THE KING HAS COME – PSALM 118
Intro: The Royal Procession- Understanding Royalty
(1) What people wanted in a King:
a. A leader from God to judge justly (1 Sam 8:1-6)
b. One who exemplified status and beauty (1 Sam 9: 1-2)
c. One who would save them from all enemies (1 Sam 10:1)
(2) What God looked for in a King:
a. A leader who had all this, but who represented His beauty, power, might, justice &
salvation. (1 Sam 16:6-7)
*Royalty represented God’s leadership, power, salvation & glory (Ps 68:24-25 & Song of Solomon 3: 6-11)
Four Things we need to know about the Psalm before we study it.
(1) The Jews & All Israel knew this Psalm ultimately pointed toward God’s coming King
(Luke 19:38-39, Matthew 21: 14-16)
(2) Many of the Psalms “ultimately” point to the Messiah (Luke 24: 44-45)
(3) This Psalm was sung to Jesus on the day of His triumphant entry in Jerusalem on Psalm Sunday
(John 12: 12-13)
(4) The Psalm was sung by Jesus at the Passover meal just before Gethsemane & the cross (Matt
26:30) (The Egyptian Hallel Psalms 113-118)
Psalms 118 Outline
1. The King’s Command (vs 1-4) Everyone who has experienced the goodness and steadfast love of
God should give thanks with the King (John 13:31-32, John 14-13, Phil 2:11)
2. The King’s Testimony (vs 5-18) The King gives a personal testimony to God’s goodness &
steadfast love.
3. The King’s Praise (vs 19-24) The King proceeds to the Eastern Gate of the temple (or tabernacle)
to give the promised praise.
4. The Kingdom’s prayer (vs 25-27) The Kingdom prays “Lord save us by our King. Bless Him as he
comes in your name. We bless you from the house of the LORD.”
5. The King’s confession & command (vs 28-29) “You are my God and I will give thanks and exalt
you. Give thanks to God for he is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.”