17
I shall not die, but live,
And declare the works of the Lord.
My Thoughts
Until the day that Abba calls me home, I will live in this earthly body, and my job until then is to declare the works of the Lord, to trust Him and Praise His holy hallowed name, to seek the goal of the Great Commission which Christ Jesus spoke of in Matthew 28:16-20 by seeking God and following the path God has prepared for me and that gets brighter every day, Proverbs 4:18 NASB 1995.
This verse emphasizes a profound assurance of life amidst challenges, stating, “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.” The writer expresses a commitment to living a life that praises God and carries out the Great Commission. Commentators like Spurgeon and Henry affirm that this declaration reflects a confidence in divine protection and a purpose to acknowledge God’s faithfulness. The psalm reassures believers that their lives are intended for glorifying God, even in adversity…….Bill
_________________________________
Commentaries:
Charles Spurgeon
“I shall not die, but live.” His enemies hoped that he would die, and perhaps he himself feared he should perish at their hand: the news of his death may have been spread among his people, tor the tongue of rumor is ever ready with ill news, the false intelligence would naturally cause great sorrow and despondency, but he proclaims himself as yet alive and as confident that he shall not fall by the hand of the destroyer. He is cheerfully assured that no arrow could carry death between the joints of his harness, and no weapon of any sort could end his career. His time had not yet come; he felt immortality beating within his bosom. Perhaps he had been sick and brought to death’s door, but he had a presentiment that the sickness was not unto death, but to the glory of God. At any rate, he knew that he should not so die as to give victory to the enemies of God; for the honor of God and the good of his people were both wrapped up in his continued success.
Feeling that he would live, he devoted himself to the noblest of purposes: he resolved to bear witness to the divine faithfulness, “and declare the works of the LORD.” He determined to recount the works of Jah, and he does so in this Psalm, wherein he dwells with love and admiration upon the splendor of Jehovah’s prowess in the midst of the fight. While there is a testimony for God to be borne by us to anyone, it is certain that we shall not be hurried from the land of the living. The Lord’s prophets shall live on in the midst of famine, and war, and plague, and persecution, till they have uttered all the words of their prophecy; his priests shall stand at the altar unharmed till their last sacrifice has been presented before him. No bullet will find its billet in our hearts till we have finished our allotted period of activity,
Plagues and deaths around me fly,
Till he please I cannot die:
Not a single shaft can hit,
Till the God of love sees fit.
_________________________________
Enduring Word
I shall not die, but live: The psalmist was confident that God would keep him from death in the present crisis. As Jesus sang this song at the last supper with His disciples, He could proclaim this confidently – that death would keep no hold upon Him, but He would live, and declare the works of the LORD. (Guzik)
i. I shall not die, but live: Psalm 118:17 was precious to John Wycliffe: “John Wycliffe, the Protestant Reformer, fell sick at one point as the result of his incessant labors for the gospel. The friars heard that their enemy was dying and hastened to his bedside. Surely Wycliffe would be overcome with remorse for his Protestant heresies. Surely he would renounce his views and ask for God’s forgiveness and the friars’ blessing. A crowd of monks representing four major orders of the friars gathered around him. They began by wishing him health, then quickly changed their tune and urged him to make a full confession since he would soon have to give an accounting of himself to God. Wycliffe waited patiently until they had ended. Then, asking his servant to raise him a little so he could speak better, Wycliffe fixed his keen eyes on them and said in a commanding voice, ‘I shall not die but live and proclaim…the evil deeds of the friars.’” (Boice)
ii. I shall not die, but live: Psalm 118:17 was also precious to Martin Luther, who faced threats on his life due to his reformation efforts. “According to Matthesius, Luther had this verse written against his study wall.” (Spurgeon)
_________________________________
Albert Barnes
I shall not die, but live – Evidently, the psalmist had apprehended that he would die; or, he had felt that he was in imminent danger of dying. In this language, he seems, as in Psalms 118:13, to go back again to the scenes referred to in the psalm. He lives them over again. He describes the feelings which he had then. He saw that he was in danger. His enemies were thick round about him, and sought his life. But he had then the assurance that they would not be victorious; that they would not accomplish their object; that he would be protected; that he would live to declare what God had done for him. He does not say how he had this assurance, but there is no impropriety in supposing that he had it, as Hezekiah had in similar circumstances (see Isaiah 38:5-8, Isaiah 38:21), by a direct divine intimation. Things like this are not uncommon now, when, in danger or in sickness, the mind is strongly impressed with the belief that there will be a restoration to health and safety, and when the mind is made calm and peaceful by that belief – the very calmness of the mind under such a belief contributing not a little to that result. Why should we hesitate to believe that such a faith and hope may come from the Lord? Compare Acts 27:22-25.
And declare the works of the Lord – Declare what he has done.
_________________________________
John Gill
I shall not die, but live,…. Not that he should never die, David knew he should; but that his present afflictions would not issue in death; or he should not die by the hands of his enemies, he sometimes feared he should; but now believed he should live, as he did, to a good old age: he knew he should live spiritually and eternally, and not die a second death; and so may all true believers and members of Christ say. Yea, these words may be considered as the words of Christ; who, though he came into the world to die, and did die for the sins of his people; yet he knew he should not die before his time, nor should he continue long under the power of death; but should live again, and live for evermore, and not die; death should have no more dominion over him; see Psalm 16:10;
and declare the works of the Lord; the wonderful appearances of God in a providential way, and all his marvelous works of grace; as David did, and as all the people of God more or less do; and which is the end of their living; not to eat and drink, and gratify their carnal senses, but to glorify God, by declaring what he has done for themselves and others. So the Messiah declared the name of God, his nature, perfections, mind and will, word and works, among his brethren in the great congregation, Psalm 22:22.
_________________________________
Matthew Henry
Of his life (v. 17): “I shall not die by the hands of my enemies that seek my life, but live and declare the works of the Lord; I shall live a monument of God’s mercy and power; his works shall be declared in me, and I will make it the business of my life to praise and magnify God, looking upon that as the end of my preservation.” Note, it is not worthwhile to live for any other purpose than to declare the works of God, for his honor and the encouragement of others to serve him and trust in him. Such as these were the triumphs of the Son of David in the assurance he had of the success of his undertaking and that the good pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his hand.
_________________________________
The Pulpit Commentaries
I shall not die, but live.
I. THIS PSALM HAS BEEN WELL CALLED THE “HYMN OF DELIVERANCE FROM EXILE,” as the song of Moses was the “Hymn of Deliverance from Egypt.” It is such a Te Deum as was possible when as yet the gospel had not been revealed. The enemies of Israel had done their worst. They had compassed Israel “about like bees” (Psalms 118:10-12); they had “thrust sore at him,” that he might fall (Psalms 118:13). But with this recollection, and with the consciousness of bitter enmity still existing, there is mingled the glad confidence, the buoyant hope, that their enemies shall be “quenched as the fire of thorns.” “I shall not die, but live” (Psalms 118:14-17). The psalm pictures Israel keeping high festival, probably at the dedication of the new temple. The day itself was solemnly set apart (Psalms 118:24), and a joyous procession is seen advancing towards the sacred edifice. As it nears the entrance, the warders of the gates are summoned to open them (Psalms 118:19), that the people may go in to praise the Lord. “And then, as the throng passes within, the psalmist notes a circumstance which forms a leading feature in his poem. In building the new temple, some block of stone had been, at first, laid aside as useless, and then, on fuller consideration, it had been lifted up to fill one of the most important positions in the structure.” The sacred poet fastens on this incident, and sees in it the striking suggestion of Israel’s own history—a suggestion which our Lord himself takes up and applies to himself as being the most complete fulfillment of its prophecy. Israel had seemed useless, impossible of recovery, unfit altogether for the high purposes for which God had at first designed her. Carried off and apparently lost in the sweltering mob of nationalities in which she had been swallowed up, what good was she capable of? What useful part in the upbuilding of the kingdom of God could she serve? So all men thought, and with apparent abundant reason. But the festival which the psalm celebrates contradicted all that, and the stone, once rejected, but now filling so important a place in the new temple, was the type and prophecy of the high service which yet, and in spite of all past and present obstacles, Israel was called to render in the accomplishment of the good will of God to man. So that she could say, as here she does, “I shall not die, but,” etc.
II. IT WAS ADOPTED BY OUR LORD FOR HIMSELF. Not alone the special part of the psalm (Psalms 118:22), which tells of the rejected but exalted stone (cf. Matthew 21:42), but the whole tone and spirit of the psalm. It looked, as the day of his death drew near, as if he were forever the “Rejected of men.” But the words of our text were his conviction (cf. Luke 18:31-33). He, though humbled even to death, and that the death of the cross, yet should he conquer death and live forevermore (Romans 6:10; Revelation 1:18). The exile of Israel and their glad return were but shadows of the darkness of the cross, and the glory of Easter Day.
III. IT HAS BEEN EVER TRUE OF THE CHURCH OF GOD. She has been plunged into deepest woe and brought down to death.
1. By fierce persecution. Let the martyr ages tell.
2. By the growth and spread of false doctrine. The faith once delivered to the saints has been tampered with, perverted, so that its true character has been lost.
3. And worse still, moral corruption has once and again seized on her, and made her a thing of horror to all holy souls. But in each case, it has been possible for the faithful remnant to lift up the exultant chant, “I shall not die,” etc.
IV. IT IS THE WELL–WARRANTED HOPE AND CONFIDENCE OF EVERY CHRISTIAN SOUL.
1. Sometimes the text comes literally true. Life has all but gone; the powers of the body seemed incapable of recovery, but restoration has been given. Let such restored life be given up to the declaration of the works of the Lord.
2. In the hour of terrible temptation. How many a soul has been all but lost, but, grasping the hand of the Lord, has yet been saved!
3. At the hour of death. The body dies, but not we.—S.C.
_________________________________
Cross-References
Habakkuk 1:12 (KJV)
12 Art thou not from everlasting,
O Lord my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die.
O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment;
And, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.
Psalm 73:28 (KJV)
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God:
I have put my trust in the Lord God,
That I may declare all thy works.
Psalm 66:12 (KJV)
12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water:
But thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
Psalm 115:17 (KJV)
17 The dead praise not the Lord,
Neither any that go down into silence.
Psalm 4:3 (KJV)
3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself:
The Lord will hear when I call unto him.
_________________________________
Geneva Bible 1560
Psalm 118:17
17 I shal not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.
_________________________________
Closing Thoughts
For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me,” says the Lord.’ ” Jeremiah 39:18 NKJV
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16 NKJV
Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You. Psalm 143:8 NKJV
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Psalm 143:8 NIV
- Exploring the Beauty of Psalms: Insights and Commentaries
- Monthly Breakdown of Our Blog Content
- Psalms Commentary: Faith and Inspiration
Posted on 5/06/2025 by Bill Stephens
Follow me on X – @billstephens_59
Leave a Reply