Psalm 118:7-17

7 ¹The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall ²look in triumph on those who hate me.

8 ³It is better to take refuge in the Lord ⁴than to trust in man.

9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord ⁵than to trust in princes.

10 ⁶All nations surrounded me; in the name of the Lord I cut them off!

11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the Lord I cut them off!

12 ⁷They surrounded me like bees; they went out like ⁸a fire among thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them off!

13 I was ⁹pushed hard, ^[a] so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me.

14 The Lord is my strength and my song; ¹⁰he has become my salvation.

15 Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: ¹¹“The right hand of the Lord ¹²does valiantly,

16 the right hand of the Lord exalts, the right hand of the Lord ¹³does valiantly! ”

17 ¹⁴I shall not die, but I shall live, and ¹⁵recount the deeds of the Lord.

Psalm 118:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 118

Kimchi says their Rabbins are divided about this psalm. Some understand it of David; others of the Messiah: but, with us Christians, there ought to be no doubt of its belonging to the Messiah; since our Lord has quoted a passage out of it, and applied it to himself, Ps 118:22,23; see Mt 21:42; and so has the Apostle Peter, Ac 4:11. Nor did the Jews of those times object thereunto, which doubtless they would have done, had the psalm respected any other but the Messiah; yea, the common people that attended Christ when he entered into Jerusalem, and the children in the temple, took their "hosanna" from hence, Ps 118:26; see Mt 21:9,15. It is generally thought to be written by David, after he was established in the kingdom, and had brought the ark of the Lord into the city. It concludes the great "Hallel", or hymn sung at the Jewish festivals; particularly at the feasts of tabernacle and the passover.

Cross References

• 1. 118:7 Ps. 54:4
• 2. 118:7 See Ps. 54:7
• 3. 118:8 [Ps. 40:4; 62:8]
• 4. 118:8 Ps. 146:3
• 5. 118:9 [See ver. 8 above]
• 6. 118:10 [Ps. 88:17]
• 7. 118:12 Deut. 1:44
• 8. 118:12 [Ps. 58:9]
• 9. 118:13 [Ps. 140:4]
• 10. 118:14 See Ps. 27:1
• 11. 118:15 Ex. 15:6; Luke 1:51
• 12. 118:15 Ps. 60:12
• 13. 118:16 [See ver. 15 above]
• 14. 118:17 [Hab. 1:12]
• 15. 118:17 Ps. 73:28; 107:22; [Ps. 6:5]

Footnotes

• [a] 118:13 Hebrew 'You' (that is, the enemy) 'pushed me hard'