Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 118:5
I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, [and set me] in a large place.
5. Out of the straitness in which I was I called upon Jah:
Jah answered me (and set me) in a wide place.
Israel had been hemmed in and harassed by enemies (Neh 4:7 ff.): they prayed (Neh 4:9), and were set free to move and act without let or hindrance. Cp. Psa 18:19; Psa 31:8. The name Jah is perhaps chosen here and in Psa 118:14 ; Psa 118:17-19, in order to recall the memories of the Exodus. See Psa 118:14 [76] .
[76] The A.V. and R.V. follow the Eastern or Babylonian reading in repeating Jah in the second line. The Massora, according to the Western or Palestinian recension, makes the syllable jah simply the termination of the preceding word.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
5 9. Israel speaks as one man; acknowledging that it is Jehovah Who has delivered them. With Him as their ally they have nothing to fear.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I called upon the Lord in distress – Margin, as in Hebrew, out of distress. In the very midst of trouble he called upon the Lord; his voice was heard, as it were, coming from the depth of his sorrows. See the notes at Psa 18:6.
The Lord answered me – That is, he heard my prayers, and delivered me. See the notes at Psa 18:6.
And set me in a large place – I was before pressed on every side; sorrows compassed me around; I could not move; I had no liberty. Now he gave me space and freedom on every side, so that I could move without obstruction or pain. This is literally, The Lord – (not Yahweh here, but Yahh) answered me in a large place. See Psa 4:1, note; Psa 18:19, note.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 118:5-7
The Lord . . . set me in a large place.
God the Deliverer and Defender of His people
I. The deliverer (verse 5).
1. The deliverance seems to have consisted in raising him from a circumscribed to an expansive position.
2. The Almighty is constantly delivering men in this way, lifting them from the narrow to the broad.
(1) Secularly. Often by His providence He takes men from the narrowness of poverty out into the broad places of worldly prosperity.
(2) Intellectually. He takes men from the narrowness of ignorance and prejudice, and habit, out into the broad places of knowledge and freedom.
(3) Spiritually. From the narrowness of guilt and corruption He takes men by the Gospel of His Son, into the broad realms of forgiveness and virtue.
II. The defender (verse 6). The Lord is for me.
1. Because of this we need not fear. If He is for us, who can be against us? God is our refuge and strength. If He is for us, we have not only the whole universe for us, but even our very enemies shall be made to subserve our interest.
2. Because of this we shall conquer (verse 7). The word desire is not in the Hebrew. The words should be, and I shall look upon my haters, look with calm defiance, look with expectant triumph. (Homilist.)
An urtrammelled life
The Christian is absolutely the freest and most untrammelled man in the world. I am a freer man, a richer man, a blither man, a stronger man, a hopefuller man, because I am a Christian. He has set me in a large place.
I. I have a grand, broad creed.
1. First, a God whose love is universal; who is pledged to every soul to whom He has given being; to whom every soul is as dear as every other, and who works to realize the meet perfect blessedness of all.
2. A creed which makes its best possible for everybody. You can be a hero anywhere; you can be a saint anywhere; you may win your place in Gods legion of honour anywhere. Cribbd, cabined, confined? Nay! God has set me in a large place.
3. A creed which invites me to examine and explore it, which courts criticism, which positively invites men to do what many imagine it forbids. One of its proudest mottoes is, I speak as unto wise men; judge ye what I say. The Gospel invites you to explore all its territories, to dig for its hidden treasures; indeed, will only give itself to him who will question, think, search.
II. A broad, rounded, healthful life. A life that includes every sweet and noble thing.
1. Every bright and healthful pleasure. All natural pleasures are mine. Mirth which is medicine and food is mine. All intellectual feasts are mine. Oh magic books which I love, in which I delight to dig!
2. A life that is to attain its blessedness, the ideal aimed at, not by prohibitions, but by growth. The way to kill the bad life in you–the old man, as Paul calls it–is by filling yourself with the rich graces of life as seen in Christ Jesus. Courage and sweet help for those who need it, the brave love that can bear any cross–the life of Jesus,–there is room in that; it is a large place. Live it, and you will grow in Gods own bliss.
III. The noblest enterprises, the most royal work, the grandest aims, for the betterment of the world. Broaden the soul! Nothing broadens the soul like work for the wants and woes of men, and nothing inspires men to work like the dreams, the hopes, and promises of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have caught a vision of the world as He saw it, yearned for it, died for it. We also carry this world in our heart; the African, the Hindoo, the South Sea Islander, are also children of God, and we will toil for their redemption.
IV. I have noble and inspiring hopes. Rich indeed are the hopes which the Gospel gives me; immortality is a grand word. I find a large place for myself under the broad skies of eternal life. Man, according to the Gospel, has room to grow and time to grow. Over-hurry spoils the best work. Few of us have the courage of Brownings grammarian, who refused to hurry; who never dreamt that he could finish his studies here, but was sure that he should be allowed to finish them yonder. Let us also be a little wiser; we will not get scared and spoil cur work by over-hurry. Eternity is ours. Give me room; plant me with the noble sky of immortality over me; I will grow into my full stature then. Set me where God set me–in a large place. (J. Morlais Jones.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 5. I called upon the Lord] I am a standing proof and living witness of God’s mercy. Take encouragement from me.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Set me; which verb is tacitly included in the former, and is easily understood out of Psa 31:8, where the full phrase is expressed, and from the following word. See the like examples in the Hebrew text, Gen 12:15; Psa 22:21, &c.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. distressliterally,”straits,” to which “large place” corresponds, asin Psa 4:1; Psa 31:8.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
I called upon the Lord in distress,…. Or “out of that strait” q; when David was encompassed by Saul and his men, or when at the court of Achish, or when his own people talked of stoning him. As this may respect the Messiah, it may design his distresses in the garden, when surrounded with sorrow, and being in an agony prayed the more earnestly, and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood; and may be applied to his members, as it often is their case to be in distress, straits and difficulties, through outward afflictions and pressures, inward corruptions, temptations, and desertions, and through the low exercise of grace; when they are as it were imprisoned, and so straitened they cannot come forth in the free exercise of it; at all which seasons prayer is necessary; and nothing is more proper than to call upon the Lord, which is both duty and privilege, and often attended with success, as follows;
the Lord answered me, [and set me] in a large place; as he did David, when he delivered him from all his troubles, placed him on the throne of Israel, and gave him rest from all his enemies round about; see
Ps 31:8. And so he did the Messiah, when he raised him from the dead, received him to heaven, where he sits at the right of God in human nature: this is a large place indeed, large enough for the innumerable company of angels, and for all the saints, for whom everlasting habitations and mansions of bliss are preparing by him; and which is the glories liberty of the children of God; see Ps 18:19; and these also, upon calling on the Lord in distress, are heard and answered, and brought into large places, where they walk at liberty; so at first conversion, when distressed about their souls, and cry for help, they are answered and brought out of the pit, and have their feet set upon a rock and their goings established; and when at other times their grace is drawn forth into exercise, their souls are enlarged in duty, are favoured with large views of the love of God, with an increase of spiritual light, knowledge, peace, and joy; and are delivered from their troubles, and out of the hands of their enemies. Or it may be rendered, “the Lord answered me largely” r; as he did Solomon, when he gave him more than he asked for; and as he does his people, when he gives them a sufficiency, and an abundance of his grace, and even not only above their deserts, but above their thoughts and expectations; see Eph 3:20.
q “ex ipso angore”, Junius Tremellius “ex illa angustia”, Michaelis. r “in latitudine”, V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Munster, Musculus, Cocceius, Michaelis.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
5 I called upon God in my distress. We have here a particular application of the doctrine we formerly mentioned, to the person of David; with which also is conjoined the rejoicing of the whole Church, for whose public welfare God made provision by upholding him. By his own example he establishes the faithful, showing them that they ought not to faint in the day of adversity. He seems designedly to anticipate an objection, which is apt to arise in the minds of men the moment that the goodness of God is proclaimed, “Why does he permit his servants to be so sore oppressed and afflicted?” David therefore reminds them, notwithstanding, that God’s mercy never fails, for we have in prayer, consolation and an antidote for all our ills. The season, too, in which he says that he made supplication, by means of which he obtained deliverance, was that of distress, which touches us, that the time of sad adversity is most proper for abounding in prayer.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(5) I called.Better, out of the straitness I cried to Jah; answered me, with freedom, Jah. The meaning of the last clause (literally, with room. Comp.: Ay, marry, now my soul has elbow-roomKing John) is determined by the parallelism of Psa. 18:19. The versions read freedom of Jah, i.e., boundless freedom,
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. In distress Literally, From the strait. Same word as is rendered pain, Psa 116:3, where see note.
Large place A wide, open field or space, standing opposed to the strait, narrow gorge, or exigency, in the previous line. Sin brings us into straitness and oppression, but the answer of penitent prayer brings enlargement.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 118:5. The Lord answered me, and set me in a large place, The Lord answered me with enlargement. Mudge.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
It is impossible to overlook Jesus in this verse. Surely to none so applicable as to him are these expressions; and to none can we refer them with equal propriety. Who had so large a place, or such freedom, as Jesus, and especially in the triumphs of his resurrection!
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 118:5 I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, [and set me] in a large place.
Ver. 5. I called upon the Lord in distress ] Heb. out of distress, q.d. I celebrate not God’s mercy of course, but out of experience.
The Lord answered me
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 118:5-9
5From my distress I called upon the Lord;
The Lord answered me and set me in a large place.
6The Lord is for me; I will not fear;
What can man do to me?
7The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me.
8It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in man.
9It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in princes.
Psa 118:5 From my distress I called upon the Lord It is obvious that the existential setting of the author is some type of confinement, persecution, or problem. It seems that this worship leader, whether it be the king or the nation personified in the Messiah, is going to experience problems.
The term distress (BDB 865) is a rare form found only here in the singular. It is found in the plural in Lam 1:3 and in a construct in Psa 116:3 (where NASB translates it as terrors of Sheol).
The Lord answered me and set me in a large place This is a wonderful affirmation that God does always hear and respond to our call for help (cf. Psa 118:21; Psa 17:6; Psa 31:2; Psa 34:15; Psa 40:1; Psa 69:17; Psa 71:21; Psa 86:1; Psa 102:2). The Hebrew word for distress (BDB 865) means to confine or cause someone to be under pressure, while the metaphor set in a large place (BDB 932) speaks of taking someone out of confinement and releasing them in a large pasture (cf. Psa 4:1; Psa 18:19; Psa 31:8). Some think it refers to heaven (AB, p. 156), but in context it simply means deliverance from a physical problem or need.
Psa 118:6 The Lord is for me, I will not fear;
What can man do to me What a tremendous affirmation of faith that God is on our side (cf. Psa 16:8; Psa 23:4; Isa 43:1-2). And if God is on our side, victory is assured (cf. Psa 56:4; Psa 56:11). The presence of God is the greatest blessing!
What can man do to me This is the faith conclusion of a faithful follower who, by Scripture and experience, knows the Lord’s presence, care, provision, and protection (cf. Psa 56:4; Psa 56:11; Psa 146:3; Heb 13:6).
Psa 118:7 The Lord is for me among those who help me This Hebrew idiom means the Lord is our military champion (cf. Psa 54:4). The concept of God as warrior (cf. Isa 59:17; Eph 6:10-12) is significant to those who are unjustly suffering persecution for His name.
Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me Those who hate me, who caused the psalmist distress in Psa 118:5, surrounded him in Psa 118:10-13.
God’s judgment is both eschatological and temporal. The Psalms speak often of vindication and justice in this life (cf. Psa 23:5; Psa 37:34; Psa 52:5-6; Psa 54:7; Psa 58:10; Psa 59:10; Psa 91:8; Psa 92:11; Psa 112:8).
Psa 118:8-9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust man This is an affirmation on the fleetingness of temporal help but the joy and power of the eternal, redeeming God (cf. 2Ch 32:7-8; Psa 108:12; Psa 146:3; Isa 2:22; Isa 30:1-3; Isa 31:1-3; Jer 17:5-8).
The AB (p. 157) asserts that man (adam, BDB 9) in Psa 118:8 is parallel to prince (BDB 622) and that they are an idiom for all men (i.e., Psa 146:3).
Notice the use of four Qal infinitive constructs.
1. seek refuge – BDB 340, KB 337 (twice)
2. trust – BDB 105, KB 120 (twice)
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
THE LORD. Hebrew Jah. App-4.
and set me in a large place. The current Hebrew text = with the deliverance of JAH, bammerhab yah (two words). The Massoretic text reads it as one word, bammerhabyah = with deliverance. The Authorized Version and Revised Version transfer the yah to the beginning of the clause, and are then compelled to make out the sense by supplying “and set me”. They do not even notice the Massoretic reading. The printed text reads: “I called upon Jah in distress, He answered me with the deliverance of Yah. “The Massoretic text reads: “I called upon Jah in distress, He answered me with deliverance. “
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 118:5-7
Psa 118:5-7
“Out of my distress I called upon Jehovah:
Jehovah answered me and set me in a large place.
Jehovah is on my side; I will not fear:
What can man do unto me?
Jehovah is on my side among them that help me:
Therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.”
“And set me in a large place” (Psa 118:5). The palace of the king of Israel would indeed qualify for such a designation.
“I will not fear what man can do unto me” (Psa 118:6). The author of Hebrews quoted this making it applicable to Christians in Heb 13:6.
“Therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me” (Psa 118:7). David indeed lived to see the death of King Saul, and the fierce partisans who had attempted to kill him, either dispersed and powerless, or slain in battle.
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 118:5. Large place means a place of liberty, so that one would not be hampered by the conditions. That from which David had been relieved was a condition of distress. The Lord heard when the Psalmist prayed for deliverance and granted his petition.
Psa 118:6. On my side is worded “for me” in the marginal rendering which is correct. It is the same thought that Paul expressed in Rom 8:31.
Psa 118:7. This verse contains the same thought as the preceding one, except that it is more specific. The other merely said that God was for David; this shows to what extent he was for him namely, he helped him in his time of need.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
called: Psa 18:6, Psa 40:1-3, Psa 77:2, Psa 107:13, Psa 107:19, Psa 116:3, Psa 116:4, Psa 120:1, Psa 130:1, Psa 130:2, Gen 32:7, Gen 32:9-11, 1Sa 30:6-8, Mar 14:31-36
in distress: Heb. out of distress, Psa 130:1
set me: Psa 18:19, Psa 31:8
Reciprocal: Gen 26:22 – the Lord 1Sa 1:27 – and the Lord 2Sa 22:20 – brought Job 36:16 – a broad Psa 6:9 – hath heard Psa 22:24 – but Psa 28:6 – General Isa 58:9 – shalt thou Luk 11:9 – Ask Jam 5:13 – any among
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 118:5-7. I called upon the Lord in distress As if he had said, You may see an example of the divine mercy in me, who was in grievous straits and dangers, but, imploring Gods protection and help, he answered me, and set me in a large place He not only delivered me, but placed me in a secure condition, free from all such molestation. Dr. Waterland renders the clause, The Lord answered me with enlargement. The Lord is on my side It is evident he takes my part; I will not fear, &c. Though I have many enemies, I am not afraid of them, for greater is he that is for me than all those that are against me. What can man do unto me? Man, a frail and impotent creature in himself, and much more when he is opposed to the almighty God. He can do nothing to me but what God permits him to do; nothing but what God can and will make to work for my good. The apostle quotes this verse with application to all true Christians, Heb 13:6. The Lord taketh my part, &c. He is present with my helpers, and enables them to defend me; therefore shall I see my desire, &c. I shall see my enemies defeated in their designs against me.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
118:5 I called upon the LORD in {b} distress: the LORD answered me, [and set me] in a large place.
(b) We are here taught that the more that troubles oppress us, the more ought we to be instant in prayer.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
2. Praise for Yahweh’s deliverance 118:5-21
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
The writer gave personal testimony to God’s deliverance of him in answer to prayer. Setting him in "a large place" (Psa 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. Heb 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. "Man" and "princes" (Psa 118:8-9) constitute a merism meaning all people, both lowly and exalted (cf. Psa 146:3).