Psalms 118:5

“I called upon the Lord in distress, etc.] Or “out of that strait” f1619; 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…”

“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 Psalms 18:6. The Lord answered me - That is, he heard my prayers, and delivered me. See the notes at Psalms 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 יהוה Yahweh here, but יה Yâhh) “answered me in a large place.” See Psalms 4:1, note; Psalms 18:19,…”

“118:5-9 The Lord alone is the psalmist’s helper.”

“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; Sa1 30:6-8; Mar 14:31-36 in distress: Heb. out of distress, Psa 130:1 set me: Psa 18:19, Psa 31:8 Psalms 118:6”