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
A King’s Thanksgiving for Victory
1For the leader. Of David, the servant of the Lord, who sang to the Lord the words of this song after the Lord had rescued him from the clutches of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2He said:#2 Sm 22:2–51.
I
I love you, Lord, my strength,
3Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer,
My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, my saving horn,#My saving horn: my strong savior. The horn referred to is the weapon of a bull and the symbol of fertility, cf. 1 Sm 2:10; Ps 132:17; Lk 1:69. my stronghold!#Ps 3:4; 31:3–4; 42:10; Gn 49:24; Dt 32:4.
4Praised be the Lord, I exclaim!
I have been delivered from my enemies.
II
5The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of destruction terrified me.
6The cords#Cords: hunting imagery, the cords of a snare. of Sheol encircled me;
the snares of death lay in wait for me.#Ps 88:8; 93:3–4; 116:3–4.
7In my distress I called out: Lord!
I cried out to my God.#Jon 2:3.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry to him reached his ears.
8#God appears in the storm, which in Palestine comes from the west. The introduction to the theophany (Ps 18:8–9) is probably a description of a violent, hot, and dry east-wind storm. In the fall transition period from the rainless summer to the rainy winter such storms regularly precede the rains, cf. Ex 14:21–22.The earth rocked and shook;
the foundations of the mountains trembled;
they shook as his wrath flared up.#Ps 97:3–4; 99:1; Jgs 5:4–5; Is 64:1; Heb 3:9–11.
9Smoke rose from his nostrils,
a devouring fire from his mouth;
it kindled coals into flame.
10He parted the heavens and came down,
a dark cloud under his feet.#Ps 104:3; 144:5; Is 63:19.
11Mounted on a cherub#Cherub: a winged creature, derived from myth, in the service of the deity (Gn 3:24; Ex 25:18–20; 37:6–9). Cherubim were the throne bearers of the deity (Ps 80:2; 99:1; 1 Kgs 6:23–28; 8:6–8). he flew,
borne along on the wings of the wind.
12He made darkness his cloak around him;
his canopy, water-darkened stormclouds.
13From the gleam before him, his clouds passed,
hail and coals of fire.#Ex 13:21; 19:16.
14The Lord thundered from heaven;
the Most High made his voice resound.#Ps 29; 77:19; Ex 19:19; Jb 37:3–4.
15He let fly his arrows#Arrows: lightning. and scattered them;
shot his lightning bolts and dispersed them.#Ps 144:6; Wis 5:21.
16Then the bed of the sea appeared;
the world’s foundations lay bare,#Ps 77:17; Zec 9:14.
At your rebuke, O Lord,
at the storming breath of your nostrils.
17He reached down from on high and seized me;
drew me out of the deep waters.#Ps 144:7.
18He rescued me from my mighty enemy,
from foes too powerful for me.
19They attacked me on my day of distress,
but the Lord was my support.
20He set me free in the open;
he rescued me because he loves me.
III
21The Lord acknowledged my righteousness,
rewarded my clean hands.#Ps 26; 1 Sm 26:23.
22For I kept the ways of the Lord;
I was not disloyal to my God.
23For his laws were all before me,
his decrees I did not cast aside.
24I was honest toward him;
I was on guard against sin.
25So the Lord rewarded my righteousness,
the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
26Toward the faithful you are faithful;
to the honest man you are honest;#Ps 125:4.
27Toward the pure, you are pure;
but to the perverse you are devious.
28For humble people you save;
haughty eyes you bring low.#Jb 22:29; Prv 3:34.
29For you, Lord, give light to my lamp;
my God brightens my darkness.#Ps 27:1; 36:10; 43:3; 119:105; Jb 29:3; Mi 7:8.
30With you I can rush an armed band,
with my God to help I can leap a wall.
31God’s way is unerring;
the Lord’s promise is refined;
he is a shield for all who take refuge in him.#Ps 12:6; 77:13; Prv 30:5.
IV
32Truly, who is God except the Lord?
Who but our God is the rock?#Is 44:8; 45:21.
33This God who girded me with might,
kept my way unerring,
34Who made my feet like a deer’s,
and set me on the heights,#Heb 3:19.
35Who trained my hands for war,
my arms to string a bow of bronze.#Bow of bronze: hyperbole for a bow difficult to bend and therefore capable of propelling an arrow with great force.#Ps 144:1.
V
36You have given me your saving shield;
your right hand has upheld me;
your favor made me great.
37You made room for my steps beneath me;
my ankles never twisted.#Ps 17:5.
38I pursued my enemies and overtook them;
I did not turn back till I destroyed them.
39I decimated them; they could not rise;
they fell at my feet.
40You girded me with valor for war,
subjugated my opponents beneath me.
41You made my foes expose their necks to me;
those who hated me I silenced.
42They cried for help, but no one saved them;
cried to the Lord but received no answer.
43I ground them to dust before the wind;
I left them like mud in the streets.
44You rescued me from the strife of peoples;
you made me head over nations.
A people I had not known served me;
45as soon as they heard of me they obeyed.
Foreigners submitted before me;
46foreigners cringed;
they came cowering from their dungeons.#Mi 7:17.
VI
47The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock!#Ps 144:1.
Exalted be God, my savior!
48O God who granted me vengeance,
made peoples subject to me,#Ps 144:2.
49and saved me from my enemies,
Truly you have elevated me above my opponents,
from a man of lawlessness you have rescued me.
50Thus I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing praises to your name.#Ps 7:18; 30:5; 57:9; 135:3; 146:2; Rom 15:9.
51You have given great victories to your king,
and shown mercy to his anointed,
to David and his posterity forever.#Ps 89:28–37; 144:10; 1 Sm 2:10.
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