Psalms 118:26

Psalms 118:26 (KJV) delivers a powerful declaration of blessing, deeply rooted in Israelite worship and prophetically fulfilled in the New Testament. It is a verse brimming with significance, offering insight into divine welcome, authority, and messianic expectation.

Context

Psalm 118 is the final psalm in the "Egyptian Hallel" (Psalms 113-118), a collection sung during major Jewish festivals like Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. It is a psalm of thanksgiving, celebrating God's enduring mercy and faithfulness despite the nation's trials. The verses preceding Psalm 118:26 speak of God's deliverance and the joyous procession to the Temple. This particular verse likely represents a greeting or blessing pronounced by the priests or Levites from within the "house of the LORD" upon pilgrims who were entering the Temple courts, or possibly a blessing spoken by the pilgrims themselves.

Key Themes

• Divine Authorization and Welcome: The phrase "Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD" signifies a welcome to someone who arrives with divine authority and purpose, or under God's blessing. It acknowledges a person who is acting as God's representative or is divinely sanctioned.
• Priestly Blessing: The second part, "we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD," indicates that the blessing originates from the holy place itself, pronounced by those ministering there. It underscores the Temple as the source and conduit of God's favor for His people.
• Messianic Prophecy: This verse is profoundly significant as a direct messianic prophecy. It was quoted and shouted by the crowds during Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, identifying Him as the long-awaited Messiah who comes in the name of the Lord.

Linguistic Insights

• "Blessed" (Hebrew: Baruch): This word carries the meaning of praise, adoration, and the imparting of divine favor. To be "blessed" by God means to receive His goodness and prosperity.
• "In the name of the LORD" (Hebrew: b'shem YHWH): This is more than a casual reference; it indicates acting under the authority, character, and presence of God. To come "in the name of the LORD" means to come as God's representative, empowered by His very being.
• "House of the LORD" (Hebrew: beit YHWH): This refers specifically to the Temple in Jerusalem, the central place of worship and the dwelling place of God's manifest presence among His people.

Significance and Application

The most profound significance of Psalms 118:26 lies in its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. When Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, the crowds cried out, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Matthew 21:9; Mark 11:9; Luke 19:38; John 12:13). This was a clear recognition of Him as the Messiah, the one divinely appointed and authorized by God.

For believers today, this verse reminds us:

• Jesus is the One Who Comes: He is the ultimate "He that cometh in the name of the LORD." Through Him, we receive God's blessing and access to God's presence.
• Our Approach to God: We too should approach God's presence and engage in worship "in the name of the LORD," meaning with reverence, humility, and reliance on Christ's authority and mediation.
• Being a Blessing: As members of God's spiritual "house" (the church), we are called to bless others. Our lives and ministries should be a source of God's blessing, extended to those around us, reflecting the divine welcome and favor we ourselves have received.

This verse, therefore, serves as both a historical greeting and a timeless declaration of God's sovereign plan and the unique position of His Anointed One.