12 They compassed me about H5437 like bees; H1682 they are quenched H1846 as the fire H784 of thorns: H6975 for in the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 I will destroy H4135 them.
As the fire H784 burneth H1197 a wood, H3293 and as the flame H3852 setteth H3857 the mountains H2022 on fire; H3857 So persecute H7291 them with thy tempest, H5591 and make them afraid H926 with thy storm. H5492
And the destruction H8395 of Ahaziah H274 was of God H430 by coming H935 to Joram: H3141 for when he was come, H935 he went out H3318 with Jehoram H3088 against Jehu H3058 the son H1121 of Nimshi, H5250 whom the LORD H3068 had anointed H4886 to cut off H3772 the house H1004 of Ahab. H256 And it came to pass, that, when Jehu H3058 was executing judgment H8199 upon the house H1004 of Ahab, H256 and found H4672 the princes H8269 of Judah, H3063 and the sons H1121 of the brethren H251 of Ahaziah, H274 that ministered H8334 to Ahaziah, H274 he slew H2026 them.
Ye shall not need to fight H3898 in this H2063 battle: set H3320 yourselves, stand H5975 ye still, and see H7200 the salvation H3444 of the LORD H3068 with you, O Judah H3063 and Jerusalem: H3389 fear H3372 not, nor be dismayed; H2865 to morrow H4279 go out H3318 against H6440 them: for the LORD H3068 will be with you. And Jehoshaphat H3092 bowed H6915 his head with his face H639 to the ground: H776 and all Judah H3063 and the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem H3389 fell H5307 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 worshipping H7812 the LORD. H3068 And the Levites, H3881 of the children H1121 of the Kohathites, H6956 and of the children H1121 of the Korhites, H7145 stood up H6965 to praise H1984 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 with a loud H1419 voice H6963 on high. H4605 And they rose early H7925 in the morning, H1242 and went forth H3318 into the wilderness H4057 of Tekoa: H8620 and as they went forth, H3318 Jehoshaphat H3092 stood H5975 and said, H559 Hear H8085 me, O Judah, H3063 and ye inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem; H3389 Believe H539 in the LORD H3068 your God, H430 so shall ye be established; H539 believe H539 his prophets, H5030 so shall ye prosper. H6743 And when he had consulted H3289 with the people, H5971 he appointed H5975 singers H7891 unto the LORD, H3068 and that should praise H1984 the beauty H1927 of holiness, H6944 as they went out H3318 before H6440 the army, H2502 and to say, H559 Praise H3034 the LORD; H3068 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769 And when H6256 they began H2490 to sing H7440 and to praise, H8416 the LORD H3068 set H5414 ambushments H693 against the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 Moab, H4124 and mount H2022 Seir, H8165 which were come H935 against Judah; H3063 and they were smitten. H5062
And at that time H6256 Hanani H2607 the seer H7200 came H935 to Asa H609 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 and said H559 unto him, Because thou hast relied H8172 on the king H4428 of Syria, H758 and not relied H8172 on the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 therefore is the host H2428 of the king H4428 of Syria H758 escaped H4422 out of thine hand. H3027 Were not the Ethiopians H3569 and the Lubims H3864 a huge H7230 host, H2428 with very H3966 many H7235 chariots H7393 and horsemen? H6571 yet, because thou didst rely H8172 on the LORD, H3068 he delivered H5414 them into thine hand. H3027 For the eyes H5869 of the LORD H3068 run to and fro H7751 throughout the whole earth, H776 to shew himself strong H2388 in the behalf of them whose heart H3824 is perfect H8003 toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: H5528 therefore from henceforth H6258 thou shalt have H3426 wars. H4421
And Asa H609 cried H7121 unto the LORD H3068 his God, H430 and said, H559 LORD, H3068 it is nothing with thee to help, H5826 whether H996 with many, H7227 or with them that have no power: H3581 help H5826 us, O LORD H3068 our God; H430 for we rest H8172 on thee, and in thy name H8034 we go H935 against this multitude. H1995 O LORD, H3068 thou art our God; H430 let not man H582 prevail H6113 against thee. So the LORD H3068 smote H5062 the Ethiopians H3569 before H6440 Asa, H609 and before H6440 Judah; H3063 and the Ethiopians H3569 fled. H5127
Therefore David H1732 enquired H7592 again of God; H430 and God H430 said H559 unto him, Go not up H5927 after H310 them; turn away H5437 from them, and come H935 upon them over against H4136 the mulberry trees. H1057 And it shall be, when thou shalt hear H8085 a sound H6963 of going H6807 in the tops H7218 of the mulberry trees, H1057 that then thou shalt go out H3318 to battle: H4421 for God H430 is gone forth H3318 before H6440 thee to smite H5221 the host H4264 of the Philistines. H6430 David H1732 therefore did H6213 as God H430 commanded H6680 him: and they smote H5221 the host H4264 of the Philistines H6430 from Gibeon H1391 even to Gazer. H1507
And David H1732 enquired H7592 of God, H430 saying, H559 Shall I go up H5927 against the Philistines? H6430 and wilt thou deliver H5414 them into mine hand? H3027 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto him, Go up; H5927 for I will deliver H5414 them into thine hand. H3027 So they came up H5927 to Baalperazim; H1188 and David H1732 smote H5221 them there. Then David H1732 said, H559 God H430 hath broken in H6555 upon mine enemies H341 by mine hand H3027 like the breaking forth H6556 of waters: H4325 therefore they called H7121 the name H8034 of that place H4725 Baalperazim. H1188
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 118
Commentary on Psalms 118 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 118
Ps 118:1-29. After invoking others to unite in praise, the writer celebrates God's protecting and delivering care towards him, and then represents himself and the people of God as entering the sanctuary and uniting in solemn praise, with prayer for a continued blessing. Whether composed by David on his accession to power, or by some later writer in memory of the restoration from Babylon, its tone is joyful and trusting, and, in describing the fortune and destiny of the Jewish Church and its visible head, it is typically prophetical of the Christian Church and her greater and invisible Head.
1-4. The trine repetitions are emphatic (compare Ps 118:10-12, 15, 16; 115:12, 13).
Let … say—Oh! that Israel may say.
now—as in Ps 115:2; so in Ps 118:3, 4. After "now say" supply "give thanks."
that his mercy—or, "for His mercy."
5. distress—literally, "straits," to which "large place" corresponds, as in Ps 4:1; 31:8.
6, 7. Men are helpless to hurt him, if God be with him (Ps 56:9), and, if enemies, they will be vanquished (Ps 54:7).
8, 9. Even the most powerful men are less to be trusted than God.
10-12. Though as numerous and irritating as bees [Ps 118:12], by God's help his enemies would be destroyed.
12. as the fire of thorns—suddenly.
in the name, &c.—by the power (Ps 20:5; 124:8).
13-16. The enemy is triumphantly addressed as if present.
15. rejoicing and salvation—the latter as cause of the former.
16. right hand … is exalted—His power greatly exerted.
17, 18. He would live, because confident his life would be for God's glory.
19-21. Whether an actual or figurative entrance into God's house be meant, the purpose of solemn praise is intimated, in which only the righteous would or could engage.
22, 23. These words are applied by Christ (Mt 21:42) to Himself, as the foundation of the Church (compare Ac 4:11; Eph 2:20; 1Pe 2:4, 7). It may here denote God's wondrous exaltation to power and influence of him whom the rulers of the nation despised. Whether (see on Ps 118:1) David or Zerubbabel (compare Hag 2:2; Zec 4:7-10) be primarily meant, there is here typically represented God's more wonderful doings in exalting Christ, crucified as an impostor, to be the Prince and Saviour and Head of His Church.
24. This is the day—or period distinguished by God's favor of all others.
25. Save now—Hebrew, "Hosanna" (compare Ps 115:2, &c., as to now) a form of prayer (Ps 20:9), since, in our use, of praise.
26. he that cometh … Lord—As above intimated, this may be applied to the visible head of the Jewish Church entering the sanctuary, as leading the procession; typically it belongs to Him of whom the phrase became an epithet (Mal 3:1; Mt 21:9).
27-29. showed us light—or favor (Ps 27:1; 97:11). With the sacrificial victim brought bound to the altar is united the more spiritual offering of praise (Ps 50:14, 23), expressed in the terms with which the Psalm opened.