What was happening with David when Psalm 118 was written?

Answer 1

Psalm 118 is a hymn of Thanksgiving and praise, likely composed to celebrate a military victory or deliverance from a crisis. It is traditionally attributed to King David, who faced numerous challenges and enemies throughout his reign. The psalm reflects David's trust in God's protection and deliverance during times of trouble, highlighting his faith and gratitude amidst adversity.

Answer 2

A:Tradition holds that the psalms were all written by Kings David and Solomon, or by their courtiers. However, scholars say that the psalms were a literary genre unknown at the time attributed to David and Solomon. They were actually written during and after the Babylonian Exile.

Psalm 118 verse 9 says (KJV), "

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes." While the first clause is uncontroversial, no king would write the second part, and it would be a brave courtier to do so. In addition, verse 26 refers to the "house of the Lord" (the Jerusalem Temple) in the past tense, meaning that the psalm was written after it was built and probably after its destruction by the Babylonians. The tenor of the psalm indicates that the Jews had already been allowed to return from captivity, and verse 25, which asks the Lord to send prosperity, suggests they have already returned.

Like all the psalms, Psalm 118 was written anonymously, so we will never know its actual author, but we can say that he lived some time after the Return from the Babylonian Exile, and long after the time of David.