Verse of the Day (January 11, 2020)

Verse of the Day (January 11, 2020) #BMSeminary – This psalm was a particular favorite of Martin Luther. A national psalm of thanksgiving, it apparently accompanied a procession into the temple, probably that of a thanksgiving offering. The changes of person in the psalm indicate that it may have been recited antiphonally, though the following explanation is admittedly conjectural. First, there is an exchange before the door of the temple (vv. 1–20). The first four verses are a sort of invocation, probably delivered by a priest. Next, in verses 5–18 the king leads the people in worship with himself as the speaker, though interrupted at times by antiphonal refrains offered by the people (vv. 8, 9, 10–12). In verse 19 the king turns to the doorkeeper and asks for entrance. The doorkeeper responds with a description of those who may enter (v. 20, retranslating as a statement: “This is the gate of the LORD”). The remainder of the psalm takes place within the temple (vv. 21–29). Again there are apparently three speakers. First, the king declares that God has saved him (v. 21). The people respond in a joyful manner to this affirmation (vv. 22–24). The employment of the stone imagery to represent the Davidic king is echoed messianically throughout the New Testament (Matt. 21:42; Mark 12:10, 11; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7). Next, the priests deliver a petition and a blessing (vv. 25, 26). The final three verses portray the presentation of the actual sacrifice: the priests command it (v. 27), the king responds with praise (v. 28), and the people seal the ceremony with the same liturgical formula with which it began (v. 29). (KJV Study Bible)