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
Praise for Deliverance
For the choir director. Of the servant of the Lord, David, who spoke the words of this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. # 2Sm 22 He said:
1I love You, Lord, my strength.
2The Lord is my rock,
my fortress, and my deliverer, # Ps 62:7; 94:22
my God, my mountain where I seek refuge,
my shield # Gn 15:1; Dt 33:29; Ps 3:3; 5:12; 28:7; 119:114 and the horn of my salvation, # 1Sm 2:1,10; Lk 1:69
my stronghold.
3I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, # Ps 48:1; 96:4; 145:3
and I was saved from my enemies. # Ps 138:7
4The ropes of death were wrapped around me;
the torrents of destruction terrified me. # Ps 124:4
5The ropes of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me. # Ps 116:3
6I called to the Lord in my distress,
and I cried to my God for help.
From His temple He heard my voice, # Ps 3:4
and my cry to Him reached His ears. # Ps 34:15
7Then the earth shook and quaked;
the foundations of the mountains trembled; # Is 13:13; Hg 2:6
they shook because He burned with anger.
8Smoke rose from His nostrils,
and consuming fire came from His mouth;
coals were set ablaze by it. # Or ablaze from Him # Ps 21:9; 50:3
9He parted the heavens and came down, # Ps 144:5; Is 64:1
a dark cloud beneath His feet.
10He rode on a cherub and flew,
soaring on the wings of the wind. # Ps 104:3
11He made darkness His hiding place,
dark storm clouds His canopy around Him. # Ps 97:2
12From the radiance of His presence, # Ps 50:2; Is 60:3
His clouds swept onward with hail and blazing coals.
13The Lord thundered from # Some Hb mss, LXX, Tg, Jer; other Hb mss read in heaven;
the Most High projected His voice. # Some Hb mss read voice, with hail and fiery coals # Ps 29:3; 104:7
14He shot His arrows and scattered them;
He hurled # Or multiplied lightning bolts and routed them. # Ps 144:6
15The depths of the sea became visible,
the foundations of the world were exposed,
at Your rebuke, Lord,
at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. # Ex 15:8; Ps 106:9; Nah 1:4
16He reached down from heaven
and took hold of me;
He pulled me out of deep waters. # Ps 144:7
17He rescued me from my powerful enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too strong for me. # Ps 35:10; 59:1; 142:6
18They confronted me in the day of my distress,
but the Lord was my support. # Ps 55:22; 59:16
19He brought me out to a spacious place; # Ps 31:8; 118:5
He rescued me because He delighted in me. # Ps 41:11
20The Lord rewarded me
according to my righteousness; # Ps 7:8
He repaid me
according to the cleanness of my hands. # Ps 24:4
21For I have kept the ways of the Lord
and have not turned from my God to wickedness. # Jb 23:11; Ps 119:101
22Indeed, I have kept all His ordinances in mind # Lit Indeed, all His ordinances have been in front of me
and have not disregarded His statutes. # Lv 18:4-5
23I was blameless toward Him # Dt 18:13; Ps 37:18; 119:1
and kept myself from sinning.
24So the Lord repaid me
according to my righteousness, # 2Ch 6:23
according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight. # Ps 24:4
25With the faithful
You prove Yourself faithful;
with the blameless man
You prove Yourself blameless;
26with the pure
You prove Yourself pure,
but with the crooked
You prove Yourself shrewd. # Mt 16:27; Rv 22:12
27For You rescue an afflicted people, # Ps 72:12
but You humble those with haughty eyes. # Ps 138:6
28Lord, You light my lamp;
my God illuminates my darkness. # Ps 112:4; Is 42:16
29With You I can attack a barrier, # Or ridge
and with my God I can leap over a wall. # Mt 19:26; Php 4:13
30God — His way is perfect; # Dt 32:4
the word of the Lord is pure. # Ps 19:7
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. # Ps 91:4; 144:2
31For who is God besides Yahweh? # Dt 32:39; 1Sm 2:2; Ps 86:8
And who is a rock? Only our God. # Ps 62:2
32God — He clothes me with strength # Is 45:5
and makes my way perfect.
33He makes my feet like the feet of a deer # Hab 3:19
and sets me securely on the heights. # Or on my high places # Dt 32:13; Is 58:14
34He trains my hands for war; # Ps 144:1
my arms can bend a bow of bronze. # Jb 29:20
35You have given me the shield of Your salvation;
Your right hand upholds me, # Ps 89:21
and Your humility exalts me.
36You widen a place beneath me for my steps, # Ps 31:8; 118:5
and my ankles do not give way. # Ps 66:9; Pr 4:12
37I pursue my enemies and overtake them;
I do not turn back until they are wiped out. # Ps 44:5
38I crush them, and they cannot get up;
they fall beneath my feet. # Ps 36:12
39You have clothed me with strength for battle; # 1Sm 2:4
You subdue my adversaries beneath me. # 1Ch 17:10; Ps 81:14
40You have made my enemies retreat before me; # Or You gave me the necks of my enemies # Ex 23:27
I annihilate those who hate me. # Dt 7:10
41They cry for help, but there is no one to save them # Ps 50:22 —
they cry to the Lord, but He does not answer them. # Mc 3:4
42I pulverize them like dust before the wind; # 2Kg 13:7
I trample them # Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Tg; other Hb mss read I poured them out like mud in the streets. # Is 10:6; Mc 7:10
43You have freed me from the feuds among the people;
You have appointed me the head of nations; # 2Sm 8:1-14
a people I had not known serve me. # Is 55:5
44Foreigners submit to me grudgingly;
as soon as they hear, # Lit At the hearing of the ear they obey me. # Dt 33:29; Ps 66:3
45Foreigners lose heart
and come trembling from their fortifications. # Mc 7:17
46The Lord lives — may my rock be praised!
The God of my salvation is exalted. # Ps 62:2,6
47God — He gives me vengeance # 2Sm 4:8; Ps 94:1
and subdues peoples under me. # Ps 47:3; 144:2
48He frees me from my enemies.
You exalt me above my adversaries;
You rescue me from violent men. # Ps 59:1; 140:1
49Therefore I will praise You, Yahweh, among the nations;
I will sing about Your name. # Rm 15:9
50He gives great victories to His king; # Ps 144:10
He shows loyalty to His anointed,
to David and his descendants forever. # 2Sm 7:12-13; Ps 89:4,29
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