#DailyDevotion In The LORD’s Name We Are Victorious
Psalm 118 10All the nations surrounded me. in the LORD’s name I have defeated them; 11they surrounded me, yes, surrounded me — in the LORD’s name I have defeated them; 12they surrounded me like bees; but like burning thorns they were extinguished; in the LORD’s name I have defeated them.
On one level we can see this during David’s lifetime as the nations surrounding Israel were attacking him. Indeed, much like today, Israel was surrounded on all sides. Bees can be very irritating and hard to chase off, particularly if you are trying to stand your ground. David declares though he had defeated them all in the LORD’s name. You might remember, in David’s first international fight with Goliath he said in 1 Sam. 17:44, “but I come to you in the name of the LORD of armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you insult.” David was quite adamant it was the name of the LORD that defeated Goliath and it was with the name of the LORD he defeated all of Israel’s enemies.
On another level we see Jesus hanging on the cross with the crowds of the nations surrounding Him and jeering Him. We further see Him surrounded on the Last Day in the book of Revelation, the several times the Last Day is predicted there. With the LORD’s name Jesus ultimately defeats all the nations that oppose Him and His rule.
13You pushed hard to make me fall, but the LORD helped me. 14The LORD is my strength and song; He has saved me. 15Listen to the happy shouting of victory in the tents of the righteous!
The “you” in verse thirteen I think we can assume is the nations in the previous verses. David did not always easily defeat his enemies. Nevertheless it was the LORD who helped him. David quotes the Song of Moses in verse fourteen. Jesus was also raised from the dead by the glory of the Father. Having been raised from the dead, He ascended to the right hand of the Father. He has gone up with a shout. His disciples surely gave happy shouting of victory in the tents of the righteous, just as we sing them when we celebrate the ascension.
The LORD’s right hand is working mightily; 16the LORD holds high His right hand; the LORD’s right hand is working mightily. 17I will not die but live and tell what the LORD has done. 18The LORD sharply corrected me but didn’t let me die.
Jesus is the right hand of God. He is working mightily to extend His kingdom, His rule on earth. Jesus did not stay dead. He rose victoriously from the dead. He has revealed to the Father. While He certainly received the wrath of Father on the cross in our stead, the Father did not leave Him the grave but raised Him up to the land of the living. We join Him in telling the nations what the LORD has done for Him and through Him for all people who will turn to Him and live in Him.
19(Entering:) Open the gates of righteousness for me; I will go into them and thank the LORD. 20This is the LORD’s gate — the righteous go into it.
At this point in the Psalm, they have entered into the gate of the tabernacle/temple. David and the people would go through it with thanksgiving for all the LORD had done for them. On a ritual level, only the righteous, i.e. the clean could enter it. Now that Jesus has past through the grave and sat down at the right hand of the Father, we who believe in Him call the grave our gate of righteousness. Through our death and burial we enter the presence of the LORD in the land of the living. That land is where all who have faith in the LORD Jesus Christ live because He has put into us and them eternal life.
Heavenly Father, may the victory of Jesus be our own through faith in Him. May we conquer sin, death and the power of the devil by His name. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.