Psalm 118:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.

NIV: I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.

NASB: I will give thanks to You, for You have answered me, And You have become my salvation.

CSB: I will give thanks to you because you have answered me and have become my salvation.

NLT: I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victory!

KJV: I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.

NKJV: I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation.

At the beginning of the psalm (Psalm 118:1–5), the writer praised the Lord for providing rescue from danger. Much of what follows seems to speak for the nation of Israel (Psalm 118:10–16). In the immediate context, this prior danger is what the psalmist is describing. The Lord gave a favorable answer, so the psalmist—and Israel—were preserved (Psalm 118:17–18). The Lord had become salvation: the means by which Israel was spared from destruction.

Events in Israel's history gave them ample reason to praise God for their rescue. They had been rescued from Egypt (Exodus 12:41) and brought back alive from exile (Ezra 2:1; 3:1–2, 8). Then the Lord had protected them while the city and temple were rebuilt (Nehemiah 4:14; 6:16).

This passage parallels the New Testament explanation of the gospel. The "righteous" here are those who honor God (Proverbs 1:7) and enter through a gate (Psalm 118:19–20). That gate is Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:13–14; John 10:9). In Him, they find salvation (Acts 4:12). The book of Acts makes this point and connects to this very psalm (Acts 4:11; Psalm 118:22).

In truth, God "answers" all prayers; the answer is sometimes, "no." Prayers not aligned with His will cannot be approved (1 John 5:14). Yet Scripture encourages believers to bring all their thoughts and fears to the Lord in prayer. Those who sincerely seek Him will get an answer (Jermiah 33:2–3; Matthew 7:7, 11). Failure to ask in sincerity, or at all, shows a lack of faith (James 4:2–3).

Psalm 118:19–29 includes phrases used during Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:8–9). References to gates, cornerstones, and salvation are themes repeated frequently in the Bible (John 10:9; Matthew 7:13–14; Titus 2:11; 1 Peter 2:6). Similar ideas about entering through gates to praise God are found in Psalm 24:7–10 and Psalm 26:6–8.

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.