Psalms 118 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.

Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let Israel now say - Seeing the hand of the Lord so visibly, and the deliverance gained, that God's mercy endureth for ever.

Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. The house of Aaron - The priesthood is still preserved, and the temple worship restored.

Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever. That fear the Lord - All sincere penitents and genuine believers. See the notes on Psalms 115:9-11 (note).

I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. I called upon the Lord - I am a standing proof and living witness of God's mercy. Take encouragement from me.

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. 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.

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. Better to trust in the Lord - Man is feeble, ignorant, fickle, and capricious; it is better to trust in Jehovah than in such.

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. 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.

All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them. All nations compassed me about - This is by some supposed to relate to David, at the commencement of his reign, when all the neighboring Philistine nations endeavored to prevent him from establishing himself in the kingdom. Others suppose it may refer to the Samaritans, Idumeans, Ammonites, and others, who endeavored to prevent the Jews from rebuilding their city and their temple after their return from captivity in Babylon.

But in the name of the Lord will I destroy them - Dr. Kennicott renders אמילם amilam, "I shall disappoint them;" Bishop Horsley, "I cut them to pieces;" Mr. N. Berlin, repuli eas, "I have repelled them." "I will cut them off;" Chaldee. Ultus sum in eos, "I am avenged on them;" Vulgate. So the Septuagint.

They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them. They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns - I shall refer to Dr. Delaney's note on this passage. The reader has here in miniature two of the finest images in Homer; which, if his curiosity demands to be gratified, he will find illustrated and enlarged, Iliad ii., ver. 86.

- Επεσσευοντο δε λαοι.

Ηΰτε εθνεα εισι μελισσαων αδιναων,

Πετρης εκ γλαφυρης αιει νεον ερχομεναων,

Βοτρυδον δε πετονται επ' ανθεσιν ειαρινοισιν,

Αἱ μεν τ' ενθα ἁλις πεποτηαται, αἱ δε τε ανθα

Ὡς των εθνεα πολλα νεων απο και κλισιαων

Ηΐονος προπαροιθε βαθειης εστιχοωντο

Ιλαδον εις αγορην.

- The following host,

Poured forth by thousands, darkens all the coast.

As from some rocky cleft the shepherd sees,

Clustering in heaps on heaps, the driving bees,

Rolling and blackening, swarms succeeding swarms,

With deeper murmurs and more hoarse alarms:

Dusky they spread a close embodied crowd,

And o'er the vale descends the living cloud;

So from the tents and ships a lengthening train

Spreads all the beach, and wide o'ershades the plain;

Along the region runs a deafening sound;

Beneath their footsteps groans the trembling ground.

Pope

The other image, the fire consuming the thorns, we find in the same book, ver. 455: -

Ηΰτε πυρ αΐδηλον επιφλεγει ασπετον ὑλην,

Ουρεος εν κορυφης· ἑκαθεν δε τε φαινεται αυγη·

Ὡς των ερχομενων, απο χαλκου θεσπεσιοιο

Αιγλη παμφανοωσα δι' αιθερος ουρανον ἱκεν.

As on some mountain, through the lofty grove,

The crackling flames ascend and blaze above;

The fires expanding, as the winds arise,

Shoot their long beams, and kindle half the skies;

So, from the polished arms, and brazen shields,

A gleamy splendor flashed along the fields.

Pope.

The arms resembling a gleaming fire is common both to the psalmist and Homer; but the idea of that fire being quenched when the army was conquered, is peculiar to the psalmist.

Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me. Thou hast thrust sore at me - In pushing thou hast pushed me that I might fall.

But the Lord helped me - Though he possessed skill, courage, and strength, yet these could not have prevailed had not God been his helper; and to him he gives the glory of the victory.

The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly. The voice of rejoicing - Formerly there was nothing but wailings; but now there is universal joy because of the salvation - the deliverance, which God has wrought for us.

The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted - Jehovah lifted up his right hand, and with it performed prodigies of power.

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. I shall not die - I was nigh unto death; but I am preserved, - preserved to publish the wondrous works of the Lord.

The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: Open to me the gates - Throw open the doors of the temple, that I may enter and perform my vows unto the Lord.

This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. This gate of the Lord - Supposed to be the answer of the Levites to the request of the king.

I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. I will praise thee - He is now got within the gates, and breaks out into thanksgivings for the mercies he had received. He is become my salvation - he himself hath saved me from all mine enemies.

The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. The stone which the builders refused - See a full elucidation of these two verses in the notes on Matthew 21:42 (note).

This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day which the Lord hath made - As the Lord hath called me to triumph, this is the day which he hath appointed for that purpose. This is a gracious opportunity; I will improve it to his glory.

Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Save now, I beseech thee - These words were sung by the Jews on the feast of tabernacles, when carrying green branches in their hands; and from the הושיעה נא hoshiah nna, we have the word hosanna. This was sung by the Jewish children when Christ made his public entry into Jerusalem. See Matthew 21:9 (note), and see the note there, in which the word and the circumstance are both explained.

Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. We have blessed you - The answer of the Levities to the king.

God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. God is the Lord - Rather אל יהוה El Yehovah, the strong God Jehovah.

Which hath showed us light - ויאר לנו vaiyaer lanu, "And he will illuminate us." Perhaps at this time a Divine splendor shone upon the whole procession; a proof of God's approbation.

Bind the sacrifice with cords - The Chaldee paraphrases this verse thus: "Samuel the prophet said, Bind the little one with chains for a solemn sacrifice, until ye have sacrificed him and sprinkled his blood on the horns of the altar." It is supposed that the words refer to the feast of tabernacles, and חג chag here means the festival victim. Several translate the original "keep the festival with thick boughs of the horns of the altar." In this sense the Vulgate and Septuagint understood the passage. David in this entry into the temple was a type of our blessed Lord, who made a similar entry, as related Matthew 21:8-10.

Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the Lord - This is the general doxology or chorus. All join in thanksgiving, and they end as they began: "His mercy endureth for ever." It began at the creation of man; it will continue till the earth is burnt up.

Commentary on the Bible, by Adam Clarke [1831].