Psalm 118

I am going to read Psalm 118 to youBut first, I’ll say something about this poem– it was written by one person• that’s obvious from the singular personal pronoun in first 24 verses• we’ll hear other voices — perhaps a priest giving a benediction◦ and the poet will speak for the whole congregation of worshipers◦ but he will return to his own voice at the end of the psalm– the reason I’m pointing this out,• is because many biblical scholars now see it as a liturgical composition◦ that is to say, an outline for a service of worship in the temple• but even if the poem became that, it began with one person,◦ who went through a terrifying ordeal◦ then after God brought him through it he was inspired to give thanks