Praise and Worship in Psalm 118:1-2 - Biblical Significance
Praise and Worship in Psalm 118:1-2
Psalm 118:1-2 (Geneva1599) begins with a call to worship: "Praise yee the Lord, because he is good: for his mercie endureth for euer. Let Israel now say, that his mercie endureth for euer" [1]. This psalm is part of a collection of psalms (113-118) sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem for festivals [9].
The opening verses emphasize God's enduring mercy, a theme repeated throughout the psalm. The phrase "his mercie endureth for euer" is echoed in other psalms, such as Psalm 112:1, which praises the man who delights in God's commandments [2]. The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge notes that Psalm 118:1 is cross-referenced with other passages highlighting God's goodness and mercy, including 2 Chronicles 20:21 and Jeremiah 33:11 [4].
The call to praise in Psalm 118:1 is not limited to Israel; it invites all to acknowledge God's mercy. According to Matthew Henry, David's heart was "full of the goodness of God" and he was "solicitous that God might have the praise of it and others the comfort of it" [5]. This emphasis on God's goodness and mercy is a common thread in Jewish and Christian interpretations. The Babylonian Talmud notes that the praise of God's mercy is not limited to Israel, but is also relevant to the nations, who can learn from God's mighty acts [8].
The psalm's focus on God's enduring mercy has made it a significant part of Jewish and Christian worship. In the Jewish tradition, Psalm 118 was part of the Hallel, a collection of psalms recited during festivals [6]. In Christian tradition, Psalm 118:26 is quoted in Luke 19:38, where it is used to praise Jesus as the coming King [9].
The themes of praise and worship in Psalm 118:1-2 are closely tied to the psalm's broader context. The psalm as a whole celebrates God's deliverance and salvation, with the speaker declaring, "I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me, and have become my salvation" [3]. This emphasis on thanksgiving and salvation is characteristic of the psalm's overall tone of joyful trust [7].
The significance of Psalm 118:1-2 lies in its call to worship and its emphasis on God's enduring mercy. As Charles Hodge notes, the psalm's themes of praise and worship are central to Christian devotion, and are reflected in the language and practice of Christian worship [10]. The psalm's message continues to be relevant today, inviting believers to join in the chorus of praise and thanksgiving to God.
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 118:1 (Geneva1599) — Praise yee the Lord, because he is good: for his mercie endureth for euer.”
- Psalms “Psalms 112:1 (Geneva1599) — Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man, that feareth the Lord, and deliteth greatly in his commandements.”
- Psalms “I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me, and have become my salvation. -- Psalms 118:21”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Praise — God is worthy of -- 2Sa 22:4. Christ is worthy of -- Re 5:12. God is glorified by -- Ps 22:23; 50:23. Offered to Christ -- Joh 12:13. Acceptable through Christ -- Heb 13:15. Is due to God on account of His majesty. -- Ps 96:1,6; Isa 24:14. His glory. -- Ps 138:5; Eze 3:12. His excellency. -- Ex 15:7; Ps 148:13. His greatness. -- 1Ch 16:25; Ps 145:3. His holiness. -- Ex 15:11; Isa 6:3. His wisdom. -- Da 2:20; Jude 1:25. His power. -- Ps 21:13. His goodness. -- Ps 107:8; 118:1; 136:1; Jer 33:11. His mercy. -- 2Ch 20:21; Ps 89:1; 118:1-4; 136:1-26. His loving-k”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 118:1: It appears here, as often as elsewhere, that David had his heart full of the goodness of God. He loved to think of it, loved to speak of it, and was very solicitous that God might have the praise of it and others the comfort of it. The more our hearts are impressed with a sense of God's goodness the more they will be enlarged in all manner of obedience. In these verses, I. He celebrates God's mercy in general, and calls upon others to acknowledge it, from their own experience of it (Psa 118:1): O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is not only good in himself, but ”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 39b.4: The Gemara asks: But is the Holy One, Blessed be He, gladdened by the downfall of the wicked? Isn’t it written in the verse describing the victory of the Jewish people in battle: “He appointed them that should sing unto the Lord, and praise in the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and say: Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy endures forever” (II Chronicles 20:21). And Rabbi Yonatan says: For what reason is it not stated in this praise: “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His mercy endures forever,” as is stated elsewhere, e.g.”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 116 (introduction): After invoking others to unite in praise, the writer celebrates God's protecting and delivering care towards him, and then represents himself and the people of God as entering the sanctuary and uniting in solemn praise, with prayer for a continued blessing. Whether composed by David on his accession to power, or by some later writer in memory of the restoration from Babylon, its tone is joyful and trusting, and, in describing the fortune and destiny of the Jewish Church and its visible head, it is typically prophetical of the Christian Ch”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Pesachim 118b.11: He sent back to him: My father said as follows: What is the meaning of that which is written: “Praise the Lord, all you nations, laud Him all you peoples. For His mercy is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever, halleluya ” (Psalms 117)? What are the nations of the world doing by praising God for His great mercies toward Israel? Rabbi Yosei explained: Rather, this is what the verse is saying: “Praise the Lord, all you nations” for the mighty acts and the wonders that God performed before their eyes. All the more so we, the recipients of ”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 19:38: 19:38 Blessings on the King . . . glory in highest heaven! See Pss 118:26; 148:1. Psalm 118 was one of the psalms sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem for one of the festivals (Pss 113–118). • Jesus brought peace in heaven—reconciliation between God and human beings—but peace on earth awaits the future (cp. Luke 2:14; see 12:51-53; 19:41-44).”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 43: designed for public and private worship in which she was solemnly invoked. No limit was placed to the titles of honour by which she was addressed or to the prerogatives and powers which were attributed to her. She was declared to be deificata . She was called the Queen of heaven, Queen of queens. said to be exalted above all principalities and powers; to be seated at the right hand of Christ, to share with Him in the universal and absolute power committed to his hands. All the blessings of salvation were sought at her hands, as well as pr”