Psalms 118:27

Psalm 118:27 is a powerful verse found within the "Egyptian Hallel" (Psalms 113-118), a collection of psalms traditionally sung during significant Jewish festivals, particularly Passover. This verse captures themes of divine revelation, deliverance, and consecrated worship, acting as a bridge between God's saving acts and humanity's grateful response.

Context

Psalm 118 is a triumphant psalm of thanksgiving, celebrating God's enduring mercy and faithfulness in delivering His people from distress. It is rich with imagery of salvation and trust in the Lord, famously including the declaration about the "stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner" (Psalm 118:22), which is widely understood to be a prophetic reference to Jesus Christ. Preceding verse 27, the psalmist has already proclaimed God's goodness and His role as the source of light and salvation.

Key Themes

• Divine Illumination and Guidance: The phrase "God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light" speaks to God's active presence, illuminating the path for His people. This "light" (Hebrew: 'or) signifies not merely physical light, but divine favor, salvation, understanding, and joy. It is God's revelation of Himself and His deliverance from darkness and trouble, echoing sentiments found in Psalm 27:1, "The LORD is my light and my salvation."
• Consecration and Willing Sacrifice: "Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar" is a call to worship and dedication. In ancient Israelite ritual, sacrifices were bound and brought to the altar as offerings to God. The "horns of the altar" were sacred points where blood was applied for atonement, and where even those seeking refuge might cling (Exodus 21:14). This imagery suggests a complete, willing, and prepared offering of thanksgiving or devotion, bound securely to the place of divine encounter and atonement.
• Gratitude and Response to Deliverance: The verse intertwines God's benevolent action ("shewed us light") with the appropriate human response ("bind the sacrifice"). It implies that having received God's light and salvation, the natural and expected response is one of heartfelt worship and self-dedication.

Linguistic Insights

• The term "LORD" (capitalized) in the KJV translates the Hebrew personal name of God, Yahweh (or YHWH), emphasizing His eternal, self-existent nature and His covenant relationship with Israel.
• "Light" (Hebrew: 'or) is a rich biblical metaphor for life, salvation, truth, and divine presence, often contrasted with darkness representing chaos, sin, or death.
• "Sacrifice" (Hebrew: zebach) refers to an animal offering, often a peace offering or thanksgiving offering, which typically involved sharing a meal with God and fellow worshippers, signifying communion and gratitude. The act of "binding" it implies a deliberate, firm commitment to the offering.

Practical Application

For believers today, Psalm 118:27 offers profound insights:

• Acknowledge God as the Source of Light: We are called to recognize that any true guidance, understanding, or deliverance in our lives comes from God. He illuminates our paths and reveals His truth.
• Offer a Living Sacrifice: The call to "bind the sacrifice" can be understood metaphorically for Christians. Just as the Old Testament worshipper brought a physical sacrifice, believers are urged to offer themselves completely to God as "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1). This involves dedicating our lives, talents, and resources to His will.
• Embrace Christ, the Ultimate Sacrifice: Ultimately, all Old Testament sacrifices pointed forward to the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who is the true light that enlightens everyone (John 1:9). He willingly offered Himself, fulfilling the imagery of the bound sacrifice on the altar, allowing us to draw near to God through His atoning work (Hebrews 13:10). Our response to God's light is to embrace this ultimate sacrifice and live in gratitude and devotion to Him.