Psalm 118:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

NIV: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

NASB: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His mercy is everlasting.

CSB: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.

NLT: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

KJV: O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

NKJV: Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

This verse concludes the psalm using identical words as the opening line (Psalm 118:1). For all the Lord's work on behalf of Israel, He deserved the people's thanks and worship. The Lord brought them home from seventy years of captivity (Ezra 2:1). He empowered them to rebuild the temple and Jerusalem's walls (Ezra 3:1–2, 8). Even earlier, the Lord had given His people abundant evidence of His goodness and love.

Believers in the New Testament era also have more than sufficient reason to thank the Lord. He is good to us every day. He meets our needs and answers our prayers. Even more, our experiences and the words of the Bible tell us His love is loyal and unchanging. He expressed love toward us by giving His Son to die for our sins (Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3). In love He relates to us as His children (1 John 3:1). Also, in love He has given us an eternal inheritance (Ephesians 1:3–14).

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.

Accessed 12/3/2024 12:57:30 PM