提要
雖然我們是單數第一人稱來閱讀詩篇第一一六篇，它很可能是一首用於團體崇拜時的聖經，因為在希伯人節慶時，人們都到耶和華的聖所中唱他們的歌，並且唱這首聖詩讚美祂（116：14、17~18）。這包括讚美上帝，感謝上帝賜給他們一切的恩惠。在這一詩篇一開始時，詩人描述一個人表達他對上帝的愛，因為祂在垂聽及回答他的禱告時，表達了祂無比的良善、仁慈、及憐憫。由於耶和華證明祂一定會垂聽他的祈求，他就決定要一生求告祂（116：2）。
對上帝的，帶有單純童稚信心的僕人而言，耶和華的恩典與憐憫是美麗的（116：6、16）。就是說上帝拯救了他。上帝保護他，拯救他的命，賜給他一個安息的地方（這個字暗示安慰，及心裡與環境裡的平安），使他心裡有喜悅，使他的腳站穩在地上，不致絆倒（116：8），以及拯救他的靈魂脫離死亡。這就是上帝要用耶穌的寶血所施行的救贖。由於罪的緣故，我們本來是該死的，可是上帝拯救了我們，還賜給我們永生。由於上帝已經賜給信徒生命，他知道祇有在上帝的裡面才有真實，也才值得他信靠。他開始了解，信靠人是徒然的，因為所有的人都是虛假的（116：11；118：8；羅3：4）。
敬拜上帝的人明白，他沒有什麼東西可以用來回敬上帝，因為上帝已為他做了一切（彌6：6~8），唯一可做的就是向上帝獻上感謝與讚美的祭。上帝的救恩之杯已經給了他，就像祂將它賜給所有的人一樣。我們所要做的事就是伸出手，接受它，來表達我們心裡的謙卑，及對上帝的感謝和讚美（116：13）。
雖然詩篇第一一七篇是這一組詩篇中最短的一篇，祇有十六個希伯來字，它卻含有見識與意義，而且成為聖經的中心。它是一篇有宗教思想的詩篇，展示上帝為各國百姓所定的目的和計劃。它邀請外邦人一起來讚美上帝，因為他們也可以享有上帝的恩惠（比較羅15：9~11）。在第二個句子中，在呼召人們讚美上帝時用了一個不平常的字；它被翻譯成「Laud」（褒獎或讚美）或「Extol」（頌揚或稱讚）。實際上，它暗示，要高聲地及愉快地祝賀上帝。在今天中東地區的婚禮中，我們仍然可以聽到，有一位婦女用高亢而又令人愉快的聲音，表達古式的慶祝。這也許就是這個字所表達的讚美的方式。誠然，滿有仁慈和真理的耶和華應該受到我們用各種方式，所表達的讚美和愉快的歡呼。
詩篇第一一八篇是一首感恩的聖詩，感謝上帝拯救祂的百姓，因而可以作「讚美詩篇」的結尾篇。這一詩篇的著作目的也許是要回應贏得的戰爭勝利，因為上帝要使祂的百姓得到鼓勵，所以它也可以用在會眾的崇拜中。它似乎是一首進行式的及啟應式的聖詩；當上帝的百姓進入祂的家中敬拜祂時，它就可以由很多人一起來頌唱（118：19~20）。由於它是一首節日慶典式的詩歌，它的音調是令人愉快的。
詩人表達對上帝的絕對信靠。當他遭受到不能克服的困難時，他就奉耶和華的名要求勝利，並且接受祂的幫助。代表力量與權力的「耶和華的右邊」之受到頌讚乃是它賜給勝利。詩人藉著「匠人所棄的石頭」戰勝了仇敵。詩人在這裡也許是指，小國以色列已為仇敵鄙視與遺棄，但是由於他們戰勝了敵人，而成為一個強國，也是「耶和華所作的」（118：23）。新約聖經對這一預言的解釋是：對義人而言，這塊主要的牆角石就是上帝所揀選的活石（彼前2：4、5），救恩的基石（徒4：11、12）以及這塊主要的基石建成上帝的家（教會），也藉著聖靈成為上帝的堅固的居所（弗2：20~22）。它必不至於羞愧（彼前2：6；賽28：16）。這塊石頭就是我們的主耶穌，彌賽亞，奉耶和華的名來到世上，而且為上帝所賜作為真光（118：26、27；約12：13）。祂為祂自己的國家所拒絕，但是有一天所有的人都會知道，祂就是君王，要坐在大衛的寶座上統治祂的百姓。不過，對那些不義的人及背叛上帝的人而言，這塊石頭就會帶著上帝的烈怒掉下來，砸碎他們（太21：42~44；彼前2：7、8；賽8：14）。
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Overview
Although Psalm 116 is read in the first person singular, it was most likely a song used for corporate worship in connection with the Hebrew feasts when individuals would come before the Lord at the sanctuary to pay their vows (116:14,17-18). This included thanksgiving and praise to God for all His benefits bestowed upon them. The psalm begins with a single worshipper's expression of love to the Lord for His goodness, lovingkindness, and mercy shown in hearing and answering prayers. Since the Lord had proved Himself faithful in hearing his supplications, the worshipper resolved to call upon Him for the rest of his life (116:2).
The Lord's grace and compassion were bountiful to the grateful servant of God with his simple, child-like faith (116:6, 16). God delivered him in the fullest sense of the word. He preserved and saved his life, gave him rest (a term implying comfort, peace of heart and circumstance), brought joy to his heart, put his feet upon solid ground so that he might not stumble (116:8), and God delivered his soul from death. This is exactly what redemption through the blood of Jesus does. He has saved us from the death we deserved because of our sin, and has given us eternal life. Since God had given the worshipper of life, he knew that God was the only one in whom there was truth and in whom he could put his trust. He came to understand that it was vain to trust in men, since all men were false (116:11; 118:8; Rom.3:4).
The worshipper understands that there is nothing he can give God in return for all He has done for him (Micah 6:6-8), except to be faithful in paying his vows of offering unto Him the sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise. God's cup of salvation had been graciously offered to him, just as it is to all people. All we have to do is reach out and receive it with a humble heart of gratitude and love for God (116:13).
Although Psalm 117 is the shortest in the psalter, with only sixteen words in the Hebrew, it is pregnant with insight and meaning, and comes in the very middle point of the Bible. It is a missionary-minded psalm which shows the purpose and plan of God that includes all people from every nation. The Gentiles are called upon to join in manifold praises to God, for they too can enjoy all His benefits (cf. Rom. 15:9-11). In the second clause, an uncommon word is used in the call to praise God; it has been translated as "laud" (NKJV), or "extol" (NIV). Actually it is implied in the meaning a joyous celebration of God with a high voice. At wedding celebrations today in the Middle East, an ancient celebration sound of a high pitched shrill sounded by women can be heard. This might be the very form of praise intended in the word. Truly, the Lord who is full of mercy and truth deserves all our praise and shouts of joy in every form possible.
Psalm 118 is a hymn of thanksgiving for the wonderful deliverance that God gave His people and as such it is a fitting conclusion to the "Hallel Psalms". Probably written in response to a battle won because God enabled His people to be strengthened, it was then adapted for congregational use. It appears to have been a processional and responsive hymn that was sung by many people as they entered the courts of the house of the Lord to worship Him (118:19-20). Since it is a celebration song, the tone is joyous.
The psalmist expresses utter confidence in God alone. When insurmountable odds were against him, he claimed the victory in the name of the Lord and received His help. The "right hand of the Lord", which represents strength and power, is praised for valiantly giving the victory. The enemies were overcome through the strength of "the stone which the builders rejected". The psalmist was likely referring to the small nation of Israel which had been despised and rejected, but with the victory in battle had become the chief power, which was "the Lord's doing" (118:23). The New Testament explains this prophetically: for the righteous, this chief cornerstone is the precious living stone chosen by God (1 Peter 2:4,5), the foundation of salvation (Acts 4:11,12) and the chief foundational stone that holds together the household of God (the Church) that it may be strong and inhabited by His Spirit (Eph.2:20-22). It can never be put to shame (1 Peter 2:6; Isa. 28:16). This stone is none other than our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, who came in the name of the Lord and who was given by God as the Light (118:26,27; John 12:13). He was rejected by His own nation, but one day all will know that He is the King who will rule on the throne of David. To those who are unrighteous and disobedient to God, however, this Stone will fall and crush them with the wrath of God (Matthew 21:42-44; 1 Peter 2:7,8; Isaiah 8:14).
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