ES

Psalm 118:5

Psalm 118:5
I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place.

Called out of a tight place, the psalmist was answered and set in a wide, open space.

KJV

Psalm 118:5 in context

2Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. 3Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. 4Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth for ever. 5I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. 6The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? 7The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. 8It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

Israel’s prayer book: songs of trust, lament, thanks and praise, many of them by David.

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Related verses

1 Kings 19:5-7
And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.

Elijah, exhausted and wishing he could die, is not scolded: God lets him sleep, gives him food and water, and says the journey ahead is too great for him.

Exodus 18:17-18
And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

Moses heard it from his father-in-law: this is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.

Exodus 34:21
Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.

Rest was commanded even in the busiest season of all, at ploughing and harvest.

Psalm 62:1-2
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

A soul that waits quietly on God: He is the rock that holds when everything else shakes.