Psalms 118:9

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...

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 118:9. _IN PRINCES._] Men of high estate are generally _proud,_ _vain-glorious, self-confident_, and _rash_: it is better to trust in God than in them. Often they _cannot_ deliver, and often they _will_ _not_ when they _can_. However, in the concerns of our _salvation_, and in matters which belong to _Providence_, they can do nothing....

IT IS BETTER ... THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN PRINCES - Even in the most mighty of the human race; in those who of all people may be supposed to have the most ability to aid us; in those whose favor is often sought more than the favor of God. Princes are only men; often as faithless and deceitful as other men; often less reliable in their character than those in more humble life. and in the great matters where we most need aid - in sickness, in danger, in death, in the eternal world - as absolutely powerless as men in the lowest condition of poverty, or in the most humble rank....

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,.... The Targum is, "in the Word of the Lord.'' This is repeated for the sake of what follows: THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN PRINCES; who have greater ability to help, and whose honour should engage them to keep their word; and yet it is better to trust in the Lord than in them; see Psalms 146:3. Two different words being used in this verse and Psalms 118:8; for trust and confidence, Jarchi has observed, that the one signifies a lesser, the other a stronger confidence; as if the sense was this, "It is better lightly to trust in the Lord than to put the strongest confidence in men and princes." But the observation is scarcely solid enough....

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._...

TRUST (_ See Scofield) - (Psalms 2:12). _...

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...