Psalms 118:8

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...

8_It is better to trust in Jehovah _He appears to state nothing but what is common-place, it being unanimously admitted, that when God and men come into comparison, he must be viewed as infinitely exalted above them, and therefore it is best to trust in him for the aid which he has promised to his own people. All make this acknowledgment, and yet there is scarcely one among a hundred who is fully persuaded that God alone can afford him sufficient help. That man has attained a high rank among the faithful, who, resting satisfied in God, never ceases to entertain a lively hope, even when he finds no help upon earth. The comparison, however, is improper, inasmuch as we are not allowed to transfer to men even the smallest portion of our confidence, which must be placed in God alone. The meaning is by no means ambiguous; the Psalmist is ridiculing the illusory hopes of men by which they are t...

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 118:8. _BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD_] Man is feeble, ignorant, fickle, and capricious; it is better to trust in Jehovah than in such....

IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN MAN - This is stated apparently as the result of his own experience. He had found people weak and faithless; he had not so found God. Compare Psalms 40:4; Psalms 62:8. Literally, “Good is it to trust in Yahweh more than to confide in man.” This is the Hebrew form of comparison, and is equivalent to what is stated in our version, “It is better,” etc. It is better, (1) because man is weak - but God is Almighty; (2) because man is selfish - but God is benevolent; (3) because man is often faithless and deceitful - God never; (4) because there are emergencies, as death, in which man

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....

[IT IS] BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD,.... This, with what follows in Psalms 118:9, is the conclusion from the above premises and experience; it is good to trust in the Lord; such enjoy peace, are in safety, shall not want any good thing, nor ever be ashamed and confounded: the Targum is, "it is better to trust in the Word of the Lord;'' THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN MAN; it is not good to put confidence in man at all; it is trusting to a broken staff, to a mere shadow, which can yield no support or relief: it is best to trust in the Lord; he is able to help, as well as willing; he is faithful to his word, and unchangeable in his promises; whereas man, though he may have a will to help, oftentimes has it not in his power; and when it is in his power, and has promised it, he disappoints, being changeable or unfaithful. Wherefore trust not in man, but in the Lord; ye

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...