Psalm 18

Psalm 18

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:

1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.

2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn ^[a] of my salvation, my stronghold.

3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.

4 The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

5 The cords of the grave ^[b] coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.

6 In my distress I called to the LORD;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.

Read the entire Psalm here.

Observation
What are some of the key idea or word that has been repeated throughout the Psalm?

Descriptions of God
a. My strength (v1)
b. My rock, my fortress, and my deliverer (v2)
c. My shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold (v3)
d. My support (v18)
e. My savior (v46) [+]

Structure of Psalm 18

a. The introduction / description of the character of God (v1 – v3)

• The Lord as a Rock because He provided stability and security for him
• The Lord as fortress, a high place of refuge and defense to which one might flee for protection.
• The Lord is compared to a shield and stronghold, both military terms suggesting protection and deliverance from enemies.
• The Lord is compared to the horn of salvation, as God gave him strength. Animal horns were symbols of strength and rulers.

b. The Lord’s deliverance of David from his mortal enemies (v4 – v19)

• Distressing pictures of great sorrow, sufferings, and close to point of death (v4-v5)
• David cried out to the Lord for help, (v6)
• God heard him, and acted immediately, not slack in answering his prayer. (v6)
• God’s majestic power described and displayed in verse 7 to verse 15
• God’s loving care and attention shown (v16 to v18)
• God’s deliverance for the “simplest reason, ….he rescued me because he delighted in me (v19).

c. The moral ground for God’s saving help (v20 –v29)

• David’s righteousness rewarded. David’s assertion of his righteousness is not a pretentious boast of sinless perfection. But in contrast to his enemies, he has devoted himself heart and life to serve the Lord, that he has been godliness with integrity, and the fruit of God’s gracious working in his heart. (v20 to v24)

d. The Lord’s help recounted (v30 – v45)

• David rejoiced over God’s character and His benefits to him. (v30 - v31)
• David described how God prepared him for battle, giving him strength, agility and efficiency (v32 – v34).
• David described how God gave him victory over his enemies, pursuing, crushing and destroying them (v35 – v42)
• God gave David rule over other nations. (v43 – v45)

David attributed every ability and victory of his to the LORD. Everything he had done and now enjoyed was due to the Lord’s enabling.

e. The conclusion (v46 – v50)

• The pre-eminent inference from these reflections is the living reality of God to whom David is inexpressibly grateful.
• David promised that he would utilize his dominion over many peoples to spread the praise of his God. (v49)
• David views himself as the Lord’s chosen and anointed king, names himself in connection with the permanent alliance with God which was ultimately fulfilled in the eternal kingdom of the Son of David, Jesus Christ.

Interpretation
Background:
The superscription of the psalm credits the words to David after the Lord’s delivered him from the hand of all enemies including “Saul”. After reviewing all that the Lord is to him, David then recorded his deliverance by the Lord and rejoiced in the mercies shown him. This psalm is a song of gratitude for victory by the warrior-king who at last was at peace. This psalm is also recorded in 2Samuel 22 with slight variations.

Q: What is the theme?
A: David looked back to all the goodness of God in his life.

Q: What is the key verse?
A: Verse 1, I love you, O LORD, my strength

Q: Why are Psalm 18 and 2 Samuel 22 similar?
A: 2Samuel 22 was probably composed shortly after David’s victories over foreign enemies. Whereas, Psalm 18 was composed later, as David look back to all the goodness of God in his life. His walk and love of God had been consistent and grew. Hence, in Psalm 18:1, David expressed “ I love you, O LORD…”

Application

1. When you are facing downs and challenges in life, continue to fix your eyes on God, trust in the Lord for He will always come true. As in verse 6, He will not withhold his intervention and blessings. Simply for the reason that He delights in you.
   
   
2. God delight in you, what should then be your response? Commit your daily life to God, walk closely with him.

Source
• Pastor Josephine
• The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Old Testament; Cook)
• The NIV Study Bible, Zondervan
• New Bible Commentary, 3rd Edition, edited by D Guthrie, JA Motyer, AM Stibbs, DJ Wiseman, Inter Varsity Press