Psalm 18 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,
This Psalm is about prayer, spiritual battles, and victory, and contains prophecy about the LORD Jesus Christ.
Verses 1-2 I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
King David starts this Psalm by stating that he will love the LORD. The Hebrew word used here, racham, means to love deeply. This is an act of David’s will, his mind, and his emotions. He is loving the LORD with his entire soul. Why? Because the LORD is his chezeq or strength, his cela or rock (stronghold), his matuwd or strong place, and his palat or the One who brought him to safety. God delivered on His promises to David that he would succeed King Saul as king of the nation Israel and so he was not killed in this encounter with Saul and his military. Therefore David put his trust in the LORD who was also David’s magen or shield so that he had divine protection. The Hebrew word translated as “horn” is “qeren” and it means strength. So the LORD is the strength that delivers or saves David from his enemies. The Hebrew word translated as “high tower” is “misgab” and it means a high place, refuge, a secure height, a retreat, or a stronghold.
Application: King David was not the only recipient of these characteristics of the LORD God, but every believer down through the centuries also had access to these protective aspects of the LORD’s character, as does every believer alive today. The only thing that is required to receive all that the LORD wants to give His children is faith in the promises of the LORD and a deep love for Him. “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” Luke 10:27 So it is commanded to love the LORD, plain and simple. When believers love Him with everything they have and do not make Him second to the things of life in this world, He works miracles. They are secure.
Verse 3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
One of the reasons King David was called a man after God’s own heart is because of his humble attitude before the LORD. He knew where his strength came from and he was not too proud to call upon the LORD who would save him from his enemies, and he was not negligent in praising the LORD both privately and publicly. He was a grateful man and his trust was not in his own power or in the power of others.
Application: King David declares that he will qara or call/cry out to the LORD. This is not how most leaders of nations behave as they are full of pride and self adulation and they cannot humble themselves before the LORD and they cannot even admit that He exists and is active in the affairs of mankind. They are deceitfully wicked, they serve their father, the Devil, and they engage in wars and other acts of evil using their citizens as pawns in their political games of intrigue.
Verses 4-5 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. 5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
Here King David admits that he had fear because of the danger he was in as King Saul was hunting him all over the countryside. He faced death many times and he saw some of his soldiers die during battles. He was no stranger to physical death. He was, like the LORD Jesus, acquainted with sorrows and the threat of physical death was always before him. The word, “prevented”, does not mean to keep something from happening, but it means to go before.
Application: King David likens the ungodly men threatening him to floods. The Hebrew word translated as “floods” is “nachal” and it means a torrent, a valley, or a stream bed. Do you ever feel like the world is flooded by ungodly men and women: men and women in media, in the governments, in the schools, in the professions, in the military, in the medical profession, and so forth? Does it seem that righteous men and women cannot be found. Well, these times are the end of the end times and Bible prophecy must be fulfilled. The Apostle Paul warned in his epistle to Timothy, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:13 So no, it is not your imagination that the world is falling apart and that the people in it are getting worse and worse with the passing of each day. Come LORD Jesus.
Verse 6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
The Hebrew word translated as “distress” is “tsar” and it means distress, straits, or oppressor, and it has the connotation of one being in a narrow place or situation where there is no wiggle room. When King David felt that there was no way out he cried out to the LORD for help and after he did, he had that peace that passeth all understanding and the assurance that the LORD had heard him and would come to his aid. He states that God “heard”. And as a result, David received deliverance.
Application: It is an amazing miracle that the God of Creation hears his children when they cry out to him, when they speak to Him in prayer and in supplication, and that He treats them like a friend who sticks closer than a brother. King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 18:24 that “…there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother,” and that friend is the LORD Jesus Christ who is God manifested in the flesh. A pastor friend used to say that it is not difficult to get answers to prayer, but it is difficult to get people to pray. Think about it.
Verse 7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
God heard King David’s voice and He then took action as described in this verse and the verses following. What is happening is in the spiritual realm which we cannot see, but David is given some insight from the LORD and has written this Psalm as a result. Although David is describing the spiritual realm, there are some parallels to what Jesus Christ experienced when on this Earth as both God and man. And some of the spiritual activity may flow down to the Earth.
God gets angry, and when He is angry, things happen in and on the Earth as a result. King David wrote above that the earth shook and trembled which is a description of an earthquake. The hills moving can also be part of an earthquake or it can be referring to the spiritual moving of obstacles. Jesus told his disciples that they could move mountains, but Scripture does not record any of them moving mountains physically. And to this writer’s knowledge, no believer has physically moved a mountain. “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith” Mark 11:23 This is figurative, the mountain representing an obstacle or problem. It is not a real hill or mountain because the verse says “those things” and ends with “he shall have whatsoever he saith” instead of “he shall have that mountain moved.” The “those things” and the “whatsoever” is that which is being prayed for. So as a result of David’s cry to the LORD, action was initiated in the heavenly realm which may or may not have been felt on Earth.
Application: There is a battle going on in the spiritual realm that mankind has no knowledge or understanding of but that is spoken about in Scripture. When the Prophet Daniel prayed, an angel appeared to him and stated that Daniel’s prayer was heard at the first but that he had been delayed in coming by the king of Persia. See Daniel 10:12. That king was not a man but an evil spirit and most likely Satan himself doing battle with the angel of the LORD to try and hinder him from appearing to Daniel. So from Scripture we know that battles are being fought in the heavenlies where mankind cannot see or hear.
Verses 8-15 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. 9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. 10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. 12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire. 13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. 14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. 15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.
The words used in the verses above show a word picture of an angry God and of judgement and destruction of the wicked. Smoke, fire, devoured, coals kindled, darkness, wind, dark waters, thick clouds, hail stones, arrows, lightnings all describe destruction. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31 All of this action taken by the LORD is occurring as a result of David’s prayer and in the spiritual realm where mankind cannot see, but the devils can, and they would be alarmed. Through the Spirit of prophecy, King David could write the words above describing the awesome power and might of the LORD.
Application: It is no wonder that Satan does not want God’s people to pray. Prayer has power and evil spirits understand this power and are afraid of it and of the people of God who use prayer to intercede in things of this world. Evil spirits will use everything they can to hinder believers from praying. Interruptions such as phone calls or an unexpected visitor, critter problems or work related events that arise are just a few of the things that hinder believers from having time to pray. For this writer, fatigue and drowsiness is a major interruption of good intentions to have a solid prayer life. Even trying to schedule a specific time during each day to seek the LORD in prayer like the Prophet Daniel did does not seem to work. Can you relate? So uttering short prayers throughout the day seems to work best at this point. Praying while doing the dishes or driving the car provides uninterrupted time to talk to the Creator of the Earth and seems to have less distractions. The important thing is to recognize that prayer moves the powers of Heaven and God reacts to the prayers of His people. It is the Christian’s weapon of spiritual warfare.
Verses 16-19 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. 17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. 18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. 19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
When King David felt like he was ‘drowning’ in troubles and being defeated by his enemies who hated him and who were applying all their strength and energy to destroy him, the LORD was his support (stay) and He brought David through all of the trouble and tribulation, and as David says, He took him out of the narrow place that seemed to have no way out and placed him in a broad or roomy place of safety. Why? Because God loved King David and was pleased with him.
Application: These verse are prophetic of what the LORD Jesus Christ experinced while ministering on this Earth. Over and over again Satan and the Jews tried to kill him, but He miraculously was delivered, starting when just a baby and being hunted by King Herod, to just before his arrest and murder. He was delivered from them who hated Him. They went before Him (prevented) in His travels and ministry and attempted to stir up the people against Him. But Jesus was continually delivered until He had fulfilled prophecy and the will of His Father.
Verses 20-24 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 22 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. 23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. 24 Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
Here King David states that because of his righteousness (in that he kept the law of God and was obedient to Him) the LORD rewarded him. The Hebrew word translated as “rewarded” is “gamal” and it means to deal bountifully with, to repay, or to recompense.
Remember that King David is a type of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. Because as much as was humanly possible, he followed after the ways of the LORD and did not transgress. However, the verses above are also prophetic of Jesus Christ. He was/is the only one who had/has clean hands as He was without sin. He kept and fulfilled all the law and the prophets. He never gave in to the flesh, the world, or the Devil. He was/is God, very God, who wore a robe of flesh and so was/is also fully man. Now in that resurrected body, He is in Heaven and all things have been put under his authority.
Verses 25-27 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; 26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. 27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
King David goes on to state that with what a man thinks and does, so the LORD will recompense. To those who show mercy or who are kind, benevolent, and not seeking revenge He will be merciful and forgive. To those who are upright or who have integrity, the LORD will reveal himself with the same integrity. To those who are pure or clean from sin and rebellion against Him, the LORD will deal with in a pure manner and be just and kind. But to those who are froward (twisted, distorted, crooked, perverse, or perverted), the LORD will recompense them after the manner of their character and behavior. Basically, those who are following the LORD and demonstrating His character traits will be blessed, but those not following the LORD but demonstrating character traits of their father, the Devil, the LORD will judge and give to them that which they are giving to others and they will not be blessed. This is the principle of reaping and sowing. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also resp.” Galatians 6:7 It is a promise. Furthermore, the LORD will save those who are afflicted, poor, humble, wretched, needy and weak. It is a promise.
Verses 28-29 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. 29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. 31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? 32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. 33 He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places. 34 He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. 35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. 36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip. 37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. 38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet. 39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. 40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. 41 They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. 42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets. 43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me. 44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. 45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places. 46 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. 47 It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. 48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. 49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. 50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.