Tutorial Paper on Psalm 118

This tutorial paper discusses Psalm 118 and its theme of thanksgiving to God. It explores the personal reaction, key ideas, exegesis, and implications of this psalm. The paper also discusses the expression of faith, the community's understanding of God, and the function of this psalm in corporate worship and pastoral care.

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Tutorial paper on Psalm 118
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1. A brief statement identifying my personal reaction to Psalm 118 on the first reading.
Psalm 118 contains spiritual sermons which help believers to strengthen their faith. On reading
Psalm 118 I have realized the theme of thanksgiving to God and the reliance on God rather than
relying on human beings.1 The issue is that reading Psalm 118 one can clearly understand how to
strengthen his relationship with God by offering thanksgiving. Basically, Psalm 118 has been of
much importance in my life; it has helped me on how to get out of my troubles in my life
whenever no other human being can be in the position to help me. In fact, when I read Psalm
118 I feel positive since I am in the position to depend on the Lord Who can control all my
activities and all that I experience in my life. Through the entire book, I am in the position to
appreciate the importance of thanksgiving.
There are some of the verses in Psalm 118 which have raised questions for me;
For example
118:1 "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is so good: because his mercy endureth forever."
The main question rising in this verse is how good is our GOD? Is God telling us to depend on
his powers and the mighty things he does to us as believers?
118:5 "I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place."
The entire verse raises the question of how God can He help me when am in danger? How God
answers my call and what can I do after He has answered my call as a believer? Should I offer
thanksgiving after the call or what am I supposed to do as a child of God?
2. My initial thoughts on key ideas in Psalm 118
1 Bellinger, Psalms: A Guide to Studying the Psalter,9.

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My initial thought on key ideas related to Psalm 118 was based on the first two verses.
118:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
118:2 Oh let Israel say,
"His loving kindness is everlasting."
From the two verses, Psalm 118 prepared me on appreciating the issue of thanksgiving in my
life. 2The entire idea portrayed by the verses in Psalm 118 revolves around the nature of God as
loving, kind and merciful. Verse 2 enabled me to appreciate the love and kindness as key ideas in
Psalm 1118.
In general, my thoughts on key ideas in Psalm 118 is that the book called all nations and
religious leaders to teach to all people on how to recognize and acknowledge the mercy of God.
In addition, I believe that psalmist is reminding us on how to recognize God as a source of
everything and how we should be thankful for His goodness He does to our lives. As one reads
the other verses he or she is in the position to understand key ideas on us as human beings we
have to offer and express gratitude to God by parsing Him throughout.
3. Notes on exegesis of Psalm 118
Basically, the entire Psalm 118 is centered on God. All the concepts outlined from the first verse
all the way to the last verse are related to God.3 The structure is described by using pronouns that
2 Brueggemann, Sabbath as Resistance, New Edition with Study Guide: Saying No to the
Culture of Now,23.
3 Dickens, "The importance of the Psalter at Turfan” 380.

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describes the nature of God. The poetic nature explains how believers should rely on God for
help. For example,
118:14 "The Lord is my strength and song,
And he has become my salvation."
118:15 "The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly."
The two verse summarizes the entire theme outlined in Psalm 118. The main idea about Psalm
118 is that it educates believers to have trust in the Lord.4 This means that believers have to rely
on support and assistance granted by the Lord himself but not depending on other resources.
4. Expression of faith
The Israelites community mainly expressed their faith through use of songs during worship as
seen in Psalm 118. It is evident that they believed in working miracles and they often praised
God through songs and dancing as a key sign of faith the worship.
How the communities experience of the world affect its understanding of God
The Israelites history is written in the view of indicating how God will intervene in case of
problem.
118:2 Oh let Israel say,
"His lovingkindness is everlasting."
4 Guthrie, "Temples of the Spirit: Worship as embodied performance." 6.

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The communities past experience makes them understand Gods love and mercy in different ways
.Their experiences enable them to understand that God fulfills his purpose for them hence he
should be praised.5 The community thus understood Gods role and purpose in their lives.
Through understanding this particular aspect Israel are able to view Him as a God of mercy and
kindness.
Implications of this understanding for the community’s self-identity
Through the nature of God as indicated in Psalm 118, the community is in the position to realize
its own religious identity.
What view of God does psalms put forward?
According to psalms it enables worshippers to view God as the helper of everything. All the
verses explains how God helps people when they are in the problem. God assures all people to
depend on Him and they will experience the mighty things in their lives.6
5. Function of psalm for the corporate worship life and pastoral care of my own
worship community and personal identity
Psalms as a prayer is quite important since it helps people to learn how God manifest his power
at all the times. Jesus helps when one is in distress as indicated by Psalm 118. In addition, the
study of psalms helps people to gain a fuller appreciation of worship, are able to appreciate
5 Howes, "Judging the twelve tribes of Israel: Q 22: 28, 30 in light of the Psalms of
Solomon and the Community Rule." 1-11.
6 Mays, “Psalms: Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching.”11.

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contribution of God in their activities. Also the church educates people to depend on God and at
same time offer thanksgiving to Him.7
In addition Psalm 118 enables me as an individual to associate myself with a certain worship
community hence growing my persona; cultural values and identity by doing what is good.
The psalm also plays a great role in speaking in depth for the community struggles.8 It enables
people in the community to express their joy, suffering, hope and care to God hence making it
possible for each Christian to be involved actively in the community.
Bibliography
Bellinger, WH Jr. Psalms: A Guide to Studying the Psalter. Baker Books, 2012
Brueggemann, Walter. Sabbath as Resistance, New Edition with Study Guide: Saying No to the
Culture of Now. Westminster John Knox Press, 2017.
7 Ryrie, "Dismantling Catholic Primers and Reforming Private Prayer: Anne Lock,
Hezekiah’s Song and Psalm 50/51." 16.
8 Tackmier, "The Role of Psalm 118 in Worshiping Jesus the Messiah." 116.

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Dickens, Mark. "The importance of the Psalter at Turfan." From the Oxus River to the Chinese
Shores. Studies on East Syriac Christianity in Central Asia and China (2013): 357-380.
Guthrie, Steven R. "Temples of the Spirit: Worship as embodied performance." In Faithful
Performances, pp. 99-116. Routledge, 2016.
Howes, Llewellyn. "Judging the twelve tribes of Israel: Q 22: 28, 30 in light of the Psalms of
Solomon and the Community Rule." Verbum et Ecclesia 35, no. 1 (2014): 1-11.
Mays, James Luther. “Psalms: Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and
Preaching.” Westminster John Knox Press, 2011.
Ryrie, Alec. "Dismantling Catholic Primers and Reforming Private Prayer: Anne Lock,
Hezekiah’s Song and Psalm 50/51." In Private and Domestic Devotion in Early Modern
Britain, pp. 105-126. Routledge, 2016.
Tackmier, Bill J. "The Role of Psalm 118 in Worshiping Jesus the Messiah." (2016).