TRV
Study This Verse
Commentary on Psalms 118 verses 19–29
We have here an illustrious prophecy of the humiliation and exaltation of our Lord Jesus, his sufferings, and the glory that should follow. Peter thus applies it directly to the chief priests and scribes, and none of them could charge him with misapplying it, Act 4:11. Now observe here,
I. The preface with which this precious prophecy is introduced, Psa 118:19-21. 1. The psalmist desires admission into the sanctuary of God, there to celebrate the glory of him that cometh in the name of the Lord: Open to me the gates of righteousness. So the temple-gates are called, because they were shut against the uncircumcised, and forbade the stranger to come nigh, as the sacrifices there offered are called sacrifices of righteousness. Those that would enter into communion with God in holy ordinances must become humble suitors to God for admission. And when the gates of righteousness are opened to us we must go into them, must enter into the holiest, as far as we have leave, and praise the Lord. Our business within God's gates is to praise God; therefore we should long till the gates of heaven be opened to us, that we may go into them to dwell in God's house above, where we shall be still praising him. 2. He sees admission granted him (Psa 118:20): This is the gate of the Lord, the gate of his appointing, into which the righteous shall enter; as if he had said, "The gate you knocked at is opened, and you are welcome. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Some by this gate understand Christ, by whom we are taken into fellowship with God and our praises are accepted; he is the way; there is no coming to the Father but by him (Joh 14:6), he is the door of the sheep (Joh 10:9); he is the gate of the temple, by whom, and by whom only, the righteous, and they only, shall enter, and come into God's righteousness, as the expression is, Psa 69:27. The psalmist triumphs in the discovery that the gate of righteousness, which had been so long shut, and so long knocked at, was now at length opened. 3. He promises to give thanks to God for this favour (Psa 118:21): I will praise thee. Those that saw Christ's day at so great a distance saw cause to praise God for the prospect; for in him they saw that God had heard them, had heard the prayers of the Old Testament saints for the coming of the Messiah, and would be their salvation.
II. The prophecy itself, Psa 118:22, Psa 118:23. This may have some reference to David's preferment; he was the stone which Saul and his courtiers rejected, but was by the wonderful providence of God advanced to be the headstone of the building. But its principal reference is to Christ; and here we have, 1. His humiliation. He is the stone which the builders refused; he is the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, Dan 2:34. He is a stone, not only for strength, and firmness, and duration, but for life, in the building of the spiritual temple; and yet a precious stone (Pe1 2:6), for the foundation of the gospel-church must be sapphires, Isa 54:11. This stone was rejected by the builders, by the rulers and people of the Jews (Act 4:8, Act 4:10, Act 4:11); they refused to own him as the stone, the Messiah promised; they would not build their faith upon him nor join themselves to him; they would make no use of him, but go on in their building without him; they denied him in the presence of Pilate (Act 3:13) when they said, We have no king but Caesar. They trampled upon this stone, threw it among the rubbish out of the city; nay, they stumbled at it. This was a disgrace to Christ, but it proved the ruin of those that thus made light of him. Rejecters of Christ are rejected of God. 2. His exaltation. He has become the headstone of the corner; he is advanced to the highest degree both of honour and usefulness, to be above all, and all in all. He is the chief corner-stone in the foundation, in whom Jew and Gentile are united, that they may be built up one holy house. He is the chief top-stone in the corner, in whom the building is completed, and who must in all things have the pre-eminence, as the author and finisher of our faith. Thus highly has God exalted him, because he humbled himself; and we, in compliance with God's design, must make him the foundation of our hope, the centre of our unity, and the end of our living. To me to live is Christ. 3. The hand of God in all this: This is the Lord's doing; it is from the Lord; it is with the Lord; it is the product of his counsel; it is his contrivance. Both the humiliation and the exaltation of the Lord Jesus were his work, Act 2:23; Act 4:27, Act 4:28. He sent him, sealed him; his hand went with him throughout his whole undertaking, and from first to last he did his Father's will; and this ought to be marvellous in our eyes. Christ's name is Wonderful; and the redemption he wrought out is the most amazing of all God's works of wonder; it is what the angels desire to look into, and will be admiring to eternity; much more ought we to admire it, who owe our all to it. Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness.
III. The joy wherewith it is entertained and the acclamations which attend this prediction.
1.Let the day be solemnized to the honour of God with great joy (Psa 118:24): This is the day the Lord has made. The whole time of the gospel-dispensation, that accepted time, that day of salvation, is what the Lord has made so; it is a continual feast, which ought to be kept with joy. Or it may very fitly be understood of the Christian sabbath, which we sanctify in remembrance of Christ's resurrection, when the rejected stone began to be exalted; and so, (1.) Here is the doctrine of the Christian sabbath: It is the day which the Lord has made, has made remarkable, made holy, has distinguished from other days; he has made it for man: it is therefore called the Lord's day, for it bears his image and superscription. (2.) The duty of the sabbath, the work of the day that is to be done in his day: We will rejoice and be glad in it, not only in the institution of the day, that there is such a day appointed, but in the occasion of it, Christ's becoming the head of the corner. This we ought to rejoice in both as his honour and our advantage. Sabbath days must be rejoicing days, and then they are to us as the days of heaven. See what a good Master we serve, who, having instituted a day for his service, appoints it to be spent in holy joy.
2.Let the exalted Redeemer be met, and attended, with joyful hosannas, Psa 118:25, Psa 118:26.
(1.)Let him have the acclamations of the people, as is usual at the inauguration of a prince. Let every one of his loyal subjects shout for joy, Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord! This is like Vivat rex - Long live the king, and expresses a hearty joy for his accession to the crown, an entire satisfaction in his government, and a zealous affection to the interests and honour of it. Hosanna signifies, Save now, I beseech thee. [1.] "Lord, save me, I beseech thee; let this Saviour be my Saviour, and, in order to that, my ruler; let me be taken under his protection and owned as one of his willing subjects. His enemies are my enemies; Lord, I beseech thee, save me from them. Send me an interest in that prosperity which his kingdom brings with it to all those that entertain it. Let my soul prosper and be in health, in that peace and righteousness which his government brings, Psa 72:3. Let me have victory over those lusts that war against my soul, and let divine grace go on in my heart conquering and to conquer." [2.] "Lord, preserve him, I beseech thee, even the Saviour himself, and send him prosperity in all his undertakings; give success to his gospel, and let it be mighty, through God, to the pulling down of strong-holds and reducing souls to their allegiance to him. Let his name be sanctified, his kingdom come, his will be done." Thus let prayer be made for him continually, Psa 72:15. On the Lord's day, when we rejoice and are glad in his kingdom, we must pray for the advancement of it more and more, and its establishment upon the ruins of the devil's kingdom. When Christ made his public entry into Jerusalem he was thus met by his well-wishers (Mat 21:9): Hosanna to the Son of David; long live King Jesus; let him reign for ever.
(2.)Let the priests, the Lord's ministers, do their part in this great solemnity, Psa 118:26. [1.] Let them bless the prince with their praises: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Jesus Christ is he that cometh - ho erchomenos, he that was to come and is yet to come again, Rev 1:8. He comes in the name of the Lord, with a commission from him, to act for him, to do his will and to seek his glory; and therefore we must say, Blessed be he that cometh; we must rejoice that he has come; we must speak well of him, admire him, and esteem him highly, as one we are eternally obliged to, call him blessed Jesus, blessed for ever, Psa 45:2. We must bid him welcome into our hearts, saying, "Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; come in by thy grace and Spirit, and take possession of me for thy own." We must bless his faithful ministers that come in his name, and receive them for his sake, Isa 52:7; Joh 13:20. We must pray for the enlargement and edification of his church, for the ripening of things for his second coming, and then that he who has said, Surely I come quickly, would even so come. [2.] Let them bless the people with their prayers: We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. Christ's ministers are not only warranted, but appointed to pronounce a blessing, in his name, upon all his loyal subjects that love him and his government in sincerity, Eph 6:24. We assure you that in and through Jesus Christ you are blessed; for he came to bless you. "You are blessed out of the house of the Lord, that is, with spiritual blessings in heavenly places (Eph 1:3), and therefore have reason to bless him who has thus blessed you."
3.Let sacrifices of thanksgiving be offered to his honour who offered for us the great atoning sacrifice, Psa 118:27. Here is, (1.) The privilege we enjoy by Jesus Christ: God is the Lord who has shown us light. God is Jehovah, is known by that name, a God performing what he has promised and perfecting what he has begun, Exo 6:3. He has shown us light, that is, he has given us the knowledge of himself and his will. He has shined upon us (so some); he has favoured us, and lifted up upon us the light of his countenance; he has given us occasion for joy and rejoicing, which is light to the soul, by giving us a prospect of everlasting light in heaven. The day which the Lord has made brings light with it, true light. (2.) The duty which this privilege calls for: Bind the sacrifice with cords, that, being killed, the blood of it may be sprinkled upon the horns of the altar, according to the law; or perhaps it was the custom (though we read not of it elsewhere) to bind the sacrifice to the horns of the altar while things were getting ready for the slaying of it. Or this may have a peculiar significancy here; the sacrifice we are to offer to God, in gratitude for redeeming love, is ourselves, not to be slain upon the altar, but living sacrifices (Rom 12:1), to be bound to the altar, spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise, in which our hearts must be fixed and engaged, as the sacrifice was bound with cords to the horns of the altar, not to start back.
4.The psalmist concludes with his own thankful acknowledgments of divine grace, in which he calls upon others to join with him, Psa 118:28, Psa 118:29. (1.) He will praise God himself, and endeavour to exalt him in his own heart and in the hearts of others, and this because of his covenant-relation to him and interest in him: "Thou art my God, on whom I depend, and to whom I am devoted, who ownest me and art owned by me; and therefore I will praise thee." (2.) He will have all about him to give thanks to God for these glad tidings of great joy to all people, that there is a Redeemer, even Christ the Lord. In him it is that God is good to man and that his mercy endures for ever; in him the covenant of grace is made, and in him it is made sure, made good, and made an everlasting covenant. He concludes this psalm as he began it (Psa 118:1), for God's glory must be the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, of all our addresses to him. Hallowed by thy name, and thine is the glory. And this fitly closes a prophecy of Christ. The angels give thanks for man's redemption. Glory to God in the highest (Luk 2:14), for there is on earth peace, to which we must echo with our hosannas, as they did, Luk 19:38. Peace in heaven to us through Christ, and therefore glory in the highest.
And what shall we sing there, save His praises? What else shall we say there, save, "You are my God, and I will confess unto You; You are my God, and I will praise You. I wilt confess unto You, for You have heard me, and art become my Salvation." We will not say these things in loud words; but the love that abides in Him of itself cries out in these words, and these words are love itself. Thus as he began with praise, so he ends: "Confess unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and His mercy endures for ever" [Psalm 118:29]. With this the Psalm commences, with this it ends; since, as from the commencement which we have left behind, so in the end, whither we are returning, there is not anything that can more profitably please us, than the praise of God, and Allelujah evermore.
Let us commend ourselves to God, my brothers, by works of mercy. “O praise the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endures forever.” Give praise, for God is merciful, and he wishes to forgive the sins of those who give praise. In addition, offer sacrifice to him. O man, be merciful to your fellow mortals, and God will show mercy to you. You are a mortal; the other person is a mortal also; you are both in need of mercy. On the other hand, God is not in need of mercy, but he is merciful. If, however, the person who is in need of mercy does not show mercy to another who is in need of mercy, how does he expect mercy from One who will never be in need of mercy? Think over what I am saying, brothers. For example, whoever is pitiless in regard to a shipwrecked person remains pitiless until he himself suffers shipwreck. But if he has been shipwrecked, whenever he sees a shipwrecked person he recalls his former experience and he experiences a sympathetic feeling of mercy. Hence, a personal experience of misfortune softens the one whom the common bond of human nature was not able to incline to mercy. How readily he who has been in service in the past has compassion on a servant! How readily he who was once a hired laborer feels sorry for a laborer deprived of his pay! The person who has once suffered a similar loss sympathizes most sincerely with a parent lamenting the loss of a child. Therefore, a similarity of suffering softens any degree of hardness in a human heart. If, then, you who either have been in need of mercy or who fear that you may be in such need (for, as long as you are on this earth, you ought to fear what you have not been, to remember what you have been and to consider what you may be)—if, then, encompassed with the memory of your former need of mercy, with the fear of future needs and with the suffering of present miseries, you do not have mercy on a person who is in trouble and in need of your help, do you expect him whom misery has never afflicted to have mercy on you? And do you fail to give of the abundance that you have received from God and then wish God to give to you from that which he has not received from you?
Continue studying Psalms 118:29 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Psalm 118:29 serves as a triumphant doxological conclusion, powerfully encapsulating the core theological message of the entire psalm: an unwavering declaration of God's inherent goodness and His eternal, steadfast love. It functions as a profound call to worship and gratitude, inviting all to acknowledge the immutable nature of divine character and the perpetual faithfulness of God's covenant mercy towards humanity, providing an unshakeable foundation for faith and hope.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalm 118:29 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful and enduring message. The verse functions as a Doxology, a formal expression of praise and glory to God, serving as a climactic and triumphant conclusion to the entire psalm and, by extension, the Hallel collection. The repetition of "for his mercy endureth for ever" throughout Psalm 118, and its powerful echo from Psalm 136, establishes it as a powerful Refrain, creating a memorable liturgical rhythm that reinforces this central theological truth. The opening "O give thanks" is an Imperative Mood, a direct and urgent command that actively calls the audience to participate in worship and gratitude, rather than merely observing. Furthermore, the verse utilizes Parallelism through the two "for" clauses ("for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever"). This structure, specifically a form of synthetic parallelism, allows the second clause to expand upon and deepen the meaning of the first, showing that God's inherent goodness is intrinsically and eternally linked to His steadfast, covenantal love.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 118:29 encapsulates a profound theological truth: God's character is the unwavering foundation for all creation, redemption, and human flourishing. His goodness is not a fleeting emotion or a circumstantial attribute but an intrinsic aspect of His very being, the inexhaustible source of all blessing, righteousness, and truth. This inherent goodness is inextricably linked to His ḥeseḏ, His loyal, covenantal love that endures eternally, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to His promises and His people. This verse assures believers that God's commitment is immutable, providing an unshakeable anchor in a changing world. It invites a life of continuous, heartfelt thanksgiving, not based on fluctuating circumstances, but on the unchanging reality of who God is—a God whose goodness and mercy are boundless and everlasting.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This profound verse calls believers to cultivate a deep and persistent lifestyle of gratitude, one that transcends fluctuating circumstances and personal feelings. Knowing that God's goodness is inherent to His nature and His mercy is eternal provides an unshakeable foundation for faith, even amidst the most profound trials and uncertainties. It encourages us to place our complete trust in God's unchanging character, understanding that His loyal love will never cease, fail, or diminish. In moments of both profound blessing and deep struggle, the truth that God is good and His ḥeseḏ endureth forever serves as a firm anchor for the soul, prompting continuous praise and confident reliance on His unfailing presence. It reminds us that our ultimate security and hope rest not on our fleeting situations or our own merits, but solely on the eternal faithfulness of God Himself, inviting us to live in a posture of continuous thanksgiving and confident dependence upon Him.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why is the phrase "for his mercy endureth for ever" repeated so frequently in the Psalms, especially Psalm 118 and Psalm 136?
Answer: The frequent repetition of "for his mercy endureth for ever" (Hebrew: ki l'olam hasdo) serves several crucial purposes. Liturgically, it creates a powerful and memorable refrain, making it easy for a congregation to participate in communal worship and confession, fostering unity and shared declaration. Theologically, it emphatically underscores the absolute certainty and unchanging nature of God's ḥeseḏ (stealthfast love, covenant faithfulness). In a world characterized by constant change and uncertainty, this repetition acts as a constant, reassuring declaration of God's enduring commitment to His people, reinforcing that His love is not conditional, temporary, or subject to human failure. It highlights that God's character, particularly His loyal and unwavering love, is the ultimate and perpetual foundation of hope and security, a truth that is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
What is the practical significance of knowing that God "is good" for daily life?
Answer: Knowing that God "is good" (Hebrew: ṭôwb) has profound and transformative practical significance for daily life. It means that God's intentions towards us are always benevolent, even when circumstances are difficult, His ways seem mysterious, or His plans are not immediately clear. This understanding fosters deep trust, allowing us to surrender control and anxieties, believing that the One who governs all things is inherently good and desires our ultimate well-being and flourishing. This truth fundamentally transforms our perspective on suffering and trials, enabling us to seek God's purpose even in pain, rather than questioning His character or abandoning hope. It encourages us to live with confident expectation, knowing that every good and perfect gift comes from Him. Ultimately, it calls us to imitate His goodness in our interactions with others, reflecting His character of benevolence and righteousness in our own lives.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 118:29, with its declaration of God's enduring goodness and everlasting mercy, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. He is the perfect embodiment of God's goodness, the very "image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15), through whom God's benevolent nature is fully and perfectly revealed to humanity. The ḥeseḏ of God, His steadfast and covenantal love that endures forever, is supremely demonstrated in Christ's incarnation, His sinless life, and most gloriously in His sacrificial death on the cross. It was out of this eternal ḥeseḏ that God "so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). The resurrection of Jesus further testifies to the eternal nature of God's mercy, triumphing over sin and death, offering everlasting life and an unbreakable covenant to all who believe. As the "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29), Jesus perfectly fulfills the Old Testament sacrificial system, extending God's mercy and grace to all humanity. Through Him, believers enter into an eternal covenant of grace, experiencing God's goodness and mercy not just as an abstract theological truth, but as a living, saving reality that truly endures forever. The "stone which the builders rejected" from Psalm 118:22 becomes the "chief cornerstone" in Christ (Acts 4:11), signifying God's ultimate plan of salvation through His Son, a plan rooted in His eternal goodness and mercy.