VOTD: Psalm 118:5-6


NIV: Psalm 118:5-6

When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?


Theme: This passage appears in Psalm 118:5-6 in the Bible, and carries a theme of trust, faith, resilience, distress relief, and divine protection. It depicts the emotions of desperation seen in 'hard pressed' and 'cried to the Lord'; relief in 'he brought me into a spacious place', confidence and secure feeling in 'The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid' and a sense of invincibility in 'What can mere mortals do to me?'

Imagery: The verse depicts the image of conflict or struggle in 'When hard pressed'. The phrase 'I cried to the Lord' introduces vivid imagery of a cry for help or desperation. 'He brought me into a spacious place' suggests imagery of deliverance - transitioning from a confined, stressful situation to an open, breathable space. 'The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?' creates a picture of someone being guarded by a higher power and thus, having no fear of other humans' actions.

Illustration: Based on the themes, emotions, and imagery invoked by this verse, an illustration could depict a person looking distressed and boxed in a tight, dark area representing struggles or life’s pressures. Then in the next part, the same person is shown in a vast, open light-filled space representing liberation, with a divine presence symbolized by a guiding light or hand, suggesting the presence and the protection of the Lord. The person now appears confident, unafraid despite shadows or representations of 'mere mortals' lurking in the distant background. The transformation from the first part to the second part will illustrate the journey from desperation to resilience and trust in the Divine.





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