Psalm 118: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Psalm 118 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

The psalmist begins with a call to thanksgiving, urging Israel, the house of Aaron, and all who fear Yahweh to give thanks for his loving kindness that endures forever (vv. 1-4). The psalmist speaks of personal deliverance from distress.

Key verse

“This is the day that Yahweh has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!”
Psalms 118:24 (WEB)

Outline

Psalm 118:1–4 Call to Thanksgiving
Psalm 118:5–14 Personal Deliverance and Strength
Psalm 118:15–18 Rejoicing in Salvation
Psalm 118:19–24 Entering the Gates of Righteousness
Psalm 118:25–29 Blessings and Final Praise

Discussion questions

In v21, how does the psalmist express gratitude for Yah's response?
What do the phrases 'the stone which the builders rejected' (v22) signify within the psalm's context?
The statement 'Yah has punished me severely' (v18): what does this suggest about the psalmist's understanding of suffering?
The repetition of 'Yahweh is on my side' (vv. 6-7): how does this build the theme of support in distress?
When have you sought refuge in Yahweh during distress, as the psalmist mentions in v8?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Psalm 118: Hebrews 13, Romans 8, Psalm 27.

Before next time: read Psalm 119.