God has already seen the outcome but Who wrote Ps.118?
Dianne Nicome
Text – Ps.118:5- 6 . I called upon the Lord in distress:
The Lord answered me, and set me in a large place.
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear:
What can man do unto me?
Here was David, or Hezekiah, or as other scholars think, a young man, possibly Joseph or Daniel, giving praises to God for deliverance.
regardless of who penned this Psalm, the author was grateful to God for keeping him in the midst of his troubles, his distress, and misfortune. Distress – pain or suffering affecting the body or the mind. Misfortune, astate of danger or desperate need. Many scholars have multiple theories about the author of this Psalm, and it is the consensus of most that it is impossible to ascertain who actually wrote it. The fact is, however, God saw it as necessary that it be included in the canon of scripture. Why? Because distress is common to man.
If it was David, he had his fill of troubles.
Joseph – the same. Daniel – my goodness, he never had a normal life. In any case, the author saw the benefits of trusting in the LORD, and he called on all to praise God and join him in giving thanks, because what happened was of interest to all who feared the LORD. It was real then, and it is real now.
He had seen the benefit of trusting in God rather than in man. Verse 10 tells us that the nations compassed him about, in other words, he was surrounded by enemies. they surrounded him and chased him like bees, delighted to sting!
His enemies purposed to overthrow everything about him and in Ps.140:4, a Psalm of David, we hear David saying; keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked, preserve me from the violent man, they have hidden a snare for me, and cords, and have set a net by the ayside, they have set gins for me. The gins of the workers of iniquity.
Psalm 140:6 –13: I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God:
Hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.
7 O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked:
Further not his wicked device; Lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
9 As for the head of those that compass me about, Let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10 Let burning coals fall upon them:
Let them be cast into the fire;
Into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
11 Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth:
Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, And the right of the poor.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name:
The upright shall dwell in thy presence.
So here was this unknown person, but known to God, and relevant to each and every one of us praising God for helping him. He said they trusted sore at him that he might fall, but the LORD helped him. He declared that the right hand of the Lord was valiant. The arm of God speaks of His strength!
He was praising God because he was not given over to the will of his enemies. He declared I shall not die, but live and tell of the works of the Lord. Open to me the gates of righteousness, he said, I will go in and praise the Lord ( short testimony). Ps.24:7.
Psalm 118:21–24 : I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me,
And art become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders refused Is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Don’t wait until the battle is over, shout now!! Shout! Because God is with you, and has given you the victory!
