Digging Deeper Days
Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
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The Questions
1) How does the Lord help when I am being pushed hard and the enemy tries to make me fall?
2) How can the Lord be my strength and my song?
3) What does it mean that the Lord’s right hand performs valiantly?
Psalm 118:1-16
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his faithful love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say,
“His faithful love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say,
“His faithful love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord say,
“His faithful love endures forever.”
5 I called to the Lord in distress;
the Lord answered me
and put me in a spacious place.
6 The Lord is for me; I will not be afraid.
What can a mere mortal do to me?
7 The Lord is my helper,
Therefore, I will look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in humanity.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in nobles.
10 All the nations surrounded me;
in the name of the Lord I destroyed them.
11 They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me;
in the name of the Lord I destroyed them.
12 They surrounded me like bees;
they were extinguished like a fire among thorns;
in the name of the Lord I destroyed them.
13 They pushed me hard to make me fall,
but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
15 There are shouts of joy and victory
in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand performs valiantly!
16 The Lord’s right hand is raised.
The Lord’s right hand performs valiantly!”
Original Intent
1) How does the Lord help when I am being pushed hard and the enemy tries to make me fall?
In Psalm 118, David recounts the ways his enemies have tried to harm him and how the Lord has delivered him each time. In Psalm 118:13, David declares, “They pushed me hard to make me fall, but the Lord helped me.” Author John Gill explains how David could be referencing Saul, who tried to kill David many times. He also points out that the reference describes Christ and “His many enemies.” One such enemy of Christ was Judas, who lifted up his heel against Him, and betrayed Him into the hands of His enemies; or how the devil thrust sore at Christ by Herod in His infancy, who sought to take away His life; and by the Scribes and Pharisees, who attempted it in different ways, and finally got Him nailed to the cross.” Others also see Psalm 118 as a Messianic chapter, noting that “When Jesus quoted Psalm 118, He was referring to Himself, just as He spoke of other passages in the same psalm as applying to Himself” (Jewsforjesus.com.) God shows himself as David’s Savior, helping him escape his enemies. Similarly, Psalm 118 foreshadows the coming Messiah, who will deliver everyone from their difficulties and sins.
2) How can the Lord be my strength and my song?
Psalm 118 is a Hallel, or hallelujah praise, traditionally recited at Passover. All four Gospels record that as Jesus entered Jerusalem in the days leading up to Passover, crowds gathered, acclaiming Jesus as the one “who comes in the name of the Lord.” (Jewsforjesus.com) As author G. Campbell Morgan explains, we are not sure of the author of Psalm 118. Morgan surmises, “though this was likely David’s psalm, it was also Jesus’ psalm.” This is pre-eminently the triumph song of the Christ, He the ideal Servant, He the perfect Priest, He the Leader of the people. How much all these words meant to Him as He sang them on that night in the upper room.” Author Alexander Maclaren also cites that this psalm is about the Messiah. He writes that, “Quoting Miriam’s song (Exodus 15:2), the singer knew not only that God could bring strength and a song, but that Yahweh Himself became their strength and the song of those who put their trust in Him. Going even further, the palmist understood that Yahweh had become his salvation. Yahweh is these things for His people.” If we put our trust in God, He becomes our strength and our song; He is our salvation.
3) What does it mean that the Lord’s right hand performs valiantly?
In Psalm 118:15-16, the phrase “the Lord’s right hand performs valiantly” is repeated twice. According to Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, the word “hand” “represents the ownership, power, or control that its possessor (either an individual or a people) exercises.” It goes on to say that in particular the right hand of God is “understood as a place of salvation, refuge, and protection.” Author April Motl explains, “when Scripture uses the image of God’s right hand, it is meant to be a picture of the pinnacle of strength and ability. In passages that specifies God’s right hand, strength is a key focus.” Indeed, the Scriptures are filled with verses that mention God’s right hand (at least 166 references!). For instance, in Psalm 108:6 David pleads with God to save him with His right hand. In Psalm 44:3, the psalmist says he conquered the land because of the Lord’s right hand. David describes not only the strength shown by God’s right hand, but also how it performs valiantly, or, according to author John Gill “acts powerfully. This is repeated for the confirmation of it, and to show how much the righteous were affected with it, and how desirous they were of glorifying it.” Our God is not only a strong God who acts with power, but He is our strength as well (Psalm 118:14). We are blessed to find not only our protection, but also our strength, in Him.
Everyday Application
1) How does the Lord help when I am being pushed hard and the enemy tries to make me fall?
Do you ever have days when it seems like the whole world is making a concerted effort to take you down? Your own daily stresses (like the dishwasher leaking, the dog puking on the carpet, or your kid being bullied), combined with worries about your friends (your pals divorcing, your neighbor with depression), and the ongoing conflicts in the nation (inequalities, injustices and fast-spreading viruses) make you feel like you’re going down for the count. It is true that our enemy, the devil, wants to take us out. The Bible tells us he is “prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” (I Peter 5:8) The Lord faithfully helps us when we are being pushed around by the enemy. The Bible tells us the One who is in us is greater than the devil. (1 John 4:4) God also encourages us in His word by saying, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10) Our God promises to be with us and strengthen us no matter what we are facing. We might get a little bruised and battered, but we are promised victory in the Lord!
2) How can the Lord be my strength and my song?
I have read plenty of verses telling me God is my strength. The Bible tells us God is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1), the strength of our life (Psalm 27:1), and that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). However, the idea that God is my song is not as familiar to me. I have heard songs based on Isaiah 12:2 and Psalm 118:14, but I’ve never contemplated what it means for the Lord to be my song. Author Alexander Maclaren explains, “When the Lord is our song, it means He is our joy and our happiness. We find our purpose and life in Him, and He never disappoints.” Author Joseph Benson connects the idea of strength and song by saying that since God gives us strength, He is “the just object of my praise.” The idea is that God in His grace and mercy gives me strength, and that makes me want to sing His praises! It works the other way around as well, for the Bible tells us, “the joy of the Lord is my strength!”. (Nehemiah 8:10) Whether God gives me strength that makes me sing, or His joy gives me strength, the Lord provides me with the strength I need to make it through each day.
3) What does it mean that the Lord’s right hand performs valiantly?
One winter day when I was a little girl, my younger sister and I were walking the two blocks home from school on a snowy day. Following us was a big, 5th grade bully, so we were moving fast. In our haste, my little sister lost her red rubber snow boot, and the bully quickly pounced on it and began tossing it over our heads to her pal. We just booked it home, leaving the boot in their clutches. Later my mom walked us back to retrieve the snow boot they had left lying in the snow, and I felt ashamed that I had not protected my sister from the boot-thieving bully. At times, I still feel helpless all these years later when I can’t do anything in my own power to free myself or a loved one from anxiety, physical pain or relationship struggles. Today, I know I am not really helpless and I don’t have to run. I know the “Lord’s right hand performs valiantly.” (Psalm 118:1) I cannot do much to fight against the enemy on my own, but I am learning I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13) When I rely on God to help me with my struggles, He delivers me (Psalm 34:19) With the Lord on my side, I don’t have anything to fear. (Psalm 118:6) God says that through Him, I am more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37) Sometimes I still feel like that little girl, quaking in her snow boots before the big bully, but the truth is that God fights my battles for me and I have no need to fear!
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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!
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Why Dig Deeper?
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Study Tools
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
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