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Psalm 18
(Psalms 18 KJV) "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. {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. {3}
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be
saved from mine enemies. {4} 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.
{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. {7} Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of
the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. {8} 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. {16} 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.
{20} 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.
This is a marvelous poetic description of an aroused Father using every
weapon in his arsenal to protect and avenge his child. Historically, there
was nothing literally like this in David’s experiences. Unless it is
somehow prophetic of the last days and the Messiah, it has to be seen as a
good example of poetic imagery in describing God’s intervention.
{25} With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; with an
upright man thou wilt show thyself upright; {26} With the pure thou wilt
show thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt show thyself froward.
This is a stunning revelation. Men often encounter a God who matches
their personality. It explains, perhaps, God’s violence toward violent
men.
{27} For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down
high looks. {28} 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 showeth mercy to
his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore."
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