Opposition, deliverance, thanksgiving.
The psalmist (or the nation) is passing, or has just passed, through great distress. He (it) has been the object of malignant and determined attack; he has been surrounded by enemies, and been in peril of his life; he has then, as always, sought help from above; and he has been so graciously relieved that he has the sense of deliverance in his soul, and the song of triumph on his lips.
I. HUMAN OPPOSITION. This begins in:
1. Hatred; or a hostile feeling (Psalms 118:7). It is bad enough that men should cherish a spirit of enmity toward us, that they should wish us evil. But this passes into:
2. A hostile attitude. Those who are opposed to us "compass us about" (Psalms 118:10-12). They quietly surround us with the network of their intrigue. They go beyond this; they bring to bear on us:
3. Active opposition. They "thrust sore at us" (Psalms 118:13); their voice is raised in accusation, in detraction, in opposition; they take active measures to defeat, to distress, even to ruin us. It may be that their efforts conduct to;
4. The most grave results. Positive disaster may impend (Psalms 118:17, Psalms 118:18). It may be war "unto death."
II. THE HOPE OF THE AFFLICTED. When thus engirt with enemies, our health, or our peace, or our position being seriously threatened, we have a refuge in God.
1. This trouble is so far of him that he has permitted it, and he has it under his control. Our appeal is therefore rightly directed to him.
2. His power against our adversaries is unquestioned and unbounded; let him lift his hand, and they are discomfited (Psalms 118:16). With God at our side, animating and inspiring us, we ourselves shall prove wiser and stronger than they (Psalms 118:10-12).
3. Conscious of our own integrity, with clean hands and a pure heart, assured that we are not seeking our own interests but those of the kingdom of Christ, we count confidently on his sympathy and succor (Psalms 118:6, Psalms 118:7).
III. DIVINE RELIEF. We call on God, and he answers us, and sets us "in a large place" (Psalms 118:5). He takes us out of the straits in which we were hemmed in, and places us where we can breathe freely and can act happily and fearlessly. He has become "our salvation" (Psalms 118:14). Our liabilities are met, our enemies disarmed, our reputation cleared, our position secured, our friends reconciled and restored, our path is made plain; we "return unto our rest." Then comes the blessedness of—
IV. THANKSGIVING.
1. In the heart. (Psalms 118:1-4.) Let every one that has been thus delivered, to whatever tribe he may belong, say that the pity of the Lord "endureth forever," that it never fails.
2. In the home. (Psalms 118:15.) The voice of praise should be heard beneath every roof where God is known and his goodness has been felt.
3. In the sanctuary. (Psalms 118:19, Psalms 118:20, Psalms 118:21.) In the psalmody which is heard in the Church there is many a note, detected by the ear of God, which is the outpouring of a rescued and relieved human spirit.