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
Adonai lives! Blessed Be My Rock
1For the music director: a psalm of David the servant of Adonai. He chanted the words of this song to Adonai on the day Adonai delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.
2He said, I love You, Adonai my strength!
3Adonai is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in Him I take refuge, my shield, my horn of salvation, my stronghold.
4I called upon Adonai, worthy of praise, and I was rescued from my enemies.
5Cords of death entangled me. Torrents of Belial overwhelmed me.
6Cords of Sheol coiled around me. Snares of death came before me.
7In my distress I called on Adonai, and cried to my God for help. From His Temple He heard my voice, my cry before Him came into His ears.
8Then the earth rocked and quaked. The foundations of mountains trembled. They reeled because He was angry.
9Smoke rose from His nostrils and consuming fire from His mouth. Coals blazed from Him.
10He parted the heavens and came down, with thick darkness under His feet.
11He rode upon a cheruv and flew. He soared on the wings of the wind.
12He made darkness His cover, His sukkah all around Him— dark waters, thick clouds.
13Out of the brilliance before Him passed His thick clouds, hail and fiery coals.
14Adonai also thundered in the heavens, and Elyon gave forth His voice, hail and fiery coals.
15He shot His arrows and scattered them, hurled lightning bolts and routed them.
16Then ravines of water appeared. The foundations of earth were exposed, at Your rebuke, Adonai, at a blast of breath from Your nostrils.
17He reached down from on high and took hold of me. He drew me out of mighty waters.
18He saved me from my powerful enemy, from those who hated me— for they were much stronger than me.
19They came against me in my day of calamity, but Adonai was my support.
20He brought me out to a wide-open place. He rescued me since He delighted in me.
21Adonai rewarded me for my righteousness. For the cleanness of my hands He repaid me.
22For I kept the ways of Adonai, and did not turn wickedly from my God.
23For all His judgments are before me. I do not put His rulings away from me.
24I also had integrity with Him, and kept myself from my sin.
25So Adonai rewarded me for my righteousness, for the cleanness of my hands in His eyes.
26With the loyal You deal loyally. With the blameless You are blameless.
27With the pure You are pure, and with the crooked You are shrewd.
28For You save lowly people, but haughty eyes You humble.
29For You light up my lamp. Adonai my God shines in my darkness.
30For with You I rush on a troop, with my God I scale a wall.
31As for God, His way is perfect. The word of Adonai is pure. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
32For who is God, except Adonai? And who is a Rock, except our God?
33God girds me with strength and makes my way straight.
34He makes my feet like those of deer and makes me stand on my heights.
35He trains my hands for battle, so my arms can bend a bronze bow.
36You gave me the shield of Your salvation. Your right hand upholds me, Your gentleness makes me great.
37You broaden my steps beneath me, so my ankles have not slipped.
38I pursue my enemies and overtake them, and will not return till they are wiped out.
39I will crush them till they cannot rise, till they fall beneath my feet.
40For You girded me with strength for battle. You made those who rose up against me bow down before me.
41You also made my enemies turn their backs to me. I cut off those who hate me.
42They cry out, but there is none to save —even to Adonai, but He did not answer them.
43Then I beat them as fine as dust before the wind. I pour them out like mud in the streets.
44You free me from strifes of the people. You set me as head of the nations— people I did not know are serving me.
45As soon as they hear, they obey me. Children of foreigners cringe before me.
46Children of foreigners lose heart and come trembling from their hideouts.
47Adonai lives! And blessed be my Rock! Exalted be God my salvation!
48God—He gives me vengeance and subdues peoples under me.
49He delivers me from my enemies. Indeed You lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man.
50Therefore I praise You among the nations, Adonai, and sing praises to Your Name.
51Great victories He gives to His king. He shows loyal love to His anointed— to David and his seed, forever.
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