Psalms 18
18
# 18 This magnificent poem is so important to the Holy Spirit that it appears twice in the Bible. You will also find it in 2 Sam. 22. I Love You, Lord
A song # 18 There are fifty psalms that are described as “a song” in the inscription, and each one is a power song of victory and breakthrough. to the Pure and Shining One by King David, his servant, composed when the Lord rescued David from all his many enemies, including from the brutality of Saul. # 18 Or “the paw of Saul.” Saul was like a beast that chased David until his death. He said:
1I love you, Yahweh, and I’m bonded to you, # 18:1 David didn’t employ the common Hebrew word for “love,” ‘ahav, but instead used the Hebrew word for “pity” or “mercy.” How could David have mercy for God? The word he used, racham, is the word for a mother who loves and pities her child so much it manifests with a deep love and emotional bond. This concept, although difficult to convey in English, carries the thought of embrace and touch. It could actually be translated “Lord, I want to hug you.” Haven’t you ever felt like that?
my strength!
2Yahweh, you’re the bedrock beneath my feet,
my faith-fortress, my wonderful deliverer,
my God, my rock of rescue where none can reach me.
You’re the shield around me,
the mighty power # 18:2 Or “horn” (i.e., horn of my salvation), which comes from a root word meaning “ray of brightness.” that saves me,
and my high place.
3All I need to do is to call on you,
Yahweh, the praiseworthy God.
When I do, I’m safe and sound in you—
delivered from my foes!
4-5For when the cords of death wrapped around me
and torrents of destruction overwhelmed me, # 18:4–5 Or “waves of Sheol [death] engulfed me.” See 2 Sam. 22:5.
taking me to death’s door,
6in my distress I cried out to you, the delivering God,
and from your temple-throne you heard my troubled cry,
and my sobs went right into your heart. # 18:6 This scene is not only a poetic portrayal of how God answered David’s prayer, but also a picture of the sufferings of a greater Son of David, Jesus, who hung on the cross with cries of agony. God heard him and shook the planet as thick clouds covered the sun.
7The earth itself shivered and shook.
It reeled and rocked before him.
As the mountains trembled, they melted away,
for his anger was kindled on my behalf!
8Fierce flames leapt from his mouth, # 18:8 Or “nostrils.”
erupting with blazing, burning coals as smoke
and fire encircled him.
9-10He stretched heaven’s curtain open and came to my defense.
Swiftly he rode to earth as the stormy sky was lowered.
He rode a chariot of thunderclouds amidst thick darkness;
his steed was a cherub,
soaring on outstretched wings of Spirit-Wind.
11Wrapped in the thick-cloud darkness,
his thunder-tabernacle surrounded him.
He hid himself in mystery-darkness;
the dense rain clouds were his garments.
12Suddenly the brilliance of his presence broke through
with lightning bolts and hail—
a tempest dropping coals of fire.
13The Lord thundered; the great God above every god
spoke with his thunder-voice from the sky.
The Most High uttered his voice!
14He released his lightning-arrows, and routed my foes.
See how they ran and scattered in fear!
15Then with his mighty roar he laid bare the foundations of the earth,
uncovering the secret source of the sea.
The hidden depths of land and sea were exposed
by the blast of his hot breath.
16He rescued me from the mighty waters
and drew me to himself!
17Even though I was helpless in the hands
of my hateful, strong enemy, # 18:17 Death is our strong enemy. Only through Christ are we delivered from its grip.
you were good to deliver me.
18When I was at my weakest, # 18:18 Or “In the day of my calamity.” my enemies attacked—
but the Lord held on to me.
19His love broke open the way,
and he brought me into a beautiful, broad place. # 18:19 This could be the throne room of heaven.
He rescued me—because his delight is in me! # 18:19 Here in verses 16–19 you can see the glorious resurrection of Christ as the Father reached down and kissed the Son with life and love. Read it again and think of Christ in the tomb being raised by the Father.
20He rewarded me for doing what’s right and staying pure.
21I will follow his commands and
I’ll not sin by ceasing to follow him, no matter what.
22For I’ve kept my eyes focused on his righteous words,
and I’ve obeyed everything that he’s told me to do.
23I’ve been blameless before him and followed all his ways,
keeping my heart pure.
24And so Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
because I kept my heart clean before his eyes.
25Good people will taste your goodness.
And to those who are loyal to you,
you love to prove that you are loyal and true.
26And for those who are purified, they find you always pure.
But you’ll outwit the crooked and cunning with your craftiness.
27To the humble you bring heaven’s deliverance,
but the proud and haughty you disregard.
28God, all at once you turned on a floodlight for me!
You are the revelation-light in my darkness,
and in your brightness I can see the path ahead.
29With you as my strength I can crush an enemy horde,
advancing through every stronghold that stands in front of me. # 18:29 Or “by my God I can jump over a wall.”
30Yahweh, what a perfect God you are!
All Yahweh’s promises have proven true.
What a secure shelter for all those
who turn to hide themselves in you,
the wraparound God. # 18:30 The Hebrew word used here (often translated “shield”) means “to wrap around in protection.” God himself is our shield of grace.
31Could there be any other god like Yahweh?
For there is not a more secure foundation # 18:31 Or “rocky cliff.” than you.
32God, you have wrapped me in power
and made my way perfect.
33Through you I ascend to the highest peaks
to stand strong and secure in you. # 18:33 Or “You make my legs like a deer to stand firm on the heights.”
34You’ve trained me with the weapons of warfare-worship;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35You empower me for victory with your wraparound presence.
Your power within makes me strong to subdue.
By stooping down in gentleness,
you made me great!
36You’ve set me free, and now I’m standing complete,
ready to fight some more!
37I caught up with my enemies and conquered them
and didn’t turn back until the war was won!
38I smashed them to pieces and
I finished them once and for all; they’re as good as dead.
39You’ve placed your armor upon me
and made my enemies bow low at my feet.
40You’ve made them all turn tail and run,
for through you I’ve destroyed them all!
41They shouted for help, but no one dared to rescue them.
They cried out to Yahweh, but he refused to answer them.
42So I pulverized them to powder and cast them to the wind.
I swept them away like dirt on the floor.
43You gave me victory on every side,
for you make me a leader of nations.
Even those I’ve never heard of come and bow at my feet.
44As soon as they heard of me they submitted to me.
Even the rebel foreigners obey my every word.
45Their rebellion fades away as they come near;
trembling in their strongholds,
they come crawling out of their hideouts,
cringing in fear before me.
46Yahweh lives!
Praise is lifted high to the unshakable God!
Towering over all, my Savior-God is worthy to be praised!
47Look how he pays back harm to all who harm me,
subduing all who come against me.
48He rescues me from my enemies;
he lifts me up high and keeps me out of reach,
far from the grasp of my violent foe.
49So I thank you, Yahweh, with my praises!
I will sing my song to the highest God,
so all among the nations will hear me. # 18:49 Paul quoted this verse as one of four prophecies to show that Christ came for all people, not just the Jews. See Rom. 15:9.
50You have given me, your king, great victories.
You’ve always been tender and kind to me, your anointed one,
your loving servant, David, and to all my descendants!
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Psalms 18: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationPsalms 18
18
For 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,
1I love thee, O LORD, my strength.
2The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
My God, my strong rock, in him will I trust;
My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.
3I will call upon the LORD, 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 on 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 before him came into his ears.
7Then the earth shook and trembled,
The foundations also of the mountains moved
And were shaken, because he was wroth.
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 flew swiftly 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.
13The LORD 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 LORD,
At the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.
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.
18They came upon 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 the LORD,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
22For all his judgements 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 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 the perfect man thou wilt shew thyself perfect;
26With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure;
And with the perverse thou wilt shew thyself froward.
27For thou wilt save the afflicted people;
But the haughty eyes thou wilt bring down.
28For thou wilt light my lamp:
The LORD 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 the LORD is tried;
He is a shield unto all them that trust in him.
31For who is God, save the LORD?
And who is a rock, beside our God?
32The God that girdeth me with strength,
And maketh my way 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 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.
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 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 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 strangers shall submit themselves unto me.
45The strangers shall fade away,
And shall come trembling out of their close places.
46The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock;
And exalted be the God of my salvation:
47Even the God that executeth vengeance for me,
And subdueth peoples under me.
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 LORD, among the nations,
And will sing praises unto thy name.
50Great deliverance giveth he to his king;
And sheweth lovingkindness to his anointed,
To David and to his seed, for evermore.
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historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society