‏ Psalms 113

Summary for Ps 113:1-118:29: Pss 113–118  ^a These psalms form what is known as the “Egyptian Hallel” (hallel means “praise”) because Jews use the collection in the celebration of Passover, which was instituted at the beginning of the exodus from Egypt. Psalms 113–114  ^b are recited before the Passover meal and Pss 115–118  ^c afterward.
Summary for Ps 113:1-9: Ps 113  ^d This hymn of praise exalts the greatness of the Lord’s name and glory. God is greatly exalted and glorious in heaven (113:4  ^e); he also stoops down to take care of the lowly and needy on earth (113:5-9  ^f).
Summary for Ps 113:1-3: 113:1-3  ^g The name of the Lord (Hebrew Yahweh; see Exod 3:15  ^h) reveals his being, character, and reputation. He is exalted in time (now and forever) and in space (from east to west).
113:4  ⁱ The Lord’s glory reaches to the heavens (57:5  ^j, 11  ^k; 99:2  ^l; 108:5  ^m; 138:6  ⁿ; Isa 6:1  ^o; 57:15  ^p) and throughout the world of human relationships.
Summary for Ps 113:5-9: 113:5-9  ^q The incomparable Lord intimately involves himself in caring for people on earth.
113:6  ^r The Lord stoops to the world’s level to be directly involved with his people (see 138:6  ^s; Phil 2:6-8  ^t).
Summary for Ps 113:7-8: 113:7-8  ^u These phrases are a quotation from Hannah’s prayer of praise (1 Sam 2:8-9a  ^v).
113:9  ^w A childless woman was customarily treated with disdain (Gen 16:4  ^x); the Lord has the power to make her a happy mother, as he made Sarah (Gen 21:2  ^y), Rebekah (Gen 25:21  ^z), Rachel (Gen 30:23  ^aa), and Hannah (1 Sam 1:20  ^ab).

• God’s greatness and goodness provide ample reason to praise him.

‏ Psalms 114

Summary for Ps 114:1-8: Ps 114  ^ac This lyrical celebration of the Lord’s power in nature recalls Israel’s beginning as a nation at the Exodus (114:1-2  ^ad) and upon their entry to the Promised Land (114:3-6  ^ae). It promotes reverence for the God of Jacob (114:7-8  ^af).
Summary for Ps 114:1-2: 114:1-2  ^ag At the time of Israel’s exodus from Egypt and their entrance into the Promised Land, Israel was one holy kingdom (Exod 19:5-6  ^ah).

• The separate references to the land of Judah and Israel indicate that the psalm was composed after the kingdom was divided (1 Kgs 12:16-17  ^ai; cp. 1 Sam 11:8  ^aj; 1 Kgs 1:35  ^ak), and probably after the Exile. The land of Judah became God’s sanctuary because the people worshiped God; his Tabernacle and later his Temple were located there.
Summary for Ps 114:3-4: 114:3-4  ^al hurried out of their way! The waters divided for Israel to escape Egypt (77:17-18  ^am; Exod 14  ^an).

• The Jordan River turned away when Israel arrived to cross over (see Josh 3  ^ao).

• skipped like rams: God’s presence caused the mountains to quake (Exod 19:16-20  ^ap).
114:8  ^aq The Lord miraculously provided for his people in hard times after the Exile, just as he had done in the wilderness after the Exodus.

‏ Psalms 115

Summary for Ps 115:1-18: Ps 115  ^ar In this hymn of thanksgiving for God’s blessings, the community ascribes all glory to the name of the Lord, who is the true source of hope and blessing. Meanwhile, those who trust in idols are greatly disappointed. The blessing of the Creator of heaven and earth extends to future generations (115:14  ^as), and especially to the priesthood (115:12  ^at).
Summary for Ps 115:1-3: 115:1-3  ^au The community confesses their faith that God will rescue them for the glory of his name.
Summary for Ps 115:2-3: 115:2-3  ^av Where is their God? People deny God’s presence or power when he does not act as they think he should (cp. 14:1  ^aw; 42:3  ^ax, 10  ^ay). However, God is in the heavens—he has all power, authority, and knowledge. He does as he wishes, not what people think he should do. He works out his plans in accord with his will (Eph 1:11  ^az) and acts in his own time and in ways he chooses.
Summary for Ps 115:4-11: 115:4-11  ^ba This entire section is repeated in 135:15-20  ^bb.

• Unlike the Lord (95:3-5  ^bc), idols cannot do anything; they are good for nothing.
115:8  ^bd Worshiping idols leads one astray and corrupts those who trust in them (Isa 44:20  ^be).
Summary for Ps 115:9-11: 115:9-11  ^bf Israel ... priests ... you who fear the Lord: The psalmist calls on all those in the God-fearing community to commit their ways to the living God. The threefold address assures them that the Lord is their true helper and shield (cp. 118:2-4  ^bg).
Summary for Ps 115:12-13: 115:12-13  ^bh The groups named in 115:9-11  ^bi receive assurance of the Lord’s blessing, regardless of their social status (see 113:8  ^bj).
Summary for Ps 115:14-15: 115:14-15  ^bk The psalmist blesses (107:37-38  ^bl, 41  ^bm) all who trust in and fear the Lord. The Creator will care for the families of those who fear him.

• who made heaven and earth: This statement speaks of the Lord’s all-encompassing power in creation.
Summary for Ps 115:16-18: 115:16-18  ^bn The heavens belong to the Lord:’s: God’s exaltation begins in heaven (113:4  ^bo), far above the gods of the nations. Of course, the earth also belongs to him (47:9  ^bp; 95:4  ^bq).

• The dead cannot participate in God’s blessings. The living praise God in thanksgiving for his blessings (79:13  ^br).

‏ Psalms 116

Summary for Ps 116:1-19: Ps 116  ^bs This hymn of thanksgiving rejoices in God’s character and in rescue from death (116:1-11  ^bt). It gives an assurance of God’s protection in life and reminds the godly that the Lord watches over them even at death. The psalmist commits to living as God’s servant and resolves to honor him publicly (116:12-19  ^bu).
Summary for Ps 116:1-4: 116:1-4  ^bv The psalmist praises the Lord for answering his prayers and rescuing him from death. 116:1  ^bw I love the Lord: This unique opening expresses affection for and commitment to the Lord (see 18:1  ^bx; Deut 6:5  ^by) on the basis of what the Lord has done.
116:2  ^bz Because the Lord responds to the cry of his people (107:41  ^ca; 113:6-8  ^cb), the psalmist now strongly believes in prayer.
116:3  ^cc It isn’t clear if the psalmist’s crisis was a literal near-death experience or if he was using the term figuratively.
116:4  ^cd This is the first of three times that the psalmist calls on the Lord’s name (i.e., reputation).
Summary for Ps 116:5-7: 116:5-7  ^ce The gracious, righteous, and compassionate Lord (see 111:1-5  ^cf) rescued and gave rest to the psalmist.
116:6  ^cg People with childlike faith readily receive his wisdom and instruction (19:7-11  ^ch; Matt 18:3-4  ^ci).
Summary for Ps 116:8-11: 116:8-11  ^cj The psalmist’s near-death crisis made him more aware of life and of walking before the Lord. Though he had been in anguish, the Lord was faithful. However, people are all liars.
116:9  ^ck I walk in the Lord’s presence: The psalmist already lived with integrity, but since his experience of deep distress, he now enjoys open fellowship with the Lord (see 56:13  ^cl; cp. Job 42:5  ^cm).
116:10  ^cn I believed in you: Paul quotes this phrase in 2 Cor 4:13  ^co.
Summary for Ps 116:12-14: 116:12-14  ^cp The Lord’s gracious gifts are so great that the psalmist can do nothing to repay his debt. Keeping his promises publicly demonstrates his gratitude.

• All he has done for the psalmist includes answers to prayer, rescue, and life.

• The cup of salvation overflows with God’s blessings (23:5  ^cq), unlike the cup of judgment (75:8  ^cr).

• The psalmist makes promises (“vows,” 116:18  ^cs) to praise the Lord publicly (116:17-18  ^ct).
Summary for Ps 116:15-19: 116:15-19  ^cu No one lives or dies outside of God’s will. Having been given a second chance at life, the poet readily commits himself to the Lord with renewed acts of public devotion.

‏ Psalms 117

Summary for Ps 117:1-2: Ps 117  ^cv This psalm, the shortest in the Psalter, invites all ... people of the earth to praise the Lord because of his unfailing love and enduring faithfulness. 117:1  ^cw Paul quotes this verse to show that Gentiles would eventually praise the God of Israel (Rom 15:11  ^cx).

‏ Psalms 118

Summary for Ps 118:1-29: Ps 118  ^cy With an exultant testimony, the psalmist gives thanks for the Lord’s goodness and encourages others to trust in his faithful love (118:1-4  ^cz, 29  ^da). This poem is the last of the Egyptian Hallel (Pss 113–118  ^db).
Summary for Ps 118:2-4: 118:2-4  ^dc Israel ... Aaron’s descendants ... all who fear the Lord: These three groups represent the whole of the covenant community (cp. 115:9-11  ^dd; 135:19-20  ^de).
Summary for Ps 118:5-9: 118:5-9  ^df The Lord alone is the psalmist’s helper.
Summary for Ps 118:6-7: 118:6-7  ^dg The Lord is for me: Cp. Rom 8:31  ^dh; Heb 13:6  ^di.

• God’s presence cancels out the need to fear mere people (Ps 56:11  ^dj). The psalmist joyfully expects God’s rescue (59:10  ^dk; 112:8  ^dl).
Summary for Ps 118:8-9: 118:8-9  ^dm Trusting in the Lord is better than placing confidence in even the most powerful human leaders (118:6  ^dn; 146:3  ^do).
Summary for Ps 118:10-12: 118:10-12  ^dp Strength comes in the name of the Lord, declared by the threefold mention of the attackers, the Lord’s name, and victory.

• Even when hostile people blazed ... like a crackling fire, the Lord caused them to subside like burning thorns (see Isa 9:18  ^dq; 10:17  ^dr).
Summary for Ps 118:14-18: 118:14-18  ^ds The psalmist celebrates the victory of the Lord’s strong right arm, which kept him from death.
Summary for Ps 118:17-21: 118:17-21  ^dt God has restored the psalmist from death to life, so he praises the Lord publicly (cp. 116:6  ^du, 12-19  ^dv).
Summary for Ps 118:22-24: 118:22-24  ^dw The psalmist sees his own salvation as the beginning of a new day in which the Lord will do great things. 118:22  ^dx The cornerstone (or keystone) of a building or an arch gives the structure its shape and foundation. It is the most important of all the stones. The Lord chooses and places this stone for his sanctuary (Isa 28:16  ^dy). Jesus referred to himself as this cornerstone (Matt 21:42  ^dz; Mark 12:10-11  ^ea; Luke 20:17  ^eb; see Acts 4:11  ^ec; Eph 2:20  ^ed; 1 Pet 2:6-7  ^ee).
118:24  ^ef This is the day the Lord has made: The day of the Lord’s victory has already arrived, although its completion awaits another day (118:25  ^eg).
Summary for Ps 118:25-29: 118:25-29  ^eh The psalmist concludes with prayer and thanksgiving, anticipating an even greater revelation of God’s victory and rescue.
118:26  ^ei The one who comes in the name of the Lord brings the Lord’s complete victory (see 118:10-12  ^ej).

• During Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the crowds called out various blessings, including phrases taken from this verse (Matt 21:9  ^ek; Mark 11:9  ^el; Luke 19:38  ^em; John 12:13  ^en). Jesus himself quoted this passage as he wept over Jerusalem (Matt 23:39  ^eo; Luke 13:35  ^ep).