Psalm 18
David wrote this psalm to commemorate the day The Lord saved him from Saul. Saul who had once loved David had become paranoid to the point of such fear, hate, and resentment that he actively sought to destroy him. Saul and his army had become an enemy so strong that David was not sure he would survive, except for the promise of God that he would be king and His supernatural protection and deliverance of him.
Taking the time to acknowledge and praise God for the great and good things He does for you is important and often through those prayers, praises, and songs The Lord will give you a prophetic word, a promise, or an encouragement. He spoke prophetically through David’s praise to encourage and lead us today.
Verses 1-3 are the kind of eloquent and pure praise I wish would flow from my mouth to my Lord’s heart.
“I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.”
Look at those depictions and understand each one was true for David and is true for us. God is our foundation, the place we go to fight and remain safe from the enemy, He is our deliverer, our protection, our strong and saving King, and a protection that can’t be trespassed by the enemy. No matter what the enemy does to us or how he tries to hurt us, God will not allow him to destroy us. We will not be devastated, not because we are so strong and good and faithful, but because God is Mighty, Righteous, and Steadfast. We can’t fight the enemy on our own, but God has already defeated him. Just as Saul pursued David in order to keep him from being the king who God had anointed him to be, the enemy wants to keep us from inheriting the Kingdom. Verses 4-6 describe David’s predicament when Saul tried to kill him.
“The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of destruction assailed me;
5 the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.”
But The LORD loved David and wouldn’t let it happen. He doesn’t like it when anyone tries to harm His children. He avenged David and He will also avenge us. The enemy will not escape retribution. David described God’s judgement on Saul as he prophetically describes God’s justice for us on The Day of Reckoning. Verses 7-9 paint the picture.
“Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and quaked, because he was angry.
8 Smoke went up from his nostrils,
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
9 He bowed the heavens and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.”
Verses 10-12 describe Jesus Christ leading the Heaven’s army.
“He rode on a cherub and flew;
he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him,
thick clouds dark with water.
12 Out of the brightness before him
hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.”
God loves us so intensely that He will not curb His anger that day. Verses 13-15 read,
“The Lord also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice,
hailstones and coals of fire.
14 And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.”
In His wrath, we are not forgotten. He is our stronghold and He will gather us to Him. Verses 16-18 say,
“He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
17 He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
19 He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.”
On that Day, payment will come due. God will look at us and He won’t see our sin, our shortcomings, nor our mistakes, He will see Jesus’ righteousness as our righteousness. He will see our love, faith, kindness, and patience. Can you imagine? I know I too often see all the worst of myself, but God doesn’t. He sees all the goodness of Jesus. He sees His cherished, valued, esteemed precious child. His love is so extravagant that He not only sees the best of us, He makes us to be the best.
Each person will be judged by the standard he followed, either by the law or by Jesus blood.
Verses 24-28 read,
“So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25 With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
26 with the purified you show yourself pure;
and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
27 For you save a humble people,
but the haughty eyes you bring down.
28 For it is you who light my lamp;”
David knew he couldn’t be righteous on his own. He knew he couldn’t fight his enemy on his own. He depended on God for his salvation. So do we. It is our Lord who saves. It is our Lord who makes us righteous. It is our Lord who enables us to do good. It is our Lord who empowers us against the enemy. It is our Lord who makes us like Him. Verses 31-36 read,
“For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?--
32 the God who equipped me with strength
and made my way blameless.
33 He made my feet like the feet of a deer
and set me secure on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your right hand supported me,
and your gentleness made me great.
36 You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip.”
Look at all the awesome things God enables us to do. He endows us with strength. He gives us authority to defeat the enemy with Him. (Verses 37-45). And God makes us kings with Him. He crowns us with His glory, life, righteousness, untouchable salvation, and rejoicing. Verses 46-48 read,
“The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation--
47 the God who gave me vengeance
and subdued peoples under me,
48 who delivered me from my enemies;
yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me;
you rescued me from the man of violence.”
So praise the Lord for all He does for you. Exalt Him and he will lift you up too. As you consider all the awesomeness of God with you, He encourages, edifies, and extends you. If you think God hasn’t done anything for you, just think of all your salvation encompasses. The miracle of salvation is massive. Praise Him for that amazing gift and let the lost know how wonderful He is. Verses 49-50 read,
“For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations,
and sing to your name.
50 Great salvation he brings to his king,
and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
to David and his offspring forever.”
David wrote this psalm to commemorate the day The Lord saved him from Saul. Saul who had once loved David had become paranoid to the point of such fear, hate, and resentment that he actively sought to destroy him. Saul and his army had become an enemy so strong that David was not sure he would survive, except for the promise of God that he would be king and His supernatural protection and deliverance of him.
Taking the time to acknowledge and praise God for the great and good things He does for you is important and often through those prayers, praises, and songs The Lord will give you a prophetic word, a promise, or an encouragement. He spoke prophetically through David’s praise to encourage and lead us today.
Verses 1-3 are the kind of eloquent and pure praise I wish would flow from my mouth to my Lord’s heart.
“I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.”
Look at those depictions and understand each one was true for David and is true for us. God is our foundation, the place we go to fight and remain safe from the enemy, He is our deliverer, our protection, our strong and saving King, and a protection that can’t be trespassed by the enemy. No matter what the enemy does to us or how he tries to hurt us, God will not allow him to destroy us. We will not be devastated, not because we are so strong and good and faithful, but because God is Mighty, Righteous, and Steadfast. We can’t fight the enemy on our own, but God has already defeated him. Just as Saul pursued David in order to keep him from being the king who God had anointed him to be, the enemy wants to keep us from inheriting the Kingdom. Verses 4-6 describe David’s predicament when Saul tried to kill him.
“The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of destruction assailed me;
5 the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.”
But The LORD loved David and wouldn’t let it happen. He doesn’t like it when anyone tries to harm His children. He avenged David and He will also avenge us. The enemy will not escape retribution. David described God’s judgement on Saul as he prophetically describes God’s justice for us on The Day of Reckoning. Verses 7-9 paint the picture.
“Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and quaked, because he was angry.
8 Smoke went up from his nostrils,
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
9 He bowed the heavens and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.”
Verses 10-12 describe Jesus Christ leading the Heaven’s army.
“He rode on a cherub and flew;
he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him,
thick clouds dark with water.
12 Out of the brightness before him
hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.”
God loves us so intensely that He will not curb His anger that day. Verses 13-15 read,
“The Lord also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice,
hailstones and coals of fire.
14 And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.”
In His wrath, we are not forgotten. He is our stronghold and He will gather us to Him. Verses 16-18 say,
“He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
17 He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
19 He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.”
On that Day, payment will come due. God will look at us and He won’t see our sin, our shortcomings, nor our mistakes, He will see Jesus’ righteousness as our righteousness. He will see our love, faith, kindness, and patience. Can you imagine? I know I too often see all the worst of myself, but God doesn’t. He sees all the goodness of Jesus. He sees His cherished, valued, esteemed precious child. His love is so extravagant that He not only sees the best of us, He makes us to be the best.
Each person will be judged by the standard he followed, either by the law or by Jesus blood.
Verses 24-28 read,
“So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25 With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
26 with the purified you show yourself pure;
and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
27 For you save a humble people,
but the haughty eyes you bring down.
28 For it is you who light my lamp;”
David knew he couldn’t be righteous on his own. He knew he couldn’t fight his enemy on his own. He depended on God for his salvation. So do we. It is our Lord who saves. It is our Lord who makes us righteous. It is our Lord who enables us to do good. It is our Lord who empowers us against the enemy. It is our Lord who makes us like Him. Verses 31-36 read,
“For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?--
32 the God who equipped me with strength
and made my way blameless.
33 He made my feet like the feet of a deer
and set me secure on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your right hand supported me,
and your gentleness made me great.
36 You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip.”
Look at all the awesome things God enables us to do. He endows us with strength. He gives us authority to defeat the enemy with Him. (Verses 37-45). And God makes us kings with Him. He crowns us with His glory, life, righteousness, untouchable salvation, and rejoicing. Verses 46-48 read,
“The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation--
47 the God who gave me vengeance
and subdued peoples under me,
48 who delivered me from my enemies;
yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me;
you rescued me from the man of violence.”
So praise the Lord for all He does for you. Exalt Him and he will lift you up too. As you consider all the awesomeness of God with you, He encourages, edifies, and extends you. If you think God hasn’t done anything for you, just think of all your salvation encompasses. The miracle of salvation is massive. Praise Him for that amazing gift and let the lost know how wonderful He is. Verses 49-50 read,
“For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations,
and sing to your name.
50 Great salvation he brings to his king,
and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
to David and his offspring forever.”
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