Psalm 118:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.

NIV: It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.

NASB: It is better to take refuge in the Lord Than to trust in people.

CSB: It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humanity.

NLT: It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people.

KJV: It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

NKJV: It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man.

Scripture makes it clear that human beings make mistakes. People can be unwise, evil, or deceptive. These flaws come both from our human limitations and from our sin. The only eternally reliable source of help (Psalm 118:7) or security (Psalm 118:6) is God. Not even the wealthy and powerful of the world can be as trustworthy as the Creator (Psalm 118:9)

In the Old Testament, writers emphasized reliance on God rather than on earthly power (Psalm 20:7; 56:11; 146:3). This didn't mean they ignored what happened in the world or did nothing (Psalm 144:1). However, it did mean they understood that God's power was the real reason for any victory (Deuteronomy 6:12–13).

Samson's life presents a contrast between reliance on the Lord versus reliance on self. When he tried to act under his own foolish power, Samson was caught and humiliated (Judges 16:20–25). Peter assumed he had the strength to overcome fear (Matthew 26:30–35), only to buckle under pressure (Matthew 26:69–75). Paul took steps for his own safety and success (Acts 9:23–25) but never forgot that only God deserved his full confidence (Philippians 3:3–4).

Psalm 118:1–9 calls upon all Israel to thank the Lord for his goodness and unfailing love. These phrases stand in the tradition of the "Hallel" Psalms (Psalms 113—118). This brief introduction to Psalm 118 is appropriate as the beginning of a song to be sung at the Feast of Booths. The song seems to be written as call and response. In that style, a song leader speaks prompt phrases and the assembled people reply with a repeated refrain.

Psalm 118 appears to be a "call and response." The repeated phrases may have been spoken by a congregation after the prompts, read by a song leader. The psalmist begins with a declaration of God's loyal love and its expression by all of Israel. Next is a celebration of the Lord's rescue and the value of honoring Him. Despite Israel's many powerful neighbors, God preserved them through discipline and exile, not allowing the nation to die. What the world rejects has now become the key piece of God's plan for mankind.

This is the last of a block of songs used during Israel's festivals (Psalm 113—118). Because of a mention of rescue from Egypt (Psalm 114:1), this block is sometimes called the "Egyptian Hallel." The Hebrew expression halelu-yāh is a call to "praise the Lord!" The New Testament quotes from this song often (Hebrews 13:6), especially Psalm 118:22 (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10, 11; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:7) and Psalm 118:26 (Matthew 23:39; Mark 11:9; Luke 19:38; John 12:13;). Some scholars suggest this was written after the exile as the temple was being restored (Ezra 2:1; 3:1–2, 8).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.