06 July
Bible In 365 Days 
Psalm 115-118
Psalm 115
This third psalm in the Hallel is born of passion for the glory of the name of Jehovah. That is its opening note, and all that follows must be explained thereby. The singer's distress is heard in the cry:
"Wherefore should the nations say, Where is now their God?"
Not first for the welfare of the people does he care, but for the vindication of his god. This is a deep note, and all too rare in our music. We are ever in danger of putting the welfare of man before the glory of God.
The song having uttered its keynote proceeds in a passage of fine scorn for idols and idol worshippers. These idols have form without power, appearance without life, and the effect of worshipping them is that the worshippers become insensate as they are.
Following this there is a fine appeal to the people of God to trust in Him, with a confident assurance that He will help. There then pass before the mind of the singer the heavens, God's own habitation; the earth, entrusted to men; and Sheol (hell), the place of silence. All ends with a declaration that sounds the note of triumph even over death, for the praise of His people is to continue for evermore.
And again the thought reverts to the upper room, and the Singer Whose deepest passion was ever the will of God and the glory of His name; to the One Who was soon going into the silence where no note of praise would be heard; and yet to the One Who would turn the silence into song forevermore.
Psalm 116
This is the fourth song of the Hallel. In it the note of triumph over death, with which the last one closed, is elaborated. The singer had evidently been in some grave peril in which he had practically despaired of life. From the peril he had been delivered by Jehovah, and now he sings His praise. It has two movements. The first tells of his love, and declares its reason and its issue (Psalms 116:1-9). The second tells of his resulting faith, breaks forth into new exultation, and affirms his determination to praise (Psalms 116:10-19).
His love is the outcome of Jehovah's love manifested on his behalf when in the very bonds of death he cried to Him. The issue is that he will walk before Jehovah. His faith thus confirmed, he breaks into new song, and dedicates himself afresh to the high service of thanksgiving.
Whatever the local circumstances which gave rise to this song, it is evident that all its rich meaning was fulfilled, when in the midst of that little company of perplexed souls, the shadows of the One Death already on Him, Jesus sang this song of prophetic triumph over the sharpness of the hour of passion to which He was passing. He has made it over to all His own as their triumph song over death.
Psalm 117
The fifth song of the Hallel is the shortest in the Psalter. In it in a very deep sense, is fulfilled the saying so common that "Brevity is the soul of wit." It lives indeed with the wisdom of perfect realisation. It is the pure song of the people of Jehovah. It is the song of Israel, the ideal servant of Jehovah.
It is addressed to all peoples. They are called upon to praise and laud Jehovah because His truth endureth for ever. In the long process of the centuries Israel never fully realised this ideal. At last the purpose was consummated in a Person. All the ancient prophecies found in Him their potential fulfilment. In that upper room the song was a solo as to actual experience. By the union of grace and truth, in and through Jesus, the call to praise went out to all nations and peoples. Those who joined Him in the song that night were made able to sing in following days with meaning and with force; and that is the song with which the Church has gone forth ever since to woo and win the peoples to Jehovah. Ere the work of Jesus be finally completed, the Israel of God herself will sing that song perfectly, and the nations and peoples will respond.
Psalm 118
This is the sixth and last of the Hallel. It is the song of perfect victory, and was undoubtedly arranged to be sung by the triumphal procession as it made its way to the Temple for thanksgiving and worship. It is almost impossible however to trace its divisions in that way. As to its subject-matter it may be thus divided:
Introduction. The Call to Praise (Psalms 118:1-4).
The threefold Song of Israel, of Aaron, of the People (Psalms 118:5-27).
Conclusion (Psalms 118:28-29).
The call is to praise specifically for Jehovah's enduring mercy. It is addressed to Israel as the ideal servant; to the house of Aaron as the priesthood; to all that fear the Lord. To this call Israel personified first replies in a song which sets forth the story of distress and deliverance which had characterised the history of the long years (Psalms 118:5-18). The Aaron as the priest, who had the right to enter through all the gates, takes up the song, and challenges them to admit him, rejoicing in Jehovah's exaltation of him (Psalms 118:19-22). Then the people sing of the marvel of the Lord's doings, and devote themselves to Him (Psalms 118:23-27). Finally the psalmist strikes the note of personal thanksgiving ending with a call to praise. 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.
