Psalm 118:6-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 118:1-18

It appears here, as often as elsewhere, that David had his heart full of the goodness of God. He loved to think of it, loved to speak of it, and was very solicitous that God might have the praise of it and others the comfort of it. The more our hearts are impressed with a sense of God's goodness the more they will be enlarged in all manner of obedience. In these verses, I. He celebrates God's mercy in general, and calls upon others to acknowledge it, from their own experience of it (Ps.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:6

The Lord is on my side ,.... Or "for me" F19 לי "pro me", Musculus, Michaelis. ; he was on the side of David, hence all his prosperity and victories, the wonderful things done by him, his exaltation to the throne, and the establishment of it; and so he was on the side of Christ, he was near unto him, at his right hand, to guide, direct, and assist him as man; and he is likewise on the side of his people, to fight their battles for them, to support them under all their afflictions,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:7

The Lord taketh my part with them that help me ,.... With the four hundred men that were with David, and stood by him in his troubles, 1 Samuel 22:2 ; see Psalm 54:4 ; and with those who ministered unto Christ as man, Luke 8:3 . Or, "the Lord is for me, with" or "among my helpers" F20 לי בעזרי "pro me est cum iis qui auxiliantur mihi", Vatablus; so Cocceius, Gejerus. ; he is the principal helper, he is one for all; he is in the room and stead of other helpers; having him,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:8

It is better to trust in the Lord ,.... This, with what follows in Psalm 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:9

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 Psalm 146:3 . Two different words being used in this verse and Psalm 118:8 ; for trust and confidence, Jarchi has observed, that the one signifies a lesser, the other... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 118:7

The Lord taketh my part with them that help me - Literally, The Lord is to me among my helpers. Therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. Literally, And I shall look among them that hate me. As God is on my side, I fear not to look the whole of them in the face. I shall see them defeated. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 118:9

In princes - Men of high estate are generally proud, vainglorious, 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. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 118:6

Verse 6 6Jehovah is with me among those who help me Confiding solely in God’s help, he sets at defiance not a few enemies merely, but the whole world. “Defended by God’s hand, I may boldly and safely set at nought all the machinations of men.” When all the power of the universe is deemed as nothing, in comparison of God, then, indeed, is due honor attributed to him. Thus he tacitly reproves the unbelief of almost all men, who spontaneously alarm themselves with groundless fears. All, indeed,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 118:8

Verse 8 8It 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... read more

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