Key Events — Psalms 118

1. 1

   A Call to Praise and Thanksgiving

   The psalmist begins with a call to give thanks to the Lord for His enduring love. This sets the tone for the entire psalm, emphasizing God's steadfast love and faithfulness.

   Theological significance

   This opening highlights the central theme of God's enduring love, a recurring motif throughout the Psalms and the Bible, underscoring His covenant faithfulness.

   In the broader story

   The call to praise and thanksgiving is a common theme in the Psalms, reflecting the appropriate response to God's character and works.

   Key verses

   • Psalm 118:1-4

   Related passages

   • Psalm 136 (A similar call to give thanks for God's enduring love)
   • 1 Chronicles 16:34 (A call to give thanks to the Lord)

   • #Thanksgiving
   • #SteadfastLove
   • #Praise
2. 2

   The Lord as Deliverer

   The psalmist recounts personal distress and the Lord's deliverance, expressing confidence in God's protection and salvation.

   Theological significance

   This section emphasizes God's role as a deliverer and protector, reinforcing the belief in His sovereignty and faithfulness to those who call upon Him.

   In the broader story

   The theme of deliverance is central to the biblical narrative, seen in the Exodus and ultimately in Christ's redemptive work.

   Key verses

   • Psalm 118:5-14

   Related passages

   • Exodus 15:2 (The Lord as strength and song)
   • 2 Samuel 22:2-3 (David's song of deliverance)

   • #Deliverance
   • #Trust
   • #Salvation
3. 3

   The Stone the Builders Rejected

   The psalmist speaks of the stone rejected by the builders becoming the cornerstone, a prophetic image of God's chosen one.

   Theological significance

   This imagery is prophetic of Christ, who was rejected by men but chosen by God as the foundation of salvation.

   In the broader story

   This verse is quoted in the New Testament, highlighting Jesus as the cornerstone of the Church and God's redemptive plan.

   Key verses

   • Psalm 118:22-23

   Related passages

   • Matthew 21:42 (Jesus quotes this verse)
   • Acts 4:11 (Peter refers to Jesus as the cornerstone)

   • #Cornerstone
   • #Prophecy
   • #Christ
4. 4

   The Day the Lord Has Made

   The psalmist declares the day as made by the Lord, calling for rejoicing and gladness.

   Theological significance

   This verse encourages believers to recognize God's sovereignty over time and to respond with joy and gratitude.

   In the broader story

   The call to rejoice in the Lord's day is a reminder of the joy found in God's presence and His works.

   Key verses

   • Psalm 118:24

   Related passages

   • Philippians 4:4 (Rejoice in the Lord always)
   • Nehemiah 8:10 (The joy of the Lord is your strength)

   • #Rejoice
   • #Sovereignty
   • #Joy
5. 5

   Blessed is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord

   The psalmist blesses the one who comes in the name of the Lord, a phrase later associated with Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

   Theological significance

   This blessing foreshadows the coming of Christ, who is recognized as the one sent by God for salvation.

   In the broader story

   This verse is fulfilled in the New Testament, as the crowds welcome Jesus into Jerusalem, acknowledging Him as the Messiah.

   Key verses

   • Psalm 118:26

   Related passages

   • Matthew 21:9 (The crowds shout this during Jesus' entry)
   • John 12:13 (The triumphal entry)

   • #Messiah
   • #TriumphalEntry
   • #Blessing

In the order the chapter tells them. The corpus records sequence, not dates — biblical chronology is contested, and this does not take a position on it.