Everyone at all Times
Hallel, All You!
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalm 118:1, 29).[/perfectpullquote]Psalm 118 is one of the “Hallel Psalms,” songs of praise sung during Israel’s feasts. Feasts were joyous times, and joy puts us in the mood for gratitude. Psalm 118 is quoted 11 times in the New Testament, more than any other psalm, so it is well worth our attention.
We don’t know the author of this psalm, but it is someone who was in dire circumstances and was rescued by Yahweh God. The word “hallel” means “praise,” and “halleluiah” means “praise Yah,” or “praise the LORD,” as we would say.
We will outline this psalm in five parts so we can follow the flow and learn what the psalmist is teaching us:
I. Exhortation (Verses 1–4)
II. Experience (Verses 5–13
III. Exuberance (Verses 14–18)
IV. Exaltation (Verses 19–28)
V. Exhortation Recap (Verse 29)
The songwriter goes right into his introduction and exhortation in Verse 1: “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” Verses 1 – 4 elaborate on the theme — What: Praise the LORD. Why: for He is good. Who: the entire nation (Israel); the worship leaders (house of Aaron); everyone who fears the Lord.
The reason for thanksgiving is found in the psalmist’s experience:
1. He is grateful because the Lord answers prayer (V. 5).
2. He is thankful because God is always near (Verses 6–7).
3. God is worthy of our gratitude because He is always reliable (Verses 8–9). When someone makes an attempt at a good work or noble cause and fails, we may express
our gratitude by giving the person an A for effort. No A for effort is needed for God — His efforts never fail!
4. We can thank the LORD because He is all we need (Verses 10–13).
As the writer rehearsed all the good God had done for him, and how the Lord had helped him, his exuberance welled up into an invitation to join in singing songs of salvation. Gratitude gives birth to praise. It is God who gets the credit for the works we do, and it is He who disciplines us to save us from death: “But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:32). Note how the psalmist brings songs of thanksgiving and praise into the home (V. 15). This display is not just for the sanctuary, and not just for praise teams — the response and responsibility lie with the family.
Thanksgiving is full of exaltation as well. God is to be exalted in the public assembly and arena (Verses 19–24). Public praise encourages us to believe in prayer (V. 25). It also spills over into our life of worship. It brings blessing to fellow believers (V. 26) and informs our worship practices (V. 27). Thanksgiving comes full circle and again acknowledges God for who He is (V. 28).
When the blessings are rehearsed, when we remember what the Lord has done for us in the most dire circumstances, when our trust in Him has been renewed, the exhortation recap rings loud and clear: ““Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”
