Psalm 118:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,

NIV: Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!

NASB: The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the Lord performs valiantly.

CSB: There are shouts of joy and victory in the tents of the righteous: "The Lord’s right hand performs valiantly!

NLT: Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly. The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!

KJV: The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.

NKJV: The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.

This continues a pattern which repeats various phrases. This might have been used as a "call and response," where a group of people speak the repetitive words after a prompting phrase from a leader. Prior verses emphasized the victory which Israel could claim thanks to the Lord (Psalm 118:10–14). Loud singing and rejoicing express happiness, but also inform others about what the Lord has done. It's possible this psalm commemorates the successful rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple. At that time, the people's celebration could be heard from far away (Nehemiah 12:43).

References to a person's "tents" are metaphors for their family. Modern expressions such as "in this house" carry the same meaning. Those who are righteous—those who rightfully honor the Lord (Psalm 118:2–4; John 3:36)—experience His salvation. This psalm is part of a series (Psalm 113—118) used during important feasts such as the Festival of Booths (Leviticus 23:42–43). The reference to tents may have harmonized with people setting up symbolic tents during that time.

The term translated "valiantly" is hā'yil. This suggests power, strength, and ability. Great Old Testament warriors are often described using this word (Judges 6:12; 1 Samuel 16:18; 2 Kings 5:1). Crediting God, not men, with valor (Zechariah 4:6) is also associated with His right hand: the poetic reference to a person's primary strengths and influence (Exodus 15:6; Psalm 17:7). The Lord's power enables all that His people may accomplish (Psalm 60:12).

Psalm 118:10–18 speaks for the nation of Israel and gives reasons for trusting in the Lord. One possible inspiration for these words was Israel's freedom from seventy years of exile (Ezra 2:1) and the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and temple. The repeated phrases were probably meant to be expressed by the entire congregation, in response to the cue lines which come before. The use of past tense here may also be poetic, implying that the psalmist is looking ahead to something God will certainly do, as if it had already happened.

Psalm 118 appears to be a "call and response." The repeated phrases may have been spoken by a congregation after the prompts, read by a song leader. The psalmist begins with a declaration of God's loyal love and its expression by all of Israel. Next is a celebration of the Lord's rescue and the value of honoring Him. Despite Israel's many powerful neighbors, God preserved them through discipline and exile, not allowing the nation to die. What the world rejects has now become the key piece of God's plan for mankind.

This is the last of a block of songs used during Israel's festivals (Psalm 113—118). Because of a mention of rescue from Egypt (Psalm 114:1), this block is sometimes called the "Egyptian Hallel." The Hebrew expression halelu-yāh is a call to "praise the Lord!" The New Testament quotes from this song often (Hebrews 13:6), especially Psalm 118:22 (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10, 11; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:7) and Psalm 118:26 (Matthew 23:39; Mark 11:9; Luke 19:38; John 12:13;). Some scholars suggest this was written after the exile as the temple was being restored (Ezra 2:1; 3:1–2, 8).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.