Psalms 118:27

My Notes

What Does Psalms 118:27 Mean?

"God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar." The DUAL declaration of Psalm 118's climax: THEOLOGY (God is the LORD who showed us light) and WORSHIP-ACTION (bind the sacrifice to the altar). The KNOWING leads to the DOING. The revelation produces the response. The light that God showed produces the sacrifice that God receives.

The phrase "God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light" (El YHWH vayyaer lanu — God is the LORD and He has caused light to shine for us) is a CONFESSION: El (God — the mighty one) IS YHWH (the LORD — the covenant-name). The identification is EXPLICIT — the mighty one IS the covenant God. And He has 'showed us light' (he'ir — caused to shine, illuminated). The light is DIVINE GIFT — not discovered by human searching but SHOWN by divine revelation. The light is given, not found.

The phrase "bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar" (isru chag ba'avotim ad qarnot hammizbeach — bind the festival/sacrifice with ropes/branches unto the horns of the altar) has been interpreted multiple ways: binding the SACRIFICIAL ANIMAL to the altar-horns with ropes, or binding FESTIVAL BRANCHES (like palm branches) to the altar during processional worship. Either way, the action is PHYSICAL — tying, binding, securing something to the altar. The worship involves HANDS, ROPES, and ALTAR-CONTACT.

The SEQUENCE — light → sacrifice — is the logic of worship: God SHOWS you something (light). You RESPOND with something (sacrifice). The revelation produces the response. The seeing leads to the binding. The theology becomes the worship-act.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What light has God shown you — and what sacrifice are you offering in response?
• 2.What does 'showed us light' (divine initiative, gift) teach about revelation preceding response?
• 3.How does BINDING the sacrifice (with cords, to the horns) describe worship as physical commitment?
• 4.What would it mean to bind your offering to the STRONGEST points of the altar — firmly and inescapably?

Devotional

God IS the LORD. He SHOWED us light. Now: BIND the sacrifice to the altar. The logic is clear: revelation produces response. Light produces sacrifice. What God SHOWS you becomes what you OFFER Him. The seeing and the binding are connected. The theology becomes the worship-act.

The 'SHOWED US LIGHT' is divine initiative: God CAUSED light to shine. The illumination is a GIFT — given, not earned. Shown, not discovered. The light comes FROM God TO the worshiper. The revelation is divine generosity. The showing is the favor. The light is the grace that precedes the sacrifice.

The 'BIND the sacrifice' is the physical response: the worship isn't just feelings or words. It's PHYSICAL — ropes, animal, altar, horns. The hands tie. The cords bind. The sacrifice is SECURED to the altar. The worship involves CONTACT between the offering and the sacred object. The binding is the commitment made physical.

The 'HORNS OF THE ALTAR' are the altar's highest points — the four corners that extend upward. Binding to the HORNS means securing to the STRONGEST, most prominent parts of the altar. The sacrifice isn't loosely placed on the surface. It's BOUND to the peaks — firmly, intentionally, inescapably attached to the most visible points of the sacred structure.

What light has God shown you — and what sacrifice are you binding to the altar in response?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture