Psalm 18 is a long psalm about praising God for his deliverance. David declares that he called out to God (v. 3); he describes his situation out of which he needed deliverance (vv. 4-5); and he declares that God answered his petition (v 6).<\/p>\n
\n\nI called to the Lord<\/span>, who is worthy of praise,<\/p>\n
and I was delivered from my enemies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Now David describes his situation (vv 4-5), and again he uses the language of metaphor and imagery. Four times, count them, he was on the verge of being lost: death, chaos, Sheol, and death.<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n
<\/span><\/font><\/div>\n\n<\/p>\nThe waves of death<\/b> engulfed me,<\/p>\n
the currents of chaos<\/b> overwhelmed me.<\/p>\n
The ropes of Sheol<\/b> tightened around me,<\/p>\n
the snares of death<\/b> trapped me.<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
So David testifies again that it was out of that situation that God delivered him, but v. 6 is more complete than v 3, though they are both saying much the same thing. This time he doubles up on his action and doubles up on God’s answering.<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n
<\/span><\/font><\/div>\n\n<\/p>\nIn my distress I called to the Lord<\/span>;<\/p>\n
I cried out to my God.<\/p>\n
From his heavenly temple he heard my voice;<\/p>\n
he listened to my cry for help.<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
<\/p>\n
Psalms 18<\/h1>\n
Psalm 18<\/div>\nFor the music director; by the Lord<\/span>‘s servant David, who sang to the Lord<\/span> the words of this song when the Lord<\/span> rescued him from the power of all his enemies, including Saul.<\/p>\n
18:1<\/span> He said:<\/p>\n
“I love you, Lord<\/span>, my source of strength!<\/p>\n
18:2<\/span> The Lord<\/span> is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer.<\/p>\n
My God is my rocky summit where I take shelter,<\/p>\n
my shield, the horn that saves me, and my refuge.<\/p>\n
18:3<\/span> I called to the Lord<\/span>, who is worthy of praise,<\/p>\n
and I was delivered from my enemies.<\/p>\n
18:4<\/span> The waves of death engulfed me,<\/p>\n
the currents of chaos overwhelmed me.<\/p>\n
18:5<\/span> The ropes of Sheol tightened around me,<\/p>\n
the snares of death trapped me.<\/p>\n
18:6<\/span> In my distress I called to the Lord<\/span>;<\/p>\n
I cried out to my God.<\/p>\n
From his heavenly temple he heard my voice;<\/p>\n
he listened to my cry for help.<\/p>\n
18:7<\/span> The earth heaved and shook;<\/p>\n
the roots of the mountains trembled;<\/p>\n
they heaved because he was angry.<\/p>\n
18:8<\/span> Smoke ascended from his nose;<\/p>\n
fire devoured as it came from his mouth;<\/p>\n
he hurled down fiery coals.<\/p>\n
18:9<\/span> He made the sky sink as he descended;<\/p>\n
a thick cloud was under his feet.<\/p>\n
18:10<\/span> He mounted a winged angel and flew;<\/p>\n
he glided on the wings of the wind.<\/p>\n
18:11<\/span> He shrouded himself in darkness,<\/p>\n
in thick rain clouds.<\/p>\n
18:12<\/span> From the brightness in front of him came<\/p>\n
hail and fiery coals.<\/p>\n
18:13<\/span> The Lord<\/span> thundered in the sky;<\/p>\n
the sovereign One shouted.<\/p>\n
18:14<\/span> He shot his arrows and scattered them,<\/p>\n
many lightning bolts and routed them.<\/p>\n
18:15<\/span> The depths of the sea were exposed;<\/p>\n
the inner regions of the world were uncovered<\/p>\n
by your battle cry, Lord<\/span>,<\/p>\n
by the powerful breath from your nose.<\/p>\n
18:16<\/span> He reached down from above and took hold of me;<\/p>\n
he pulled me from the surging water.<\/p>\n
18:17<\/span> He rescued me from my strong enemy,<\/p>\n
from those who hate me,<\/p>\n
for they were too strong for me.<\/p>\n
18:18<\/span> They confronted me in my day of calamity,<\/p>\n
but the Lord<\/span> helped me.<\/p>\n
18:19<\/span> He brought me out into a wide open place;<\/p>\n
he delivered me because he was pleased with me.<\/p>\n
18:20<\/span> The Lord<\/span> repaid me for my godly deeds;<\/p>\n
he rewarded my blameless behavior.<\/p>\n
18:21<\/span> For I have obeyed the Lord<\/span>‘s commands;<\/p>\n
I have not rebelled against my God.<\/p>\n
18:22<\/span> For I am aware of all his regulations,<\/p>\n
and I do not reject his rules.<\/p>\n
18:23<\/span> I was innocent before him,<\/p>\n
and kept myself from sinning.<\/p>\n
18:24<\/span> The Lord<\/span> rewarded me for my godly deeds;<\/p>\n
he took notice of my blameless behavior.<\/p>\n
18:25<\/span> You prove to be loyal to one who is faithful;<\/p>\n
you prove to be trustworthy to one who is innocent.<\/p>\n
18:26<\/span> You prove to be reliable to one who is blameless,<\/p>\n
but you prove to be deceptive to one who is perverse.<\/p>\n
18:27<\/span> For you deliver oppressed people,<\/p>\n
but you bring down those who have a proud look.<\/p>\n
18:28<\/span> Indeed, you are my lamp, Lord<\/span>.<\/p>\n
My God illuminates the darkness around me.<\/p>\n
18:29<\/span> Indeed, with your help I can charge against an army;<\/p>\n
by my God’s power I can jump over a wall.<\/p>\n
18:30<\/span> The one true God acts in a faithful manner;<\/p>\n
the Lord<\/span>‘s promise is reliable;<\/p>\n
he is a shield to all who take shelter in him.<\/p>\n
18:31<\/span> Indeed, who is God besides the Lord<\/span>?<\/p>\n
Who is a protector besides our God?<\/p>\n
18:32<\/span> The one true God gives me strength;<\/p>\n
he removes the obstacles in my way.<\/p>\n
18:33<\/span> He gives me the agility of a deer;<\/p>\n
he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain.<\/p>\n
18:34<\/span> He trains my hands for battle;<\/p>\n
my arms can bend even the strongest bow.<\/p>\n
18:35<\/span> You give me your protective shield;<\/p>\n
your right hand supports me;<\/p>\n
your willingness to help enables me to prevail.<\/p>\n
18:36<\/span> You widen my path;<\/p>\n
my feet do not slip.<\/p>\n
18:37<\/span> I chase my enemies and catch them;<\/p>\n
I do not turn back until I wipe them out.<\/p>\n
18:38<\/span> I beat them to death;<\/p>\n
they fall at my feet.<\/p>\n
18:39<\/span> You give me strength for battle;<\/p>\n
you make my foes kneel before me.<\/p>\n
18:40<\/span> You make my enemies retreat;<\/p>\n
I destroy those who hate me.<\/p>\n
18:41<\/span> They cry out, but there is no one to help them;<\/p>\n
they cry out to the Lord<\/span>, but he does not answer them.<\/p>\n
18:42<\/span> I grind them as fine windblown dust;<\/p>\n
I beat them underfoot like clay in the streets.<\/p>\n
18:43<\/span> You rescue me from a hostile army;<\/p>\n
you make me a leader of nations;<\/p>\n
people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects.<\/p>\n
18:44<\/span> When they hear of my exploits, they submit to me.<\/p>\n
Foreigners are powerless before me;<\/p>\n
18:45<\/span> foreigners lose their courage;<\/p>\n
they shake with fear as they leave their strongholds.<\/p>\n
18:46<\/span> The Lord<\/span> is alive!<\/p>\n
My protector is praiseworthy!<\/p>\n
The God who delivers me is exalted as king!<\/p>\n
18:47<\/span> The one true God completely vindicates me;<\/p>\n
he makes nations submit to me.<\/p>\n
18:48<\/span> He delivers me from my enemies;<\/p>\n
you snatch me away from those who attack me;<\/p>\n
you rescue me from violent men.<\/p>\n
18:49<\/span> So I will give you thanks before the nations, O Lord<\/span>!<\/p>\n
I will sing praises to you!<\/p>\n
18:50<\/span> He gives his chosen king magnificent victories;<\/p>\n
he is faithful to his chosen ruler,<\/p>\n
to David and his descendants forever.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Psalm 18 is a long psalm about praising God for his deliverance. David declares that he called out to God (v. 3); he describes his situation out of which he needed deliverance (vv. 4-5); and he declares that God answered his petition (v 6). It is give to give witness to one’s experience at the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-psalms"],"yoast_head":"\n
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