Psalm 118:6-13

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:10

All nations compassed me about ,.... Not all the nations of the world, but all the neighbouring nations about Judea; as the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Amalekites, and Syrians; and these not all at one time, but sometimes one, and sometimes another, whom David fought with and subdued: and these, applied to Christ, design Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel; who were gathered together against him, to do what God had determined should be done, Acts 4:27 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:11

They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about ,.... Which is repeated not only for the confirmation of, it, but to denote the frequency and fury of their attacks, and their obstinate persisting therein; See Gill on Psalm 118:10 ; but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them ; which also is repeated to show the strength of his faith, and the continuance of it, notwithstanding his numerous enemies, and their violent efforts against him. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:12

They compassed me about like bees ,.... In great numbers F23 ηυτε εθνεα μελισσα ων , Homer. Iliad. 2. v. 87, Vid. Virgil. Aeneid. 12. v. 587. ; as a swarm of bees, which, being irritated and provoked, will fly upon persons in a body, and with great fury; to which the Amorites and the Assyrian army were compared, Deuteronomy 1:44 . They will attack horses and kill them, as Aristotle F24 Hist. Animal. l. 9. c. 40. says; and places besieged have been delivered by throwing out... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:13

Thou hast thrust sore at me, that I might fall ,.... Or "pushing, thou hast pushed me F1 רחה רחיתני "impellendo impulisti me", Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus, Michaelis; "trudendo trusisti me", Cocceius. , that I might fall": an apostrophe to some particular enemy, as Saul was to David; who thrust sore at him to take away his life, by casting a javelin at him; speaking to his servants to kill him; sending messengers to watch his house and slay him, and by, pursuing him from place to... 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

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