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 or beneficiary 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 reap.” 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.
The Hebrew word translated as “light” is “owr” and it means to be or become light, to shine, to become bright, to give light, to light up, or to lighten. The Hebrew word translated as “candle” is “niyr” and it means lamp or candle. The Hebrew word translated as “LORD” is “Yahovah” which means the existing One. The Hebrew word translated as “God” is “elohiym” and it is plural which means it is speaking about the plurality of God who manifests as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost/Spirit. The Hebrew word translated as “darkness” is “choshek” and it means darkness, obscurity, or secret place. King David is confident that the LORD will guide him and care for him no matter what trouble and difficulty may come his way. He is fully trusting in the LORD his God.
Application: Again, these verses are prophetic in that Jesus Christ is the Light of this world and He came to Earth to enlighten His people (all who believe in Him). He brought light (knowledge, hope, salvation) into a world dark with sin and under the bondage of Satan and religious dogma. He physically healed the bind so they could see and He figuratively healed the blind, spiritual eyes of people so that they could see and understand the Gospel message of salvation. When Jesus was on this Earth He was both Father living in a body of flesh as the only begotten Son, and He gave His Holy Ghost/Spirit to His people at his death on the cross. He gave His people power to overcome enemies (the flesh, the world, and the Devil). So by Him converted Christian believers can defeat the army of Satan and leap for joy as no walls (figurative) can come against them that they cannot break down through faith and with the help and power of the Holy Ghost/Spirit. Praise the LORD! “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” Isaiah 9:2 “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” Luke 2:30-32
Verse 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.
Unlike the ways of mankind, God’s way is complete and entirely in accord with truth and integrity. His Word can be tested and found to always be true. The LORD is a shield to His people. He protects them from the fiery darts of the enemy.
Verses 31-34 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.
God is the existing One. He is the Almighty. He is the rock upon which the faith of believers is built and therefore is the firm foundation. God gave King David the strength to be mighty in war and a capable and upright leader of the people of Israel. God gave King David feet that were sure like a deer’s and that were on the path God wanted him to take both in peace and in war. God gave David the high ground in relation to his enemies so that he was victorious. God often gave Kind David the battle plan before he confronted enemy armies. King David knew that any successes he had had was because of the leading of the LORD.
Application: This writer lives with deer. They have a constant presence, and over the years I have learned how they think, how they communicate, and how their social structure works. Most evident is their paths through my property. They establish them and use them over and over again. Even when snow covers all traces of their paths, they will still stay on them somehow. They rarely deviate. Amazingly, they always choose their paths so that they are covering the best and easiest way to travel over the uneven ground, the rocks and the forest barriers. They know the safest routes. If I want to walk around with ease, I go on their paths. If I go my own way, I have found that my way is harder to travel. King David, referring to his feet in metaphor for his walk or his way of going, compares them to deer feet. He had learned that the path God had for him was the best and easiest way to go, and that if he went his way in his chosen direction, things would be much harder. He had learned to follow after the LORD as a deer has learned to keep to the path that works best. Likewise, Christian believers need to follow the path that the LORD gives them through this physical life on Earth, knowing that even when the rocks, the uneven ground, or the forest barriers of this world try to divert them, they are safe and secure in their walk when they keep their eyes on Jesus and follow after Him.
Verses 35-36 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.
Application: A shield was a barrier between a soldier’s chest or vital organs and the weapons of the enemy. Before gun powder and other weapons of warfare that did not require face to face combat, a shield was often the only thing between a soldier and death. King David would have been proficient in handling a shield and a spear and other weapons of war used in his day and he would have understood its significance. Here he states that the LORD has given him God’s shield of salvation. So what is the shield that God gives to his children? “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Ephesians 6:16 So spiritually, the shield the LORD gives is faith. Faith is a gift. It does not come naturally. It is natural for mankind to doubt and not have faith. But every converted Christian believer had to have enough faith to believe that salvation can only come through Jesus Christ and His shed blood on Calvary. The Christian lives and walks each day by faith in Jesus Christ and the promise of eternal salvation in Heaven. So the shield of faith was given to David and is given to all who believe in the LORD Jesus Christ.
The right hand of God in Scripture denotes power and authority. It was through the power of the LORD that King David was victorious and could rise above all the problems he faced continually in his life. Yet even when King David sinned against the LORD, he was forgiven and his relationship was restored with the LORD because He was gentle with David and loved him.
The Hebrew word translated as “enlarged” is “rachab” and it means to be or grow wide, grow large, be widened, be enlarged, or a roomy pasture. So King David describes his steps as being on a path that the LORD enlarges so that he cannot go off the path. It is like the difference between hiking a trail that is very narrow with a drop off on one or both sides to a trail that is wide enough for a jeep to traverse. Obviously, the wider trail will make the hiker feel more secure and make hiking easier and safer.
Application: Metaphorically, the LORD makes spiritual paths for His children that are wide and easy to travel down. For example, all people experience trouble and sadness in their earthly lives and those without Jesus are without hope and often have difficulty knowing how to cope with circumstances that they cannot control. The Christian believer, on the other hand, will experience just as much trouble and sadness in their earthly lives but since they are walking by faith in the Spirit of Jesus Christ they have an advocate, a counselor, a guide, and a remedy for their circumstances that is controlled by the LORD and so they can simply, by faith, trust in the promises of the LORD and wait upon Him to intervene in all their troubles and to bring joy into their lives.
Verses 37-42 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.
The Hebrew word translated as “pursued” is “radaph” and it means to be behind, follow after, pursue, put to flight, or to chase. King David at the direction of the LORD engaged the enemy, put them to flight, and then chased after them until he had the victory. He did not quit until the battle was completely won and the enemy vanquished so that they could not rise up again against him and against the people of Israel. He acknowledges that he was able to do so because the LORD gave him the strength to stay in the battle and that it was the LORD that gave him victory over his enemies. Even when these enemies cried out to the LORD for help, God was on King David’s side. David is not bragging here about his physical skills or his military strategy as a warrior king, but is simply describing what he was able to do with the help of his LORD God.
Application: Every Christian believer has the same LORD and Saviour as King David had during his earthly life. There is no reason that each Christian cannot be victorious against the enemy. Who is the enemy of the Christian? It isn’t the world’s governments or military or police or political parties, earthly institutions, criminals, technology, or germs to name a few. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12 The battle is with evil spirits (fallen angels) who inhabit people, especially those people who are in high places like governments, courts, universities, religious organizations, medical facilities, and even many Christian churches. Because each Christian has the Holy Ghost/Spirit of Jesus Christ living or dwelling inside of them, every Christian has the ability to fight these enemies and to be victorious just as King David was victorious. The problem is most people calling themselves Christian are not wrestling. They are sitting back and expecting others such as their pastor to do the battling for them. But today’s Christians need to gird up their loins and set their minds, their wills, and their emotions on winning against Satan and his army. They need to be like King David and pursue or chase after the enemy, overtake them and not turn again until they are consumed. The powers of darkness need to be wounded by Christians so that they cannot rise up and inflict their evil on others. It is time for Christians to take spiritual warfare seriously and spend as much time as possible praying against these evil forces and expecting victory through the blood of Jesus Christ. It is time to be like King David.
Verses 43-45 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.
As God gave King David victories over both the people of the nation Israel and over heathen armies and nations, he became their ruler and they became submissive to him. However, this passage also is prophetic of Jesus Christ. He was delivered many times from the strivings (strife, controversy, disputes) of the people and the religious leaders and scribes. He became the head of the Church and as such, the Gentiles heard the Gospel message through the Apostle Paul and other apostles and disciples and they became servants of the LORD Jesus Christ. All they had to do was hear Him speak and they wanted to follow Him. “As he spake these words, may believed on him.” John 8:30 Strangers who heard both Jesus speak and later the apostles preach submitted themselves to the lordship of Jesus. And remember that Jesus was the son of King David through the line of both Mary and His custodian father, Joseph. Jesus was/is the fulfillment of the promise God gave to King David that there would always be a son of his on the throne of Israel. Since the earthly nation of Israel is no more as Jesus pronounced it to be desolate, the Israel of God today is the Church and all Christian believers from every nation, tribe, and tongue. Jesus Christ is sitting on the throne in Heaven and is the corner stone of His spiritual Temple and each believer is a lively stone in that spiritual Temple. Jesus Christ is the Temple. He said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John 2:19 He was referring to his physical body which was killed and placed in a tomb for three days before rising up from the dead. Scripture states clearly that on the last day when Jesus Christ returns to this Earth to judge and to destroy the wicked, every knee will bow to Him and that includes those who have rejected Jesus as their Saviour. “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” Romans 14:11 “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven, and thing in earth, and things under the earth.” Philippians 2:10
Verses 46-50 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.
Application: The difference between Christianity, which is not a religion, and all the religions in the world is that our God is alive and active in the lives of His people. He is avenging, subduing, and delivering us from our enemies (sin, death, and Hell, and the powers of darkness). All other religions follow gods who are not alive. As such, the LORD should be exalted daily above all the other things in life that take our time, our treasure, and our hearts. He alone is to be worshipped. He alone is to be praised. He alone is to be thanked. He alone is to be held in high esteem. And just as He delivered King David, He will deliver those whose mind and hearts are stayed on Him. He will give the victory in this physical life and He will get His people from here to eternity safely because He loves us. Praise the LORD God Almighty. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3