Psalms
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Psalm 18
Psalm 18
Commentary · verses 1-50
1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of Jehovah, who spake unto Jehovah the words of this song in the day that Jehovah delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: and he said, I love thee, O Jehovah, my strength.
2Jehovah is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I will take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.
1To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said, I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
2The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Commentary · verses 1-2
David gave God credit for his deliverance from his enemies. Hebrews 2:13 referenced this verse.
3I will call upon Jehovah, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies.
4The cords of death compassed me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
5The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came upon me.
6In my distress I called upon Jehovah, And cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of his temple, And my cry before him came into his ears.
7Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations also of the mountains quaked And were shaken, because he was wroth.
3I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
4The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
5The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
6In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
7Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
Commentary · verses 3-7
God responded to David's cry by shaking the earth! God was angry at David's situation.
8There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it.
9He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And thick darkness was under his feet.
10And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; Yea, he soared upon the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness his hiding-place, his pavilion round about him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
12At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, Hailstones and coals of fire.
13Jehovah also thundered in the heavens, And the Most High uttered his voice, Hailstones and coals of fire.
14And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yea, lightnings manifold, and discomfited them.
15Then the channels of waters appeared, And the foundations of the world were laid bare, At thy rebuke, O Jehovah, At the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.
8There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
9He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.
10And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
12At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
13The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
14Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
15Then 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.
Commentary · verses 8-15
The "breath of God's Nostrils" was the Holy Spirit, God's Breath.
16He sent from on high, he took me; He drew me out of many waters.
17He delivered me from my strong enemy, And from them that hated me; for they were too mighty for me.
16He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
17He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
Commentary · verses 16-17
God delivered David.
18They came upon me in the day of my calamity; But Jehovah was my stay.
19He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20Jehovah hath rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
18They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
19He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
21For I have kept the ways of Jehovah, And have not wickedly departed from my God.
22For all his ordinances were before me, And I put not away his statutes from me.
23I was also perfect with him, And I kept myself from mine iniquity.
24Therefore hath Jehovah recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
25With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; With the perfect man thou wilt show thyself perfect; 26With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; And with the perverse thou wilt show thyself froward.
27For thou wilt save the afflicted people; But the haughty eyes thou wilt bring down.
21For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.
23I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
24Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
25With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
26With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
27For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
Commentary · verses 21-27
The afflicted (humbled) were saved; The haughty (proud) would be brought down. We will all bow and confess that Jesus is Lord. It is our choice if we do it of our own accord. Will you humble yourself or will you be humbled?
28For thou wilt light my lamp: Jehovah my God will lighten my darkness.
29For by thee I run upon a troop; And by my God do I leap over a wall.
30As for God, his way is perfect: The word of Jehovah is tried; He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in him.
28For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
29For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
30As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Commentary · verses 28-30
God's way, His HOW, was perfect: maximum profitability.
31For who is God, save Jehovah? And who is a rock, besides our God, 32The God that girdeth me with strength, And maketh my way perfect?
31For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
32It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
Commentary · verses 31-32
God wants to make our way, our HOW, perfect.
33He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet: And setteth me upon my high places.
34He teacheth my hands to war; So that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.
35Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation; And thy right hand hath holden me up, And thy gentleness hath made me great.
36Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped.
37I will pursue mine enemies, and overtake them; Neither will I turn again till they are consumed.
38I will smite them through, so that they shall not be able to rise: They shall fall under my feet.
39For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
33He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
34He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
35Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
36Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
37I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
38I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.
39For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
Commentary · verses 33-39
David attributed his strength in battle to God.
40Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, That I might cut off them that hate me.
41They cried, but there was none to save; Even unto Jehovah, but he answered them not.
42Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind; I did cast them out as the mire of the streets.
43Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; Thou hast made me the head of the nations: A people whom I have not known shall serve me.
44As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me; The foreigners shall submit themselves unto me.
45The foreigners shall fade away, And shall come trembling out of their close places.
46Jehovah liveth; and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation,
40Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
41They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
42Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
43Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
44As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.
45The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
46The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
Commentary · verses 40-46
The Lord lives! David also referred to Him as his Rock, similar to Deuteronomy 32:4 - "The Rock, his work is perfect; For all his ways are justice: A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, Just and right is he."
47Even the God that executeth vengeance for me, And subdueth peoples under me.
47It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.
Commentary · verse 47
David let God equal out Justice.
48He rescueth me from mine enemies; Yea, thou liftest me up above them that rise up against me; Thou deliverest me from the violent man.
49Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah, among the nations, And will sing praises unto thy name.
48He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
49Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
Commentary · verses 48-49
Paul referenced this verse in Romans 15:9.
50Great deliverance giveth he to his king, And showeth lovingkindness to his anointed, To David and to his seed, for evermore.
50Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.
This psalm was the same as the song which made up 2 Samuel 22. There were some very minor variations in the language of the song here from the version in 2 Samuel. Some people believe this was because the copy in 2 Samuel 22 was the first copy and that David may have revised the song while writing it here in the Book of Psalms.