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
The Lord Is My Rock
(2 Samuel 22:1–51)
For the choirmaster. Of David the servant of the Lord, who sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:
1I love You, O Lord, my strength.
2The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.
My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold.
3I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
so shall I be saved from my enemies.
4The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me.
5The cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6In my distress I called upon the Lord;
I cried to my God for help.
From His temple He heard my voice,
and my cry for His help reached His ears.
7Then the earth shook and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains trembled;
they were shaken because He burned with anger.
8Smoke rose from His nostrils,
and consuming fire came from His mouth;
glowing coals blazed forth.
9He parted the heavens and came down
with dark clouds beneath His feet.
10He mounted a cherub and flew;
He soared on the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness His hiding place,
and storm clouds a canopy around Him.
12From the brightness of His presence
His clouds advanced—
hailstones and coals of fire.#18:12 Or bolts of lightning; also in verse 13
13The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded—
hailstones and coals of fire.#18:13 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts and LXX do not include—hailstones and coals of fire; see 2 Samuel 22:14.
14He shot His arrows and scattered the foes;
He hurled lightning and routed them.
15The channels of the sea appeared,
and the foundations of the world were exposed,
at Your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
16He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
He drew me out of deep waters.
17He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from foes too mighty for me.
18They confronted me in my day of calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
19He brought me out into the open;
He rescued me because He delighted in me.
20The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness;
He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands.
21For I have kept the ways of the Lord
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22For all His ordinances are before me;
I have not disregarded His statutes.
23And I have been blameless before Him
and kept myself from iniquity.
24So the Lord has repaid me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.
25To the faithful You show Yourself faithful,
to the blameless You show Yourself blameless;
26to the pure You show Yourself pure,
but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd.
27For You save an afflicted people,
but You humble those with haughty eyes.
28For You, O Lord, light my lamp;
my God lights up my darkness.
29For in You I can charge an army,
and with my God I can scale a wall.
30As for God, His way is perfect;
the word of the Lord is flawless.
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
31For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?
32It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way clear.
33He makes my feet like those of a deer
and stations me upon the heights.
34He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35You have given me Your shield of salvation;
Your right hand upholds me,
and Your gentleness exalts me.#18:35 Or and Your help exalts me or and You stoop down to make me great
36You broaden the path beneath me
so that my ankles do not give way.
37I pursued my enemies and overtook them;
I did not turn back until they were consumed.
38I crushed them so they could not rise;
they have fallen under my feet.
39You have armed me with strength for battle;
You have subdued my foes beneath me.
40You have made my enemies retreat before me;
I put an end to those who hated me.
41They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—
to the Lord, but He did not answer.
42I ground them as dust in the face of the wind;
I trampled them #18:42 Some Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Syriac (see also 2 Samuel 22:43); MT I poured them out like mud in the streets.
43You have delivered me from the strife of the people;
You have made me the head of nations;
a people I had not known shall serve me.
44When they hear me, they obey me;
foreigners cower before me.
45Foreigners lose heart
and come trembling from their strongholds.
46The Lord lives, and blessed be my Rock!
And may the God of my salvation be exalted—
47the God who avenges me
and subdues nations beneath me,
48who delivers me from my enemies.
You exalt me above my foes;
You rescue me from violent men.
49Therefore I will praise You, O Lord, among the nations;
I will sing praises to Your name.#18:49 Cited in Romans 15:9
50Great salvation He brings to His king.
He shows loving devotion to His anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.
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The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.