Notes on Psalm 18

(Psa 18:1) 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, I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.

David sure knew how to worship the Lord. He acknowledged God in everything he did and in every event in his life. Yet there are times when we saw that David strayed. Every time David strayed away from God and yielded to temptation, he paid dearly for the lapse. His whole life was wrecked because of the sin of adultery. Yet David was a man that was quick to repent. His heart was grieved by his own failure and sin. He was a man to change and seek God.

This is where most of us fail. When we sin, we fail to repent and get our hearts renewed into the fellowship with God. David was said to be a man after God's own heart. This is because first, he loved God, he sought God and when he sinned, he made it right or he repented and restored his fellowship with God.

God knows that we are prone to sin. That is why He sent us a savior to save us from sin. If we sin after coming to that savior, there is still a way to restore fellowship with Him and that is to repent. All He asks us to do is believe in the one He sent, Jesus Christ and repent of sin. If we sin again, repent. Repent means to change or turn around. If we are going the wrong way, turn around and go back toward God and obey His word.

This is what David did continually. He sought God all the time. He worshipped continually and when he failed, he repented when the sin was pointed out to him.

Our sin must be pointed out. This can be accomplished by reading the word of God He provided for us. The bible. It also can be accomplished by attending a good bible believing church where the pastor is anointed by the Lord to preach the word of God. It may be accomplished by a friend God uses to tell us where we messed up.

We should never allow sin to keep us from God. We need God daily. If we sin, make it right at once. We never should stay in that state for the fruits of sin bring forth death.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

(Psa 18:2) 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.

(Psa 18:3) I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

Here we see worship in truth. David is praising the Lord for being His rock, deliverer and fortress.

A rock is something very solid. Jesus is sometimes described as our solid rock. The Lord is our strength. We are very weak without the Lord. In fact, we are helpless as babes without the Lord, our strength.

A horn on an animal is a weapon of defense. The Lord is the defense of all who trust in Him. A buckler is a shield or another means of defense. A high tower is yet another defense mechanism. How wonderful to serve a God that protects us in this way.

(Psa 18:4) The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

Seems here that people were dying or the threat of death was near to David. This did happen many times. Ungodly men were after his life. Saul at this time had fallen away from the fellowship of God and was envious of David. This spirit of envy consumed Saul so much that he sought David's life.

Had Saul recognized that he had sinned and God was removing him from being king, he might have escaped his fate. Had he repented and cared more for his fellowship with God than his being king, he might have been restored to being king. At any rate it would have been better to have stepped aside and yielded to the will of God rather than rebel and be killed in battle the way he did. He cared more for losing his throne than losing His God.

(Psa 18:5) The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

This actually sounds like the distress of a lost soul on their way to hell. He probably felt that way when his own former friend was seeking his life. David was a man that felt that once someone was his friend, he kept that friend for life. He was faithful in his friendship to others and it must have hurt him deeply to see Saul come after him to take his life.

(Psa 18:6) 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.

(Psa 18:7) Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.

This is the way God responds to those who defy His will and goes so far as to persecute the innocent. Those who persecute God's people will suffer God's wrath more than any others. The only escape is to repent and turn to God for forgiveness and salvation through the one He provided to give that salvation, His own Son, Jesus Christ.

(Psa 18:8) There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

(Psa 18:9) He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.

(Psa 18:10) And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

(Psa 18:11) He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

(Psa 18:12) At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.

(Psa 18:13) The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.

(Psa 18:14) Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.

(Psa 18:15) 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.

We can't see this with our natural eyes but God is actually moved when His people are persecuted. He does react in this manner. This is why it is vital to fear God more than man. Man cannot save the soul, man cannot give you eternal life, man's approval is only temporary. God is for eternity.

It may seem like the enemy gets away with evil, but they do not and they will not. Some day the terrorists will be judged by almighty God for the thousands who died on Sept 11, 2001. Hitler will stand before the judgment seat of God and be judged for the millions he had slaughtered during the Holocaust. Saddam will stand before the judgment seat of God one day for the evil he did. I believe though that even greater judgment awaits those that hurt the ones who are preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

To reject the gospel and hurt those that bring the gospel is one of the worst things possible. The reason is that Jesus Christ went through pain and suffering in order to pay for the sins of all human beings past and present. He made that final sacrifice on our behalf so that we can inherit eternal life. If after allowing our old filthy sins to come into His own body on the cross and suffering such agony, we reject that sacrifice there remains no other way of salvation. On top of that, if we kill or hurt those that bring to us that message of salvation, we will be judged along with Hitler, Stalin and all other terrorists. We may think it is over at natural death, but that is only the beginning. Hell is for eternity. There is no escape. We can, however, escape that now by believing on Jesus Christ.

(Psa 18:16) He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

(Psa 18:17) He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.

(Psa 18:18) They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

(Psa 18:19) He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

(Psa 18:20) The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

God will surely reward those that seek His righteousness and hate sin. We can come to God for cleansing of sin and be rewarded eternally. God wants us to seek Him and be free from sin. God wants us to have eternal life. He will be with those that believe in Him forever.

(Psa 18:21) For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

This should be our determination. To keep the ways of the Lord and not depart from Him.

(Psa 18:22) For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.

Those that truly love the Lord will not depart from His word.

(Psa 18:23) I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

Reject sin daily and refuse to allow it back into your life after Jesus has set you free from sin.

(Psa 18:24) Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

The more you reject sin and cleave to God the more His Spirit dwells within your life.

(Psa 18:25) With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;

Show mercy and you will receive mercy. Show unforgiveness and you will receive unforgiveness.

Give and it shall be given unto you.

(Psa 18:26) With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

The law of reaping and sowing are still in place. If you do wrong to others you will get the same back again. If you show kindness, it will be shown to you. Froward is a reluctance to do what is right or fair. It is a type of disobedience.

(Psa 18:27) For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

Pride is the very thing that God resists. An humble spirit is needed when we seek God.

Jam 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Jam 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

(Psa 18:28) For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

His word will light our pathway and we shall not walk in darkness. It is up to us not to neglect His word but let it be our meditation day and night.

Psa 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

What a glorious hope and comfort to know that the Lord will guide us. We can be assured of this and take comfort.

(Psa 18:29) For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

There are many times when we feel this way. When the Lord brings strength, we will feel like running and leaping and jumping.

Have you ever been to a football game and your favorite teams makes a touchdown or better yet, wins the game? You will see people leaping, yelling and jumping up and down. Is not the Lord greater than a touchdown. Should we not leap for joy at His presence?

(Psa 18:30) 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.

He is this and more. His way is perfect. His word is perfect.

Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Joh 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

The word converts the soul and makes it alive. To be without the word is death. The word makes alive and quickens the soul. Jesus is the word.

(Psa 18:31) For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?

(Psa 18:32) It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

Some times people mistake the blessings of God for just material things and success in this life. If we believe this, we miss out on some very important truth. The way God makes one perfect is through spiritual blessings, spiritual strength and making alive a soul that was dead in trespasses and sin. Conversion to Jesus Christ actually makes the soul alive with God's spirit and presence. You are no longer dead. This is a foretaste of the actual physical resurrection that will take place at the coming of Jesus Christ back to the earth.

(Psa 18:33) He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

(Psa 18:34) He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

(Psa 18:35) 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.

(Psa 18:36) Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

(Psa 18:37) I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

(Psa 18:38) I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.

(Psa 18:39) For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

(Psa 18:40) Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.

(Psa 18:41) They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.

(Psa 18:42) Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

(Psa 18:43) 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.

(Psa 18:44) As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

(Psa 18:45) The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.

(Psa 18:46) The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

(Psa 18:47) It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.

(Psa 18:48) 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.

(Psa 18:49) Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.

(Psa 18:50) Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

If we continue in the faith steadfast unto the end, we shall see victory over all enemies of Jesus Christ and victory over the enemies of those who believe. This will occur at the coming of Jesus with a army from heaven.

We may not see this in our present time, yet sometimes God will allow us to see these things.

The physical triumph over enemies is something that God will take care of at the coming of Christ. We are not to lift up a sword against enemies of the gospel. We are to preach the gospel into all the world with humility and love. We are not to use force or harm any that oppose the gospel. God is the one that will bring vengeance. We are not to lift up our hand against any.

There are times when we may have to fight in a physical war for our country. If our country is in the right, we need to pray for victory. That is what David did and God was with him when he was in the right. If our hearts are not right, we cannot expect victory in battle.

I am pointing out however, that when it comes to spreading the word of God and preaching the gospel, we are not to do it with force and violence but in love and meekness. Until Jesus comes, our job is to spread the gospel, hoping to save as many as we can from eternal hell.

We do battle spiritual warfare all the time. We can get victory of spiritual enemies. Satan tries constantly to cause us to lose our faith in God and our spiritual victory. This we must resist in faith trusting in God.

There have been religions in the past who thought that they could lift up a sword in the name of the Lord and physically harm those that disagree. This we must not do. Only God can do this.

Heb 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

2Th 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
2Th 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
2Th 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
2Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
2Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2Th 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
2Th 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

Spread the gospel of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and let God take care of those who refuse to believe or who persecute you.

Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

To all the faithful in Christ Jesus, blessings and honor, to all who refuse to believe in God's greatest gift to all mankind, there will be no other salvation and judgment will fall upon you.

Remember most of all that we are to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves until the coming of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 19

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