Psalm 118:8 - It Is So Much Better To Trust In God Than Anyone Else.
Psalm 118:8: It Is So Much Better To Trust In God Than Anyone
Else.
Psalm 118:8 (NLT) It is better to trust the LORD than to put
confidence in people.
CONTEXT
Psalms 111-118 are called hallelujah psalms. Hallelujah means
"praise the LORD"
Psalms 115-118 were traditionally sung at the Passover meal,
commemorating Israel's escape from slavery in Egypt. [Life Application SB]
Psalms 118 A Song of Victory
Psalms 118 Thanksgiving for Victory
Psalms 118 Thanksgiving for the LORD'S Saving Goodness.
Psalm 118 Thanksgiving for Deliverance
A psalm of individual declarative praise, a messianic psalm
This is the last of the "Hallel" or "praise" psalms (Ps.
113-118), which were sung at the Passover. This was probably the hymn sung
by Jesus and the disciples in the Upper Room before they departed
for the Mount of Olives (see Matt. 26:30). [New Bible Companion]
CROSS REFERENCES
Psalm 40:4 (KJV) Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his
trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Psalm 62:8-9 (KJV) Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour
out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. [9] Surely
men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to
be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
Jeremiah 17:5-7 (KJV) Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man
that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart
departeth from the Lord. [6] For he shall be like the heath in the desert,
and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched
places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. [7] Blessed
is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.
Micah 7:5-7 (KJV) Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not
confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in
thy bosom. [6] For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter
riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in
law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. [7] Therefore I
will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my
God will hear me.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean
not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge
him, and he shall direct thy paths.
2 Cor. 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Mat 4:4 (KJV) Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Acts 5:29 (KJV) Then Peter and the other apostles answered and
said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION
The Center Of The Bible:
Did you know that:
1. Psalm 118 is the middle chapter of the entire Bible?
2. Psalm 117, before Psalm 118 is the shortest chapter in the
Bible?
3. Psalm 119, after Psalm 118 is the longest chapter in the
Bible?
4. The Bible has 594 chapters before Psalm 118 and 594 chapters
after Psalm 118?
5. If you add up all the chapters except Psalm 118, you get a
total of 1188 chapters?
6. 1188 or Psalm 118 verse 8 is the middle verse of the entire
Bible?
7. Should the central verse not have a fairly important message?
"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man."
- Psalm 118:8
Is this central verse not also the central theme of the entire
Bible?
[source unknown]
Confidence placed in man is often betrayed, but the Lord never
fails those who place their confidence in Him. [SDA Commentary]
Although relying on other people is part of living, our ultimate
trust can only be placed in the Lord God. [Nelson SB]
Pilots put confidence in their planes. Commuters place
confidence in trains, cars, or buses. Each day we must put our confidence
in something or someone. If you are willing to trust a plane or car
to get you to your destination, are you willing to trust God to
guide you here on earth and to your eternal destination? Do you trust
him more than any human being? How futile it is to trust anything or
anyone more than God. [Life Application SB]
Doubtless the reader has been tried with the temptation to rely
upon the things which are seen, instead of resting alone upon the
invisible God. Christians often look to man for help and counsel, and mar
the noble simplicity of their reliance upon their God. Does this
evening's portion meet the eye of a child of God anxious about temporals,
then would we reason with him awhile. You trust in Jesus, and only in
Jesus, for your salvation, then why are you troubled? "Because of my
great care." Is it not written, "Cast thy burden upon the Lord"? "Be
careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication make
known your wants unto God." Cannot you trust God for temporals? "Ah! I
wish I could." If you cannot trust God for temporals, how dare you
trust him for spirituals? Can you trust him for your soul's
redemption, and not rely upon him for a few lesser mercies? Is not God
enough for thy need, or is his all-sufficiency too narrow for thy
wants? Dost thou want another eye beside that of him who sees every
secret thing? Is his heart faint? Is his arm weary? If so, seek another
God; but if he be infinite, omnipotent, faithful, true, and all-wise,
why gaddest thou abroad so much to seek another confidence? Why dost
thou rake the earth to find another foundation, when this is strong
enough to bear all the weight which thou canst ever build thereon?
Christian, mix not only thy wine with water, do not alloy thy gold of faith
with the dross of human confidence. Wait thou only upon God, and let
thine expectation be from him. Covet not Jonah's gourd, but rest in
Jonah's God. Let the sandy foundations of terrestrial trust be the
choice of fools, but do thou, like one who foresees the storm, build
for thyself an abiding place upon the Rock of Ages. [Morning and
Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon]
Psalm 118 Look back to see ahead. Turn to yesterday to see
tomorrow. It's almost a paradox. But it's true. When Israel looked back
each Passover season at the redemption won for them from Egypt, they
were in fact looking ahead, and viewing the ministry of the Messiah.
What will His coming mean? A shout of praise, that "His love endures
forever" (vv. 2-4). Freedom found by taking refuge in the LORD (vv. 5-9).
A fresh awareness of our desperate need, relieved by the fact that
the LORD "has become my salvation" (vv. 10-14). Shouts of joy
punctuating the realization that "I will not die but live" (vv. 15-18).
Endless praise, as we enter the gates of heaven to give God thanks for
our salvation (vv. 19-21). And in it all, the exaltation of Jesus
who, rejected by the builders, became the cornerstone of God's plan
of salvation (vv. 22-23). Then comes the stunning realization that
"this is the day that the LORD has made"--a day that spills over into
eternity; a never-ending day throughout which we will give God thanks,
exalting Him for He is "my God" and because "He is good; His love endures
forever." Today when you and I turn to look back, we see our tomorrow in
the cross of Jesus, our Passover sacrifice. In the shadow of Calvary
we sense the dawn of the day that the LORD has ordained for you and
me. When we turn again after looking back at the cross, and look
ahead, we can see just beyond the horizon of tomorrow the return of
Christ. What will that return mean? How clearly this majestic psalm
tells us. For you and for me, Christ's return will mean freedom,
shouts of joy, and endless days of praise. [The 365-Day Devotional
Commentary]
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