9 It is better H2896 to trust H2620 in the LORD H3068 than to put confidence H982 in princes. H5081
Put not your trust H982 in princes, H5081 nor in the son H1121 of man, H120 in whom there is no help. H8668 His breath H7307 goeth forth, H3318 he returneth H7725 to his earth; H127 in that very day H3117 his thoughts H6250 perish. H6 Happy H835 is he that hath the God H410 of Jacob H3290 for his help, H5828 whose hope H7664 is in the LORD H3068 his God: H430
That walk H1980 to go down H3381 into Egypt, H4714 and have not asked H7592 at my mouth; H6310 to strengthen H5810 themselves in the strength H4581 of Pharaoh, H6547 and to trust H2620 in the shadow H6738 of Egypt! H4714 Therefore shall the strength H4581 of Pharaoh H6547 be your shame, H1322 and the trust H2622 in the shadow H6738 of Egypt H4714 your confusion. H3639
For thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 the Holy One H6918 of Israel; H3478 In returning H7729 and rest H5183 shall ye be saved; H3467 in quietness H8252 and in confidence H985 shall be your strength: H1369 and ye would H14 not. But ye said, H559 No; for we will flee H5127 upon horses; H5483 therefore shall ye flee: H5127 and, We will ride H7392 upon the swift; H7031 therefore shall they that pursue H7291 you be swift. H7043 One H259 thousand H505 shall flee at H6440 the rebuke H1606 of one; H259 at H6440 the rebuke H1606 of five H2568 shall ye flee: H5127 till ye be left H3498 as a beacon H8650 upon the top H7218 of a mountain, H2022 and as an ensign H5251 on an hill. H1389
Lo, thou trustest H982 in the staff H4938 of this broken H7533 reed, H7070 on Egypt; H4714 whereon if a man H376 lean, H5564 it will go H935 into his hand, H3709 and pierce H5344 it: so is Pharaoh H6547 king H4428 of Egypt H4714 to all that trust H982 in him. But if thou say H559 to me, We trust H982 in the LORD H3068 our God: H430 is it not he, whose high places H1116 and whose altars H4196 Hezekiah H2396 hath taken away, H5493 and said H559 to Judah H3063 and to Jerusalem, H3389 Ye shall worship H7812 before H6440 this altar? H4196
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.