It is better . . . Than. Figure of speech Connotes ( App-6 ), repeated in Psalms 118:9 . better = good. By Figure of speech Heterosis ( App-6 ), the Positive is put for the Comparative, and is so rendered. trust = flee for refuge. Hebrew. hasah. App-69 . put confidence. Hebrew. batah . App-69 . man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 . read more
"It is better to take refuge in JehovahThan to put confidence in man.It is better to take refuge in JehovahThan to put confidence in princes."No one in ancient history had found the word of princes any more unreliable than had David, His first great disappointment was with Saul the king of Israel."It is better to take refuge in Jehovah" (Psalms 118:8-9). Why is it "better?" Barnes answered that question: "(1) It is better because man is weak ... God is Almighty; (2) man is selfish ... God is... read more
8, 9. Even the most powerful men are less to be trusted than God. read more
Psalms 118This is the last in this series of the Egyptian Hallel psalms (Psalms 113-118). It describes a festal procession to the temple to praise and sacrifice to the Lord. The historical background may be the dedication of the restored walls and gates of Jerusalem in Ezra and Nehemiah’s time, following the return from Babylonian captivity, in 444 B.C. [Note: Wiersbe, The . . . Wisdom . . ., p. 306.] It contains elements of communal thanksgiving, individual thanksgiving, and liturgical psalms.... read more
The writer gave personal testimony to God’s deliverance of him in answer to prayer. Setting him in "a large place" (Psalms 118:5, NASB) pictures freedom to move about without constraint. Since God was with him, he did not need to fear what other people might do to him (cf. Hebrews 13:6). Furthermore the Lord would be his helper, so he could expect to prevail over his adversaries. Therefore it is better to trust in Yahweh than to place one’s confidence in men, even the most powerful of men.... read more
2. Praise for Yahweh’s deliverance 118:5-21 read more
This Ps. was evidently written for the Temple worship on the occasion of some great festival (Psalms 118:24), when it might be used as a processional hymn. It has been variously referred (a) to the time when Zerubbabel laid the foundation of the second Temple; (b) to the time of Nehemiah; (c) to the cleansing of the Temple by Judas Maccabæus. It is a noble song. Luther declared that he owed more to Psalms 118 than to all the princes and friends who supported him.Psalms 118:1-18, dealing with... read more
A Cry of Faith and Joy Psalms 118:17 We shall never, I suppose, know from whose lips and heart this cry of faith and joy first sprang. One thing is clear there has been a great danger threatening the very life of a man or a nation. There has been more than danger there has been the very presence of death; but the hour of suspense has now passed, and the man or the nation survives. Doubt has gone, certainty takes its place, and that certainty gives the thought of service, of newness of life, of... read more
Psalms 118:1-29THIS is unmistakably a psalm for use in the Temple worship, and probably meant to be sung antiphonally, on some day of national rejoicing (Psalms 118:24). A general concurrence of opinion points to the period of the Restoration from Babylon as its date, as in the case of many psalms in this Book 5 but different events connected with that restoration have been selected. The psalm implies the completion of the Temple, and therefore shuts out any point prior to that. Delitzsch fixes... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:1-29
Psalms 118:0 A procession of thanksgivingOriginally this hymn was apparently sung by a combination of the temple singers, the congregation and the king, to mark some great national occasion such as a victory in battle. The scene is set in the temple, where the royal procession enters the gates and moves to the altar (see v. 19,20,27).The singers call Israel to worship, and the congregation responds with praise to God for his steadfast love (1-4). The king then recounts how, in answer to prayer,... read more