joy and thankfulnesse, as well as he, because, by raising him, God had restored the Church to quietnesse.
V. 16. The right hand of the Lord is exalted] So that they that are far and ne…r may see his mighty power.
V. 17. I shall not die] My enemies plots could not kill me.
V. 18. The Lord hath chastened me sore] God correcteth with moderation, to amendment, not to destruction, Jerem. 10. 24. and 30. 11.
V. 19. Open to me the gates of righteousnesse] Psal. 24. 7, 9.
the gates of righteousnesse] He willeth that the doors of the tabernacle should be opened by the priests or Levites, whose office it was, 1 Sam. 3. 15. that he might enter to praise God.
V. 20. into which the righteous shall enter] So Isai. 16. 2. The unclean might not enter, 2 Chron. 23. 19. A type of forbidding wicked men accesse to Gods house.
V. 20. The stone which the builders refused] Though Sauls counsellours, and Ishbosheths great men refused to accept of me for their king, yet God hath given me the kingdom. So the priests, scribes and pharisees, appointed to be builders, refused Christ, but God advanced him.
The stone which the builders refused, is become the head-stone of the corner] Matth. 21. 42. Mark 12. 13. Luke 20. 17. Acts 4. 11. 1 Pet. 2. 4.
V. 23. This is the Lords doing] Heb. This is from the Lord.
V. 24. This is the day which the Lord hath made] Wherein God hath chiefly shewed his mercy, by making me king, and delivering his Church. So the day of publishing Christs Kingdom was a choice day.
we will rejoyce] Or, let us rejoyce.
V. 25. Save now, I beseech thee] The joyfull acclamations which the people used, when David came to the tabernacle to give thanks to God for the kingdom received. They prayed God to save their king and them: so they do for Christ, Matth. 21. 9, 15. Mark 11. 9. Luke 19. 38.
we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord] We the priests appointed to blesse the people publikely, Numb. 6. 23. Deut. 10. 8. 1 Chron. 23. 13.
V. 27. God is the Lord, which] Or, The Lord is that God, which.
which hath shewed us light] That is, prosperity under the kingdom of David, and Christ, Psal. 97. 10. So on the other side, darknesse is taken for affliction, oft in scripture.
the sacrifice] Heb. the festivall: That is, the beast, killed in the festivall.
even unto the horns of the altar] Till ye come to the horns of the altar, Levit. 4. 7. That is, bring it thither to be killed.