Psalm 118
Wesley's Notes on the Bible
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
118:10 Nations - The neighbouring nations, Philistines, Syrians, Ammonites, Moabites, who were stirred up, by the overthrows which David had given some of them, by their jealousy at his growing greatness, and by their hatred against the true religion.
They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
118:11 Yea - The repetition implies their frequency and fervency in this action.
They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
118:12 Bees - ln great numbers. Thorns - Which burns fiercely, but quickly spends itself.
Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.
118:13 Thou - O mine enemy. The singular word is here put collectively for all his enemies.
The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
118:14 Salvation - My Saviour.
The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
118:15 Doth valiantly - These are the words of that song of praise now mentioned.
The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
118:16 Exalted - Hath appeared evidently, and wrought powerfully and gloriously.
I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.
Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:
118:19 Open - O ye porters, appointed by God for this work. The gates - Of the Lord's tabernacle: where the rule of righteousness was kept and taught, and the sacrifices of righteousness were offered.
This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
118:20 The righteous - As David was a type of Christ and the temple of heaven, so this place hath a farther prospect than David, and relates to Christ's ascending into heaven, and opening the gates of that blessed temple, both for himself and for all believers.
I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
118:22 The builders - The commonwealth of Israel and the church of God are here and elsewhere compared to a building, wherein, as the people are the stones, so the princes and rulers are the builders. And as these master - builders rejected David, so their successors rejected Christ. Head stone - The chief stone in the whole building, by which the several parts of the building are upheld and firmly united together. Thus David united all the tribes and families of Israel: and thus Christ united Jews and Gentiles together. And therefore this place is justly expounded of Christ, Mark 12:10 Acts 4:11 Rom 9:32 Eph 2:20. And to him the words agree more properly than to David.
This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
118:24 Made - Or sanctified as a season never to be forgotten.
Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
118:25 We - These seem to be the words of the Levites, to whom he spake ver.19.
Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
118:26 Blessed - We pray that God would bless his person and government. Cometh - To the throne; or from his Father into the world: who is known by the name of him that cometh or was to come, and of whom this very word is used, Gen 49:10 Isa 35:4. Name - By commission from him. We - We who are the Lord's ministers attending upon him in his house, and appointed to bless in his name, Numb 6:23 Deut 10:8. So these are the words of the priests.
God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
118:27 The Lord - Or, The mighty God, as this name of God signifies, and as he shewed himself to be by this, his wonderful work. Who - Who hath scattered our dark clouds, and put us into a state of peace, and safety, and happiness. The horns - These are supposed to he made for this very use, that the beasts should be bound and killed there. These three last verse s are David's words.
Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible by John Wesley [1754-65]

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