Psalms 18
FBMeyerPsalms 18:1-26
a Wonderful Deliverance Psalms 18:1-26 There is another edition of this psalm in 2 Samuel 22:1-51. Psalms 18:2 and Psalms 18:49 are applied in the New Testament to the Lord Jesus, Hebrews 2:13 and Romans 15:9. We begin with the psalmist’ s good resolve, Psalms 18:1-3. No single metaphor can comprehend the whole of God’ s helpfulness to men; but can we say, “ I love thee” ? See John 21:17. “Thou knowest!” The story of the past, Psalms 18:4-19. We also have our Red Seas. In our distress let us also cry. The voice of the sufferer may be weak and solitary, but it reaches through the gates of pearl and moves creation! Luke 8:46. The confident claim of the righteous, Psalms 18:20-26. We cannot boast a righteousness of our own, but we stand in Christ. We are full of impurity and evil, but we may claim at least integrity of motive. Compare Psalms 18:26 with Leviticus 26:21-24. The wind blows in one direction; you can walk against it or with it-take your choice.
My rock and my fortressThere is another form of this Psalm on record–that in 2 Samuel 22:1-51. It recapitulates the deliverances of the past, and sets them to music. Psalms 18:2; Psalms 18:49 are quoted in New Testament as the words of the Lord Jesus (Hebrews 2:13; Romans 15:9).
Psalms 18:1-3A good resolve. How beautiful is this array of metaphors; as if no single one were forcible enough to set forth the many-sided glory of God. Faith puts its hand, my, on all that God is and claims it for its own. Can we not also say: “I LOVE Thee”? Not indeed as we would, yet we can take John 21:17 : “Thou knowest.” David’s word is a very intense one.
Psalms 18:4-19 The story of the past. It is good to recall God’s gracious dealings. David does it in poetical language, borrowed from the scenes of the Red Sea and Sinai. And yet there was so much of God’s gracious help in his life, that he was warranted in comparing it with the deliverance from Egypt. We, too, have our Red Seas. And God will do for us as much as for David. In our distress let us also cry. “Far up within the bejewelled walls, and through the gates of pearl, the cry of the sufferer will be heard.” My cry came before Him. The voice is thin and solitary, but the answer shakes creation.
Psalms 18:20-27 The claim of the righteous.The righteousness of which David boasted was not his own, for he was willing to admit that he was not free from impurity. Rather it indicates purity of motive and integrity of heart as contrasted with hypocrisy and wickedness. Compare Psalms 18:26 with Leviticus 26:21-24. Our character gives its shape to our thoughts of God.
Psalms 18:28-45 Joyful anticipation. God’s way is perfect and He maketh our way perfect. Walls and troops cannot oppose us, when God’s way lies through them, and we are on the line of his purpose. Swift and sure-footed in slippery places (Psalms 18:33). Strong in battle (Psalms 18:34). Oh, the gentleness of God! (Psalms 18:35). It has done more for us than severity. Instead of the word “gentleness” the Prayer-book version translates, “Thy loving correction.”
Psalms 18:46-50 The closing hallelujah. We must stint our words when we thank our fellows, lest we be extravagant. But mortal lips need never refrain themselves for fear of saying too much to God.
Psalms 18:27-50
Girded with Strength for Service Psalms 18:27-50 God’ s way is perfect, and if only we will walk with Him He will make ours perfect also. Walls and troops cannot stop a man when God leads him through them. We must follow on the line of His purpose, and then the very mountains are a way and our enemies subserve the program, Acts 2:23. Swift and sure-footed, when the path is slippery, Psalms 18:33; strong in battle, Psalms 18:34; great through God’ s gentle kindness, or, as the English Book of Common Prayer renders it, “ thy loving correction,” Psalms 18:35. Severity would never have done for the Apostles what Jesus did by His patience and long-suffering. The closing hallelujah of Psa 18:46-50 is very fine. It is the living Savior that we need. We must stint our words when we speak of men; but mortal lips, however eloquent, have never exhausted the worth of our King.
My rock and my fortressThere is another form of this Psalm on record–that in 2 Samuel 22:1-51. It recapitulates the deliverances of the past, and sets them to music. Psalms 18:2; Psalms 18:49 are quoted in New Testament as the words of the Lord Jesus (Hebrews 2:13; Romans 15:9).
Psalms 18:1-3A good resolve. How beautiful is this array of metaphors; as if no single one were forcible enough to set forth the many-sided glory of God. Faith puts its hand, my, on all that God is and claims it for its own. Can we not also say: “I LOVE Thee”? Not indeed as we would, yet we can take John 21:17 : “Thou knowest.” David’s word is a very intense one.
Psalms 18:4-19 The story of the past. It is good to recall God’s gracious dealings. David does it in poetical language, borrowed from the scenes of the Red Sea and Sinai. And yet there was so much of God’s gracious help in his life, that he was warranted in comparing it with the deliverance from Egypt. We, too, have our Red Seas. And God will do for us as much as for David. In our distress let us also cry. “Far up within the bejewelled walls, and through the gates of pearl, the cry of the sufferer will be heard.” My cry came before Him. The voice is thin and solitary, but the answer shakes creation.
Psalms 18:20-27 The claim of the righteous.The righteousness of which David boasted was not his own, for he was willing to admit that he was not free from impurity. Rather it indicates purity of motive and integrity of heart as contrasted with hypocrisy and wickedness. Compare Psalms 18:26 with Leviticus 26:21-24. Our character gives its shape to our thoughts of God.
Psalms 18:28-45 Joyful anticipation. God’s way is perfect and He maketh our way perfect. Walls and troops cannot oppose us, when God’s way lies through them, and we are on the line of his purpose. Swift and sure-footed in slippery places (Psalms 18:33). Strong in battle (Psalms 18:34). Oh, the gentleness of God! (Psalms 18:35). It has done more for us than severity. Instead of the word “gentleness” the Prayer-book version translates, “Thy loving correction.”
Psalms 18:46-50 The closing hallelujah. We must stint our words when we thank our fellows, lest we be extravagant. But mortal lips need never refrain themselves for fear of saying too much to God.