Psa 117:1-2, Psa 118:1-9 “The LORD is my Strength and Song, and is Become my Salvation” – Part 1

Psa 117:1 O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
Psa 117:2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.
Psa 118:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 118:2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 118:3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 118:4 Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 118:5 I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
Psa 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Psa 118:7 The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
Psa 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Psa 118:9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
Psa 118:10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
Psa 118:11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
Psa 118:12 They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

God’s “merciful kindness” is great toward us and understood through the eternal words of truth which He speaks to us through His son. In verses 10 through 12 we are reminded of the process of spiritual completion through judgment (3) that God’s word will bring upon the enemy within us and how it is only “in the name of the LORD I will destroy them“, mentioned three times, that this will happen. This study of the spiritual meaning of numbers is a helpful review of the number three.

That enemy is destroyed within us by our labouring for the meat which does not perish and by being granted to fight a good fight of faith in this life (Joh 6:27, 1Ti 6:12, Heb 11:6).

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Joh 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Being given the faith to believe in Christ prevents us from perishing spiritually as we abide in the earnest of this relationship today [Eph 1:14] which God has granted us, a relationship that will lead to “everlasting life” in the fullness of that blessed and holy first resurrection [Rev 20:6].

Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Those words of God are promised to be sanctified within God’s elect throughout our life time (Joh 17:17). That is our washing of the word which we must experience that brings about ‘spiritual completion through judgement’.

Notice the context surrounding the following verses that speak of the impossibility for our flesh to be able to “enter into the kingdom of God” and yet Peter is being encouraged by Christ after Peter states “we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?” Forsaking all and following Christ is the path that we are on, also described in Revelation 2:10 in this regard.

Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Where did Christ overcome? It was in His flesh, and if we are granted to be as He is in this life, we will overcome in our flesh and be given outward “power over the nations…[where]..ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (1Jn 4:17).

Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

Mat 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mat 19:25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Mat 19:27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
Mat 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Joh 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

This statement in Romans we will look at typifies how we are to look at works and how it is in believing in Christ the true vine, that spiritual works will manifest that are likened unto treasure laid up in heaven. Without Christ as the vine those works can never manifest (Rom 4:1-3, Jas 2:17, Tit 3:8, Joh 15:5-6)

1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Joh 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Like the apostle Peter we are blessed to hear our Father in heaven reveal to us who Christ is, as we come to understand “At that day” that Christ is in us as our hope of glory. It is when we truly come to know in our own selves that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” within us that we can become convinced that nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation [labour in the word so you can be strengthened to endure the tribulation Act 14:22], or distress [2Co 4:8], or persecution [2Co 4:9, Heb 13:5], or famine [Psa 9:9-10, Php 4:19, 3Jn 1:2], or nakedness [Heb 13:5, 2Co 11:27-33, these trials of Paul we just read represent what it takes for us to not be found spiritually naked – Rev 3:18], or peril^G2794 [eight times mentioned in 2Co 11:26], or sword?^G3162
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. [1Co 15:31]
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things [all these trials] we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Eight perils G2794 mentioned in 2Co 11:26

• waters (Isa 43:2)
• robbers (Rev 3:11)
• countrymen (1Th 2:14)
• heathen (Mat 16:6)
• in the city (2Pe 2:7)
• in the wilderness (Rev 18:10)
• in the sea (Isa 43:16)
• among false brethren (Mat 10:16)

G3162 sword machaira Total KJV Occurrences: 29

sword, 23 Mat_10:34, Mat_26:51-52 (4), Mar_14:47, Luk_21:24, Luk_22:36, Luk_22:49, Joh_18:10-11 (2), Act_12:2, Act_16:27, Rom_8:35, Rom_13:4, Eph_6:17, Heb_4:12, Heb_11:34, Heb_11:37, Rev_6:4, Rev_13:10 (2), Rev_13:14

swords, 6 Mat_26:47, Mat_26:55, Mar_14:43, Mar_14:48, Luk_22:38, Luk_22:52

“In the name of the LORD I will destroy them” in verses 10, 11 and 12 of Psalm 118 is just another way of saying “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Rom 8:37) and that conquering is accomplished by the sword^G3162.

Rom 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword^G3162 in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword^G3162 of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword^G3162, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Heb 11:34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword^G3162, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword^G3162: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

Luk 22:38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords^G3162. And he said unto them, It is enough [Heb 4:12].

If “The LORD is my [our] strength and song, and is become my salvation” it will be because we are blessed in this age to be judged by His word which is the sword which we pray will never depart from our house. If it does not depart from our house, Christ has told us “It is enough” to get the job done [2Sa 12:10].

2Sa 12:10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

That judgment which comes via the word of God is “quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword^G3162, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” and is the reason we “praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

Psa 117:2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD”.

We praise God for showing mercy to us in this age by piercing our hearts through the judgment that His word brings in our land so we can learn of His righteousness first and one day be blessed to reveal the thoughts of many hearts; another way of saying “when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness”.

Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early [Heb 11:6]: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Luk 2:35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Psa 117:1 O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. Psa 117:2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

We praise the LORD for the reasons mentioned in the first and only two verses of Psalm 117,”For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever.” That is the theme which the Psalmist continues to speak to in Psalm 118, and as we will see, the LORD has given us this Psalm to reassure His children that we can put our confidence in the LORD and know that His merciful hand is going to destroy all the enemies within us as He brings us unto perfection on the third day through that judgment.

Luk 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

It is “all ye nations” and “all ye people” who are to praise the LORD, and who will praise the LORD one day, but for today it is all the nations within us which are being brought into subjection to Christ as we learn through our trials to no longer trust our flesh, being blessed to no longer put our confidence in man or princes, but rather in our LORD whose plans for us are so great that we cannot fully appreciate what has been set before us.

Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jer 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jer 29:14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
Jer 29:15 Because ye have said, The LORD hath raised us up prophets in Babylon; [Mat 24:11].

1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew[Psa 118:9]: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. [boasting is therefore excluded by the law of faith Rom 3:27]

Psa 118:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 118:2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 118:3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 118:4 Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 118:5 I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.

O give thanks unto the LORD; for his goodness, let Israel, the house of Aaron, and those who fear the LORD say, his mercy for ever! The way this is outlined for us we are being witnessed to that all the world typified by “Israel, the many called “the house of Aaron” and the elect “Let them now that fear the LORD” in time are all being brought to understand the mercy of God that never fails.

We can only learn of that mercy by being put into situations where we need to be delivered, as David wrote, and it is the elect who truly “fear the LORD” and who are being dragged to call “upon the LORD in distress” so we can learn that “the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.

That “large place” is the peace that passes all understanding which is formed through the trials, when we are brought to our safe haven Jesus Christ (Psa 107:30) who is that “large place” of refuge for us in this life.

Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Php 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Isa 25:4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Gen 24:63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and [1st Rom 5:8] he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. Gen 24:64 And [2nd] Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.

Psa 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Psa 118:7 The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.

Verse 6 and 7 demonstrate just how greatly God’s power can be working within us to make us more than conquerors through Him.

Act 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Act 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Dan 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Dan 3:17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
Dan 3:18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things [Rom 8:28] we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

These verses we’ve looked at demonstrate that we have no reason to fear what man can do unto us if “The LORD is on my side“. He will make our situations work together for the good because of His love that is being shed abroad in our hearts making our hope that “The LORD taketh my part with them that help me” very real.

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

God has purposed for His people to overcome, and it is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom! Knowing it is God’s good pleasure and purpose to give us the kingdom will drive all fear from His people, and it is through the judgment which is upon the body of Christ today that this will be accomplished as we grow in obedience to God’s word through the things which we suffer.

Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Psa 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Psa 118:9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

The last two verses will look at in our study entitled “The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation” and they speak of trusting in the LORD and not putting our confidence in man or in princes.

When we are subject to the wisdom of man and not being ruled and reigned over in our hearts by Jesus Christ, then we are demonstrating confidence in man and in princes. We naturally do this all our life until God sends His spirit to us and we become those Jews who are Jews inwardly who no longer have confidence in the flesh of men, especially our own flesh that must completely fall seven times (Pro 24:16). We will learn obedience through this life as we are shepherded down the strait gate to which we have been called (Mat 22:14, Mat 7:14).

Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

God’s elect are called out of this worldly trust that we war against day after day as we die daily and live the rest of our lives fulfilling the will of God. When we are chastened and scourged of the LORD through storms which God allows to rise and bring us to our wits’ end, it is always for the same express purpose of bringing us to be of the generation who have no confidence in our flesh. It is only through that grace and accompanying faith that God provides that “The LORD is [can be] my strength and song, and is become my salvation”.

1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

1Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Php 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Next week, Lord willing, we will look at the next nine verses (Part 2 Psa 118:10-18) where we will see more examples of how God allows our enemy to compass us about so that He can be glorified when those enemies are destroyed at His hand. Of course the primary enemy is within our own flesh which wars against the spirit of God, but also the outward enemies that God sends our way are used by the Lord to strengthen us and remind us of His great power, the hand of the Lord that does valiantly.

Psa 118:10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
Psa 118:11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
Psa 118:12 They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
Psa 118:13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.
Psa 118:14 The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
Psa 118:15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
Psa 118:16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
Psa 118:17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
Psa 118:18 The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.