The Book of Psalms
Psalm 18
Psalm XVIII · Vol. II, pp. 995–997
David's psalm of thanksgiving for God's mighty deliverances and manifold blessings.
To the chief musician, aA psalm of David bthe servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD cthe words of this song, in the day that dthe LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said,
1 I WILLe love thee, O LORD, my strength.1
B.C. cir. 1020 or 1048.
a 2 Sa.22.1-52, with Ex.15.1-22. Ju.v. Is.xii. xxv. xxvi. 1 Sa.2.1-10.
b Ps.36.title; 116.16. Ac.13.36.
1 This noble psalm, one of the most sublime in this book, was composed by David toward the close of his long and eventful life. It is the fervent expression of his gratitude to God for all past mercies and deliverances. His bodily strength, his mental vigour, his relief in suffering, his deliverance from danger, his success in life, his triumph over his foes, he attributes to the love, wisdom, and power of God.—P.
2 The LORD is my grock, and my fortress, and my hdeliverer; imy God, my strength,2 in whom I will trust; my jbuckler, and kthe horn of my salvation, and my lhigh tower.
6 Inr my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: she heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
A.M. cir. 2984 or 2956. B.C. cir. 1020 or 1048.
r Ac.12.5. Ps.130.1,2; 50.15; 91.15; 34.4,6,15,17; 116.3,4. Ex.2.23-25. Jonah 2.2.
s 2 Ch.30.27.
7 Then tthe earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.5
t Ex.19.16,18. Ps.114.4,6. Hab.3.6,10. Job 26.11. Je.4.24. Eze.38.19,20.
5 These words describe the great earthquake at the crucifixion, Mat. 27. 51-53.—C.
8 There went up a usmoke out of his6 nostrils,7 and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
u De.32.22,24. 1 Sa.7.10. Job 1.16. Nu.16.35. He.12.29.
6 Heb. by his.
7 'Smoke ascended in his anger.'—Ainsworth.
11 Hex made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
13 Thez LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail-stones and coals of fire.
14 Yea, ahe sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
15 Thenb the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.9
17 He edelivered me from my strong enemy,1 and from them which hated me: for they were too gstrong for me.
19 Hei brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
i Ps.31.8; 118.5; 40.1-3; 116.1-7,16. 2 Sa.15.25. Job 36.16.
20 The LORD jrewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
j 1 Sa.24.17-20. Ps.7.8; 19.11. Is.3.10; 1.16-19. 1 Co.15.58.
22 Forl all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.
l Ps.119.6,15,16, &c. Lu.1.6. Is.38.3.
23 I was also nupright before2 him; and I kept myself from omine iniquity.3
n Ge.6.9. Job 1.1,8. 2 Ki.20.3. Tit.2.12. 2 Co.1.12.
2 Heb. with.
o Ps.37.27. He.12.1. Mat.5.29,30; 18.8,9.
3 There appears to be an acknowledgment here on the part of the psalmist that he had a corrupt nature, that he had a tendency to sin, which, had he not restrained, would have led him into open and grievous violations of God's law. 'He curbed his evil propensities, and governed his passions; and now he shows that the Lord who had endowed him with restraining grace, had also showered down upon him temporal favours. P.——Mine iniquity may seem to identify the psalm with David, and disallow its applicability to Christ. But it is said by Isaiah (53.6) that the 'Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all.' Iniquity therefore he calls mine as a burden, though ours as a production.—C.
24 Thereforep hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his 4eyesight.5
p Pr.11.31. 1 Co.15.58. Ga.6.7,8. 1 Ti.4.8.
A.M. cir. 2984 or 2956. B.C. cir. 1020 or 1048.
4 Heb. before his eyes.
5 See note on ver. 3.—C.
25 Withq the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright;
26 With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; rand with the froward thou wilt show thyself froward.6
r Pr.3.34. Ro.2.4,5,8,9. Ja.2.13. Le.26.23,24. Ps.109.17-19; 125.5.
6 Or, wrestle.
27 Fors thou wilt save the afflicted7 people; tbut wilt bring down high looks.
s Lu.1.52,53. Ps.12.5; 22.24; 34.19.
7 Afflicted, not necessarily a promise for all afflicted persons, some of whom may be under divine wrath, but to those who spiritually 'mourn,' unto whom our Lord has promised that 'they shall be comforted,' Mat.5.4.—C.
28 Foru thou wilt light my candle:8 the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
u Job 29.3,4. Ps.37.6; 119.105. Mi.7.8,9. Pr.6.23; 20.27. Ep.3.17-19. Is.60.19.
8 Or, lamp.
29 Forv by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
v Phi.4.13; 2.12,13. Ps.118.10-12. Zec.10.12. Is.40.31.
30 As for God, xhis way is perfect: ythe word of the LORD is 9tried: zhe is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
31 Fora who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
a De.32.30. 1 Sa.2.2. Ps.86.8. Is.45.5,22.
33 Hec maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.1
c Hab.3.19. Is.33.16; 58.14. De.32.13; 33.29.
1 The ancient cities and villages of Palestine were almost universally built on eminences, so as to be secure from attack, and easily fortified. 'High places' were places of safety. God had in his infinite mercy placed the psalmist out of the reach of his enemies.—P.
34 Hed teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
d Ps.144.1. Is.45.1-5,13; 46.11.
35 Thou hast also given me ethe shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness ghath made me great.2
37 Ii have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them; neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
i 2 Sa.v.viii.x.xviii.xx. Ps.110.1-7. 1 Sa.xvii.xviii.xxiii.xxvii.xxx. Ge.49.8-10. Is.53.10,12. Re.17.14; 19.12-20; 6.17.
38 I have wounded them, that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.
39 For thou jhast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued4 under me those that rose up against me.
42 Then did I nbeat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
n Da.2.34,35,44. Zec.10.5. Is.10.6. Mi.7.10. Mal.4.1,3.
43 Thou hast delivered me from othe strivings of the people; pand thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
44 As soon as they hear7 of me, they shall obey me: the strangers8 shall submit9 themselves unto me.
48 He delivereth me from mine enemies; yea,u thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.3
49 Thereforev will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
v Ro.15.9. Ex.xv. Ju.v. Ps.7.17; 13.6; xi.xxx.xxxiii.xlvii.xcvi.-c.ciii.-cviii.cxv.cxviii.cxxxiv.-cxxxvi.cxlv.-cl. 1 Sa.2.1-10. 2 Ch.20.26. Is.xii.xxv.xxvi.
Notes
Ver. 3. Mine enemies. Whose enemies? A somewhat similar psalm is said to have been spoken by David on his deliverance from all his enemies and from Saul; and the day was most appropriate for celebrating, not typically, but prophetically, the glorious deliverance of Messiah. For that David does not speak in his own person is obvious from comparing Ro. 15. 8 with ver. 49, and from considering the character the speaker gives of himself, ver. 20, 23, 24, a character that David could never appropriate to himself, but which in every feature so perfectly accords with the character of the Christ. C.
Ver. 31. Who is God save the Lord? From these words it follows that whosoever is called Lord (Jehovah) is God. But Christ is so called, Jn. 12. 41, compare with Is. 6. 1. See also He. 1. 10, compare with Ps. 102. 25. Therefore being called Jehovah he is God. C.
Reflections.—How close and marvellous is the connection between Christ and his people, that the same relations of God, the same words and works of God, and exercises towards God, will apply to both! Let Jesus then be at once my Saviour, my Forerunner, and my Pattern. Pleasant and profitable is God to the souls that find him. He is their all and in all! Sure is their help in time of need who trust in and love him! though God may take the most awful manner to answer the prayers of his people in delivering them out of their distress, and exalting them to safety and joy. Those deliverances demand the most solemn and hearty thanksgivings, which are from great and imminent danger, and in exact answer to earnest prayers, and which are granted by wonderful appearances, in the midst of great difficulties, and have great and lasting good fruits. Happy are they who, interested in Jesus' righteousness, have their corruptions subdued by his grace, and are by his Spirit enabled to conquer every spiritual foe! God fights for them! who can be against them! What knowledge and skill—what strength—what activity—what courage—what protection—what success and victory—what a high throne—is allotted them by the living, the faithful, the powerful, and unparalleled God of their salvation! By firm faith may such expect the Lord's perfecting all that grace and glory which concerns them.