Psalm 18

Psalm 18 is a psalm of thanksgiving attributed to David, celebrating God’s deliverance from his enemies, including Saul. It reflects the gratitude of a person who has experienced divine rescue in moments of extreme danger. David acknowledges God’s strength, power, and faithfulness throughout his trials and declares his confidence in God’s ability to save. The psalm reveals how God is not only a deliverer but also a source of strength and refuge.

Psalm 18:1-10 (NKJV)
1 I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
4 The pangs of death surrounded me,
And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
5 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.
7 Then the earth shook and trembled;
The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.
8 Smoke went up from His nostrils,
And devouring fire from His mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With darkness under His feet.
10 And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
He flew upon the wings of the wind.

David begins by expressing his love for God, recognizing Him as his strength and deliverer. He describes God as a rock, fortress, and shield, emphasizing His role as a dependable protector. David recalls moments of distress when he was overwhelmed by threats, comparing his fears to being trapped by death and ungodliness. In his desperation, David cried out to God, who responded powerfully. God's response is portrayed with vivid imagery of an earth-shaking, fire-breathing warrior coming to rescue His servant. The depiction of God riding on a cherub and controlling the elements emphasizes His majesty and swiftness in delivering David.

Psalm 18:11-20 (NKJV)
11 He made darkness His secret place;
His canopy around Him was dark waters
And thick clouds of the skies.
12 From the brightness before Him,
His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.
13 The Lord thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
14 He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe,
Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.
15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
The foundations of the world were uncovered
At Your rebuke, O Lord,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
16 He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me,
For they were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the Lord was my support.
19 He also brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me because He delighted in me.
20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands
He has recompensed me.

David reflects on how God’s presence is both overwhelming and awe-inspiring, describing thick clouds and thunder as symbols of His approach. The scattering of enemies with lightning and arrows emphasizes God’s power in the spiritual battle on David’s behalf. God’s rebuke reveals the depths of the earth, indicating that nothing is hidden from His control. God’s intervention came when David was helpless against stronger enemies. The imagery of being lifted from deep waters illustrates how God saves when situations seem impossible. David rejoices that God delivered him, not because of his strength but because God delighted in him and rewarded his righteousness.

Psalm 18:21-30 (NKJV)
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all His judgments were before me,
And I did not put away His statutes from me.
23 I was also blameless before Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
24 Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.
25 With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;
With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;
26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure;
And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.
27 For You will save the humble people,
But will bring down haughty looks.
28 For You will light my lamp;
The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
29 For by You I can run against a troop,
By my God I can leap over a wall.
30 As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

David emphasizes that his deliverance was linked to his faithfulness to God. He affirms that God rewards righteousness and that His ways are perfect and just. God responds to people according to their character, showing mercy to the merciful and justice to the upright. He also opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. David acknowledges that it is through God’s strength that he can achieve the impossible, such as overcoming armies or scaling walls. He concludes by affirming that God’s word is trustworthy, a shield to those who trust Him.

Psalm 18:31-50 (NKJV)
31 For who is God, except the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength,
And makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
And sets me on my high places.
34 He teaches my hands to make war,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;
Your right hand has held me up,
Your gentleness has made me great.
36 You enlarged my path under me,
So my feet did not slip.
37 I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them;
Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
38 I have wounded them,
So that they could not rise;
They have fallen under my feet.
39 For You have armed me with strength for the battle;
You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
40 You have also given me the necks of my enemies,
So that I destroyed those who hated me.
41 They cried out, but there was none to save;
Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
42 Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind;
I cast them out like dirt in the streets.
43 You have delivered me from the strivings of the people;
You have made me the head of the nations;
A people I have not known shall serve me.
44 As soon as they hear of me they obey me;
The foreigners submit to me.
45 The foreigners fade away,
And come frightened from their hideouts.
46 The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock!
Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47 It is God who avenges me,
And subdues the peoples under me;
48 He delivers me from my enemies.
You also lift me up above those who rise against me;
You have delivered me from the violent man.
49 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles,
And sing praises to Your name.
50 Great deliverance He gives to His king,
And shows mercy to His anointed,
To David and his descendants forevermore.

David reflects on God’s strength that empowers him for battle. His victories are not by his power but by God’s provision. He praises God for making him victorious over enemies and establishing him as a leader among nations. David acknowledges that even foreigners submit to him because of God's help. The psalm ends with a triumphant declaration that God is alive and worthy of praise. David expresses gratitude for God’s mercy, especially to him and his descendants, underscoring God’s faithfulness to His covenant.