How does Psalm 118:17 connect with Jesus' resurrection and victory over death? Opening the Verse Psalm 118:17: “I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the LORD has done.” Psalm 118 in Its Original Setting • A thanksgiving psalm, sung by worshipers entering the temple gates (vv. 19-20). • Written after a great deliverance—likely post-exilic Israel celebrating God’s rescue from oppressors. • The psalm’s refrain repeats, “His loving devotion endures forever” (vv. 1-4), underscoring covenant faithfulness that guarantees life instead of death. Messianic Echoes Throughout Psalm 118 • Verse 22: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Jesus applies this directly to Himself in Matthew 21:42. • Verse 26: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.” Crowds shout this over Jesus on Palm Sunday (Matthew 21:9). • Verse 24: “This is the day the LORD has made.” The decisive “day” reaches its climax in Resurrection morning. • Within that messianic framework, verse 17 becomes a prophetic voice foreshadowing Messiah’s triumph over the grave. Jesus and the Ultimate Fulfillment • In Gethsemane and at Calvary, Christ faced death squarely, yet Psalm 118:17 rings true: He would not remain in the grave. • Acts 2:24: “But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held by it.” • Jesus “lives to proclaim” the works of the LORD: – Revelation 1:18: “I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever.” – Hebrews 2:12 cites Psalm 22 but parallels the same pattern—Messiah lives to declare God’s name to His brothers. • Therefore, Psalm 118:17 anticipates the resurrection narrative: the Holy One does not see corruption (Psalm 16:10; Acts 13:35). The Resurrection Proclaimed: Living to Declare Because Jesus rose, Psalm 118:17 spills over into the apostolic message: • Peter on Pentecost (Acts 2:32): “God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses.” • Paul in the synagogue (Acts 13:37): “But the One whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.” • The apostles fulfill the “I will live and proclaim” portion by bearing firsthand testimony of the empty tomb. Implications for Believers Today • Union with Christ means believers share His victory: – John 11:25-26: “I am the resurrection and the life… whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.” – 1 Corinthians 15:54-57: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” • Psalm 118:17 becomes the believer’s confession: – Spiritual life now—freedom from sin’s penalty (Romans 6:4-5). – Bodily resurrection later—guaranteed by Christ’s own rising (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). • Our purpose mirrors His: – “Proclaim what the LORD has done”—the gospel of the risen Savior (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). – Daily testimony in word and deed, celebrating God’s steadfast love (Colossians 3:17). The verse that once voiced an ancient worshiper’s confidence flowers into a messianic prophecy triumphantly realized on Easter morning, binding Psalm 118:17 to Jesus’ resurrection and eternal victory over death. |
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