Psalm 18/Commentary

Psalm 18

“A Warrior King Looks Back” “Psalm 18 is a thanksgiving song. It follows naturally upon Psalm 17, which is a lament. Thanksgiving psalms seem to follow laments…..In Psalm 18 we find David looking back over a lifetime of such saving interventions by God and praising Him for them” (Boice p. 145). When we compare this psalm with 2 Samuel chapter 22, we find that this psalm is duplicated almost exactly in that chapter. David’s deliverances seem to fall into three basic categories: 1. God had delivered them from the hands of King Saul. 2. God delivered David during the years of fighting against Israel’s enemies (2 Samuel 8). 3. God delivered David from the hand of his son Absalom.

The Refuge 18:1 “This word for love is an uncommon one, impulsive and emotional. Found elsewhere only in its intensive forms, it usually expresses the compassionate love of the stronger for the weaker” (Kidner p. 91). “The phrase ‘I love you’ communicates an intimacy of his relationship based on experience” (Gaebelein p. 169). Can we honestly and fervently say to God, ‘I love you’? And what is there about God which isn’t lovable?

18:2 While David had often been forced to literally flee into mountain fortresses, like En-gedi, he realized that God had been his true Rock all along. Without God, the greatest natural or man-made fortress is vain. About twenty times in the Psalms the Lord is said to be a Rock, i.e., a place of security and stability.

The word “fortress” brings to mind a high place of refuge and defense to which one might flee for protection. David also was a very humble man and realized that he hadn’t delivered himself. He placed greater confidence in God’s providential protection than in his own cleverness, skill or material resources.

“Notice also the repeated first person possessive pronoun, ‘my’. Yahweh is personal to David. He knows him and counts on Him” (Williams p. 139).

18:2 “The word ‘horn’ has been variously understood as the protection provided by the horn of a bull, the asylum of the horns of the altar, or a hill shaped like a horn” (Gaebelein p. 169).

18:3 David is confident about the Lord’s ability to deliver, and thus will praise Him. “David knew every cranny, crack, and secret hiding place in the vast, rocky wilderness. So when he fled to the rocks, he knew that he would be safe 1

in their protection. From the height of some great rock David could look down into the canyon below and watch as his enemies pursued him hopelessly. The vision of David perched on some high rock suggests….having a sure foundation beneath one’s feet. Here a rock is contrasted with mire and sand (Psalm 40:2)” (Boice p. 147). Compare also with Matthew 7:24ff.

The Rescue 18:4-5 Note, David found himself being afraid often. “What do we do when death presses in upon us? Cower in fear? Escape into denial? Resign to the inevitable? David’s response to distress is prayer” (Williams p. 138). “The psalmist recalls the intensity of his anguish as if ropes were wrapped around him as if death, personified as ‘cords of death’…were pulling him downward.

Another metaphor is that of the rushing streams that seemed to drag him to his death…Paganism seems to triumph, as chaos rules and God’s deliverance is not forthcoming. But it is at this point that David turns to the Lord” (Gaebelein p.

170).

18:6 And God in heaven hears the prayer of the righteous individual who is in distress!

18:7-15 God is definitely concerned about His people and how they are being treated (Matthew 25:40; Acts 9:5; 7:55). “Everything in the description speaks of judgment, but as this is directed against the powers of evil it means salvation to their victim” (Kidner p. 92). David first gives us a glimpse of God’s reaction in heaven. “The earthquake is an expression of His anger (7). The smoke and fire represent His readiness to avenge His enemies (8). Thus He mounts the cherubim (10), soars as a bird on the ‘wings of the wind’, and swoops quickly downward…No opposition can stand His presence because He penetrates even the sea and the foundations of the earth (15)” (Gaebelein p. 171).

Points To Note: 1. “So far as we know, David never experienced a literal display of God’s presence in these exalted ways. But this does not mean that David merely made these things up. A careful comparison of Bible passages will show that these terms were all borrowed from the accounts of God’s self-manifestation in Egypt, at Sinai, and during the days of Joshua and the Judges…David has in his mind’s eye the glorious manifestations of God in Egypt, at Sinai, and on different occasions to Joshua and the Judges; and he considers that this own case exhibits the same glory of power and goodness… This also means that the God of Moses, Joshua and the Judges is his God too” (Boice pp. 148149). 2. Elsewhere the cherubim are presented as the bearers of the chariot-throne on which God rides to judgment (Ezekiel 1:22ff; 10:1ff). 3.

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These verses do remind us that nature is neither autonomous nor neutral, rather the forces of nature are held in the hand of God (Colossians 1:16-17).

“Although in God’s providence the rain falls on the just and the unjust, if He is sovereign over His creation, He can unleash its power at any moment as the direct expression of His will” (Williams p. 140). Compare with James 5:1618.

18:16-19 David was drowning in the midst of enemies stronger than he was, yet God drew him out. Again, David realized that he had been completely powerless, his enemies were too many, too resourceful and too strong. Do we feel like this today? Especially when we realize the small number of Christians there are in this world, and the seemingly feeble resources which the church has to preach the gospel to all nations? Compare with Revelation 3:8. “He does not fear God’s coming anger, because his Father comes to his rescue” (Gaebelein p. 172). The “board” or “spacious” place in verse 19 is in comparison to the tight spot he had been in.

18:20-24 This deliverance wasn’t based on predestination or once-savedalways-saved. Rather, here we see God’s faithfulness to the faithful (2 Timothy 2:11-13; 4:6-8). “The main concern of the passage is, in fact, to praise God as the protector of those who ‘commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator’ (1 Peter 4:19)” (Kidner p. 93). Unfortunately, some people today view these passages as expressing an attitude of self-righteousness. But David believes that a man can keep the word of God, that there are indeed faithful people. It isn’t self-righteous to say, “Yes I am keeping the commandments of God”. David had walked in God’s ways, obeyed His laws and decrees, and kept himself from sin. And we can do the same thing! (Matthew 7:21; John 14:15; James 1:27; 1 John 1:7). Love and loyalty to God shows itself in very practical ways. David’s attitude was, “Lord, I love you so much that I make every effort to please you”. “God’s laws regulate all of life and help His servant respond appropriately to the challenges of life” (Gaebelein p. 173). Verse 22 makes it clear that David was very familiar with the word of God in written form, i.e., the text of Old Testament Scripture. These verses infer that the only way to keep ourselves from sin, is to follow God’s word (Psalm 119:9).

18:25-26 “The merciful, blameless and pure are all among the humble who find their character in the character of God. Jesus would say, “Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7). But with those who are devious, God will be shrewd and will outwit them. “Even as God deals lovingly with those who love Him, He lets the crooked acts of the wicked boomerang on their own heads. They receive their just desserts” (Gaebelein p. 174). Here we learn that God is merciful, but His mercy is conditional. “The idea seems to be that if a person insists in going devious ways in his dealings with God, God outwits him, as that man deserves” (Boice p. 155). I believe that we see this graphically illustrated in how God brought about the downfall of the wicked Haman in the book of Esther. “He is the one who catches the wise in their 3

craftiness” (1 Corinthians 3:19). The verse also reminds us that man is given the choice of whether God will be his enemy or friend.

18:27 As in many other places, God saves the humble and rejects the arrogant (James 4:6). “These are the under-dogs, who meet us frequently in the Psalms…They correspond to the ‘poor’ in the first Beatitude, as being those who are in need and know it” (Kidner p. 94). In addition, they are also the “meek”, people who have rejected the path of self-assertion.

18:28-29 Note David’s confidence in God. “There is no barrier that the Lord cannot overcome, whether it be a ‘troop’ or the wall of any enemy city” (Gaebelein p. 174). In addition, God also gives David light during times of distress and confusion (Psalm 119:105; John 8:12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Regardless of the obstacles that David could face in life, with God at his side, David could overcome anything.

18:30 God can be trusted, because He is full of integrity (1 John 1:5; James 1:13,17). People are often very short-sighted. The next time people complain about the moral standards in the Bible, ask them, “Would you rather have this universe governed by an immoral God, would you rather meet a pure and holy God in judgment or a crooked and immoral God?” Let us be thankful that our God is honest, true, pure and completely removed from sin and selfishness!

Since God cannot lie (Titus 1:2), His word is sure, truthful, dependable and flawless. Now, in view of such a comment why do some professed Christians insist on arguing that the Bible is filled with mistakes and that it is inaccurate in matters of history, science and geography? The word “tested” means that the word of God is “refined” in that it has long since been put to the test, and found dependable. I like what someone said about the Bible, “The Bible is no longer undergoing a test, it has already been tested for centuries and found true.

Rather, the people who read the Bible are the ones being tested”. “Once again reducing his entire experience to a general truth. David summarizes by saying that no one who has cast himself upon the mercy of God can arrive at any other conclusion than that there is never a flaw in God’s dealings with His own” (Leupold p. 171).

18:31-36 There is no God but the Lord! In these verses David argues that his relationship with God gives him sure-footedness, like the ibex, whose agility permits it to walk on narrow ledges in mountainous and rocky terrain. Compare with Habakkuk 3:19. Even during confusing and perilous times, when the road gets really narrow, with God’s guidance, David can still navigate and avoid the pitfalls which have destroyed others. “He gives David speed and security that of a deer in high places” (Williams p. 144).

Point To Note:

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Like David, we are warriors in a battle. Our battle is against Satan (Ephesians 6:12). “Through His word He illumines our darkness and shows where the real battle is to be fought against Satan and his hosts” (Williams p. 145). God’s word also gives us the power to demolish and attack sinful strongholds, false doctrines and clever arguments (2 Corinthians 10:4). Like David, in our battle against Satan, God has given us the tools to leap over spiritual walls, and run swift and sure on narrow ledges and cliffs. Compare this section with Ephesians 6:11-18. Notice how David attributes all his success to God. “God always gave him sufficient room to walk and move and never suffered his ankles to turn on rough ground” (Leupold p. 172).

18:37-42 The fact that some of these enemies had cried to the Lord, but were not delivered, infers that they were the type of people who only cry out of God in time of trouble, or hypocrites, who expect God to deliver them, even when they are living in sin. “We are not, however, to be victims of these things. We are to take on the world, Satan’s domain, and challenge its authority….We too are called to a spiritual battle to fight against the powers of evil (Ephesians 6:12-13)” (Williams p. 146). Compare the above verses with the statement made by Paul, “the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly” (Romans 16:20).

18:43-45 Here we find that as a result of his victories, the surrounding Gentile nations submit to David’s rule. “No one wants to do battle with David. They fade away from combat and emerge from their bunkers, hands in the air” (Williams p.

147). Once again we are reminded that in the Old Testament, often other nations came into contact with Israel and the people of God. In submitting to David, such nations would learn about the God of David.

Point To Note: “David was a king and a military commander, so he needed strength for the victory in battle. We do not usually need these things. But the principle holds true for us anyway, since, whatever we need, God, the same God, provides it. Is it wisdom? God is the source of wisdom, and we are told to pray for it (James 1:5). Is it peace in the midst of trouble? God is the source of peace (John 14:27). Is it love? Joy? Patience? (Galatians 5:22-23)….Wise people have found this to be true and have therefore learned to turn to God for their needs, rather than turning to the false promises of the surrounding evil world” (Boice pp.

156-157).

18:46-48 In these final verses, we come back to the point from which we started out, namely, praise to God. And the theme of God being our rock reappears.

“This means He is a shelter beside which we can be protected and proper, a fortress into which we can run and be safe, a firm foundation upon which our shaking feet can stand and upon which we can build” (Boice p. 158). “Instead of exalting himself, David praises the Lord. Instead of glorifying his own name

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among the nations, he speaks about his great King to the nations (49)” (Gaebelein p. 177).

18:49 This passage is quoted by Paul in Romans 15:9 to show that Jesus brought salvation to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews. Note, David’s victories over heathen nations, gave David the chance to do some evangelizing!

“Implying that he will make a public proclamation that will reach the nations subdued and other nations as well, that it was the Lord, Yahweh, who wrought such great things for him” (Leupold p. 174).

18:50 “From this text, then, we see in the psalm’s conclusion the gospel story.

Another David has come. He has defeated God’s enemies and established His reign. Even the Gentiles now come to Him….Psalm 18 reveals the God who controls nature and history, who establishes His King and His kingdom. He is not absent but present, not distant but near, not aloof but active, not powerless but powerful” (Williams pp. 148-149).

Conclusion: In the New Testament, we find a number of passages that remind us of the over all theme of this psalm: “Do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul” (Matthew 10:28).

“If God is for us, who is against us” (Romans 8:31) “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us” (8:37) “My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19) “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall men do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6) “The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation” (2 Peter 2:9) “But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me…The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed” (2 Timothy 4:17-18).

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