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Psalm 118:13
You pushed me back hard, to make me fall, but the LORD helped me.
11They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me. In the LORD’s name I indeed cut them off.
12They surrounded me like bees. They are quenched like the burning thorns. In the LORD’s name I cut them off.
13You pushed me back hard, to make me fall, but the LORD helped me.
14The LORD is my strength and song. He has become my salvation.
15The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous. “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
Notice
“You pushed me back hard” names an enemy’s force, while the final clause credits YHWH with help at the point of threatened collapse.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What stands out in the turn from “make me fall” to “the LORD helped me”?
Write on thisWhen have you received help from God while someone’s opposition still felt strong?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 54:4Behold, God is my helper. The Lord is the one who sustains my soul.Both passages name God as the source of help, with Psalm 54 describing him as the one who sustains the speaker’s soul.
Psalm 140:4LORD, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet.Both describe enemies intent on making someone fall; Psalm 140 asks for protection, while Psalm 118 recounts the LORD’s help.
Psalm 86:17Show me a sign of your goodness, that those who hate me may see it, and be shamed, because you, LORD, have helped me, and comforted me.Both speakers acknowledge that the LORD has helped them in the face of hostility from others.
Micah 7:8Don’t rejoice against me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me.Both address an enemy and speak of falling, grounding confidence in the LORD’s help or light.
Psalm 124:6Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth.Both credit the LORD with help against enemies whose attacks threatened to overcome the people they targeted.
Matthew 4:1–11Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.Both passages describe someone facing opposition; Matthew names the devil as Jesus’ tempter, while the psalm leaves the enemy unnamed.
Genesis 49:23The archers have severely grieved him, shot at him, and persecuted him:Both describe forceful attacks by enemies, though Genesis here recounts persecution without mentioning the help named in the psalm.
2 Chronicles 18:31When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel!” Therefore they turned around to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat …Both recount the LORD helping someone under attack, with Chronicles naming Jehoshaphat and describing his attackers’ departure.
1 Samuel 25:29Though men may rise up to pursue you and to seek your soul, yet the soul of my lord will be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD your God. He will sling …Both connect danger from hostile people with protection from the LORD, though Samuel speaks of protection yet to come.
2 Samuel 17:1–3Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me now choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David tonight.Both concern hostile action against someone, though Ahithophel’s proposed pursuit contains no account of divine help.
1 Samuel 20:3David swore moreover, and said, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes; and he says, ‘Don’t let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved;’ …Both speakers describe danger from another person, though David’s words here emphasize how close death feels rather than recounting help.
Hebrews 2:14Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him …Both passages describe an enemy being thwarted; Hebrews names the devil and says Christ defeats him through death.
Where this verse fits
Answered prayer. injustice and anger.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The speaker remembers how hard the enemy pushed, even while naming God’s help. An honest account of harm can include thanks: the force was real, and YHWH helped.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 118:13. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).