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
PSALM 18
Common Meter: 8,6,8,6
To 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,
1Thee will I love, O Lord, my strength.
2My fortress is the Lord,
My rock, and he that doth to me
deliverance afford:
My God, my strength, whom I will trust,
a buckler unto me,
The horn of my salvation,
and my high tow'r, is he.
3Upon the Lord, who worthy is
of praises, will I cry;
And then shall I preserved be
safe from mine enemy.
4Floods of ill men affrighted me,
death's pangs about me went;
5Hell's sorrows me environed;
death's snares did me prevent.
6In my distress I call'd on God,
cry to my God did I;
He from his temple heard my voice,
to his ears came my cry.
7Th' earth, as affrighted, then did shake,
trembling upon it seiz'd:
The hills' foundations moved were,
because he was displeas'd.
8Up from his nostrils came a smoke,
and from his mouth there came
Devouring fire, and coals by it
were turned into flame.
9He also bowed down the heav'ns,
and thence he did descend;
And thickest clouds of darkness did
under his feet attend.
10And he upon a cherub rode,
and thereon he did fly;
Yea, on the swift wings of the wind
his flight was from on high.
11He darkness made his secret place:
about him, for his tent,
Dark waters were, and thickest clouds
of th' airy firmament.
12And at the brightness of that light,
which was before his eye,
His thick clouds pass'd away, hailstones
and coals of fire did fly.
13The Lord God also in the heav'ns
did thunder in his ire;
And there the Highest gave his voice,
hailstones and coals of fire.
14Yea, he his arrows sent abroad,
and them he scattered;
His lightnings also he shot out,
and them discomfited.
15The waters' channels then were seen,
the world's foundations vast
At thy rebuke discover'd were,
and at thy nostrils' blast.
16And from above the Lord sent down,
and took me from below;
From many waters he me drew,
which would me overflow.
17He me reliev'd from my strong foes,
and such as did me hate;
Because he saw that they for me
too strong were, and too great.
18They me prevented in the day
of my calamity;
But even then the Lord himself
a stay was unto me.
19He to a place where liberty
and room was hath me brought;
Because he took delight in me,
he my deliv'rance wrought.
20According to my righteousness
he did me recompense,
He me repaid according to
my hands' pure innocence.
21For I God's ways kept, from my God
did not turn wickedly.
22His judgments were before me, I
his laws put not from me.
23Sincere before him was my heart;
with him upright was I;
And watchfully I kept myself
from mine iniquity.
24After my righteousness the Lord
hath recompensed me,
After the cleanness of my hands
appearing in his eye.
25Thou gracious to the gracious art,
to upright men upright:
26Pure to the pure, froward thou kyth'st
unto the froward wight.
27For thou wilt the afflicted save
in grief that low do lie:
But wilt bring down the countenance
of them whose looks are high.
28The Lord will light my candle so,
that it shall shine full bright:
The Lord my God will also make
my darkness to be light.
29By thee through troops of men I break,
and them discomfit all;
And, by my God assisting me,
I overleap a wall.
30As for God, perfect is his way:
the Lord his word is try'd;
He is a buckler to all those
who do in him confide.
31Who but the Lord is God? but he
who is a rock and stay?
32'Tis God that girdeth me with strength,
and perfect makes my way.
33He made my feet swift as the hinds,
set me on my high places.
34Mine hands to war he taught, mine arms
brake bows of steel in pieces.
35The shield of thy salvation
thou didst on me bestow:
Thy right hand held me up, and great
thy kindness made me grow.
36And in my way my steps thou hast
enlarged under me,
That I go safely, and my feet
are kept from sliding free.
37Mine en'mies I pursued have,
and did them overtake;
Nor did I turn again till I
an end of them did make.
38I wounded them, they could not rise;
they at my feet did fall.
39Thou girdedst me with strength for war;
my foes thou brought'st down all:
40And thou hast giv'n to me the necks
of all mine enemies;
That I might them destroy and slay,
who did against me rise.
41They cried out, but there was none
that would or could them save;
Yea, they did cry unto the Lord,
but he no answer gave.
42Then did I beat them small as dust
before the wind that flies;
And I did cast them out like dirt
upon the street that lies.
43Thou mad'st me free from people's strife,
and heathen's head to be:
A people whom I have not known
shall service do to me.
44At hearing they shall me obey,
to me they shall submit.
45Strangers for fear shall fade away,
who in close places sit.
46God lives, bless'd be my Rock; the God
of my health praised be.
47God doth avenge me, and subdues
the people under me.
48He saves me from mine enemies;
yea, thou hast lifted me
Above my foes; and from the man
of vi'lence set me free.
49Therefore to thee will I give thanks
the heathen folk among;
And to thy name, O Lord, I will
sing praises in a song.
50He great deliv'rance gives his king:
he mercy doth extend
To David, his anointed one,
and his seed without end.
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