Psalms 118:10

I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. -At the beginning () and at the close of this division (Psalms 118:13) the salvation already received is described. In the intervening seven verses there is the confident expectation that the deliverance will be completed, and Israel made conqueror over all her foes. Verse 5. I CALLED UPON THE LORD IN DISTRESS: THE LORD ANSWERED ME, (AND SET ME) IN A LARGE PLACE. Omit "and set me" - words not in the Hebrew. 'I called upon the Lord in a narrow place (straits); the Lord answered me in a wide place' (, Hebrew; 18:19; 31:8). The reference is to the deliverance of the people from their captivity, and setting...

10._All nations compassed me _In these verses he relates the wonderful deliverance which he had received, that all might know that it was not of human but divine origin. Once and again he declares, that he was compassed not by a few persons, but by a vast multitude. The people, being all inflamed with anger and fury against him, compassed him so that there were no means for his escape, and he could procure help from no quarter but from heaven. Some consider his complaint, that all nations were adverse to him, as referring to the neighboring nations, by whom we know David was surrounded with danger. His meaning, in my opinion, is, that the whole world was adverse to him; because he places God’s help alone in opposition to the deadly and furious hatred both of his own countrymen and of the neighboring nations towards him, so that there was not a spot upon the earth where he could be safe....

1-18 The account the psalmist here gives of his troubles is very applicable to Christ: many hated him without a cause; nay, the Lord himself chastened him sorely, bruised him, and put him to grief, that by his stripes we might be healed. God is sometimes the strength of his people, when he is not their song; they have spiritual supports, though they want spiritual delights. Whether the believer traces back his comfort to the everlasting goodness and mercy of God, or whether he looks forward to the blessing secured to him, he will find abundant cause for joy and praise. Every answer to our prayers is an evidence that the Lord is on our side; and then we need not fear what man can do unto us; we should conscientiously do our duty to all, and trust in him alone to accept and bless us. Let us seek to live to declare the works of God, and to encourage others to serve him and trust in him. Su...

Verse Psalms 118:10. _ALL NATIONS COMPASSED ME ABOUT_] This is by some supposed to relate to David, at the commencement of his reign, when all the neighbouring Philistine nations endeavoured to prevent him from establishing himself in the kingdom. Others suppose it may refer to the Samaritans, Idumeans, _Ammonites_, and others, who endeavoured to prevent the Jews from rebuilding their city and their temple after their return from captivity in Babylon. _BUT IN THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL I DESTROY THEM._] Dr. _Kennicott_ renders אמילם _amilam_, "I shall _disappoint them_;" Bishop _Horsley_, "I cut them to pieces;" Mr. _N. Berlin, repuli eas_, "I have _repelled_ them." "I will _cut them off_;" _Chaldee_. _Ultus sum_ _in eos_, "I am _avenged_ on them;" _Vulgate_. So the _Septuagint_....

ALL NATIONS COMPASSED ME ABOUT - They surrounded me; they hemmed me in on every side, so that I seemed to have no chance to escape. It would seem from this that the psalm was composed by someone who was at the head of the government, and whose government had been attacked by surrounding nations. This would accord well with many things that occurred in the life of David; but there were also other times in the Jewish history to which it would be applicable, and there is nothing that necessarily confines it to the time of David. BUT IN THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL I DESTROY THEM - Margin, as in Hebrew,” cut them off.” This is the language which he used at that time; the purpose which he then formed; an expression of the confidence which he then cherished. He meant to subdue them; he had no doubt that he would be able to do it....

EXPOSITION AN antiphonal hymn, composed for a joyful occasion, when there was to be a procession to the temple, a welcoming of the procession by those inside, and the solemn offering of a sacrifice upon the altar there. Dr. Kay's conjecture, that the occasion was the joyful Passover which followed the dedication of the second temple in B.C. 516 (Ezra 6:19-15), is not improbable, though it cannot be regarded as more than a reasonable hypo thesis. The first eighteen verses are the song of the procession as it winds its way slowly up the hill to the great gate of the temple, sung alternately, as it would seem, by the two halves of the procession. Psalms 118:19 is the utterance of the leader, in the name of the whole hand, on their arrival before the gates....

ALL NATIONS COMPASSED ME ABOUT,.... Not all the nations of the world, but all the neighbouring nations about Judea; as the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Amalekites, and Syrians; and these not all at one time, but sometimes one, and sometimes another, whom David fought with and subdued: and these, applied to Christ, design Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel; who were gathered together against him, to do what God had determined should be done, Acts 4:27; see Psalms 22:12. And this is sometimes the case of the church and people of God: at the first setting up of the interest of Christ, the whole world was against it; and in such circumstances was the church of Christ, when the whole world wondered after the beast, the Romish antichrist; as it will be when the kings of the earth a

May the Good Spirit, who taught the psalmist to indite these words help us to feel their inward meaning! Psalms 118:1. _O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever._ Now, do that, dear friends. Before we read another verse let us do that. In your hearts think of the goodness and mercy of God to you-to each one as an individual, and give him thanks now: no murmuring, no coldness of heart. Cast out everything, and give God thanks at this moment. It is the least we can do. It is to our own benefit to be grateful. How can we be holy if we are deficient in that simple matter? « Oh give thanks unto Jehovah, for he is good, because his mercy endureth for ever.» Psalms 118:2. _Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever._...

PSALM 118-119 Psalms 118 Christ the Head of the Corner _ 1. His mercy endureth forever (Psalms 118:1)_ 2. The past experience (Psalms 118:8) 3. Jehovah My Salvation (Psalms 118:13) 4. The rejected stone the head of the corner (Psalms 118:20) This Psalm is the last one which is used from ancient times by the Jews in celebrating the Passover in the home. The Psalms sung begin with Psalms 113:1 and end

CXVIII. A HYMN FOR FESTAL PROCESSION TO ZION. The old tradition that different parts were appropriated to different voices is right in substance, though the statement of the Targum that in Psalms 118:23 single parts should be assigned to the Temple builders, to the sons of Jesse, the tribe of Judah, Samuel, David, is fantastic enough. The Talmud (quoted by Stä rk) takes a more reasonable view. According to it Psalms 118:1 was sung by the pilgrims not yet arrived; Psalms 118:20 by the priests and scribes who welcomed them; Psalms 118:28 by the pilgrims; Psa 118:30 by the whole procession. It is at all events clear that...