5 I made my prayer to the Lord in my trouble: and the Lord gave me an answer, and put me in a wide place. 6 The Lord is on my side; I will have no fear: what is man able to do to me? 7 The Lord is my great helper: I will see my desire against my haters. 8 It is better to have faith in the Lord than to put one's hope in man. 9 It is better to have faith in the Lord than to put one's hope in rulers. 10 All the nations have come round me; but in the name of the Lord I will have them cut down. 11 They are round me, yes, they are all about me; but in the name of the Lord I will have them cut down. 12 They are round me like bees; but they are put out like a fire among thorns; for in the name of the Lord I will have them cut down. 13 I have been hard pushed by you, so that I might have a fall: but the Lord was my helper. 14 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. 15 The sound of joy and salvation is in the tents of the upright; the right hand of the Lord does works of power. 16 The right hand of the Lord is lifted up; the right hand of the Lord does works of power. 17 Life and not death will be my part, and I will give out the story of the works of the Lord. 18 The hand of Jah has been hard on me; but he has not given me up to death.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 118:5-18
Commentary on Psalm 118:1-18
(Read Psalm 118:1-18)
The account the psalmist here gives of his troubles is very applicable to Christ: many hated him without a cause; nay, the Lord himself chastened him sorely, bruised him, and put him to grief, that by his stripes we might be healed. God is sometimes the strength of his people, when he is not their song; they have spiritual supports, though they want spiritual delights. Whether the believer traces back his comfort to the everlasting goodness and mercy of God, or whether he looks forward to the blessing secured to him, he will find abundant cause for joy and praise. Every answer to our prayers is an evidence that the Lord is on our side; and then we need not fear what man can do unto us; we should conscientiously do our duty to all, and trust in him alone to accept and bless us. Let us seek to live to declare the works of God, and to encourage others to serve him and trust in him. Such were the triumphs of the Son of David, in the assurance that the good pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his hand.