Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

Psalms 18

AN HYMN OF GRATITUDE

Verses 1-3:

David’s Resolution

This Is a Psalm of David when the Lord delivered him from the hand of Saul and all his enemies. And he said:

Verse 1 "I will love thee, O Lord, my strength;" He loved him with intense affection, from the inmost bowels, Jeremiah 31:20; 1 Samuel 30:6; Psalms 144:1. For He was David’s strength in seven ways of perfection:

Verses 2, 8 list the seven ways and one, even the Lord was David’s strength, the basis of his trust in praise to Him:

1) First, he was his rock, foundation, immovable, Deuteronomy 32:4; 1 Corinthians 3:11.

2) Second, he was his fortress, 2 Samuel 22:2; Psalms 81:3; Psalms 71:3; Psalms 91:2; Psalms 144:2.

3) Third, he was his deliverer, Psalms 40:17; Psalms 70:5; Romans 11:26.

4) Fourth, he was his God, Exodus 15:2; Psalms 18:6; Philippians 4:19.

5) Fifth, he was his strength, in whom he trusted, Hebrews 2:13; Exodus 15:2; Habakkuk 3:19.

6) Sixth, he was his buckler, Proverbs 2:7; 2 Samuel 22:31; Psalms 18:30.

7) Seventh, he was his horn of salvation, or honor, 2 Samuel 22:3, Luke 1:69.

8) Eighth, he was his high tower, 2 Samuel 22:3; Psalms 144:2.

He resolved therefore to call upon the Lord who was worthy to be praised, the "praised Lord," Nehemiah 9:5; Psalms 65:1-2; Psalms 76:4; Revelation 4:11; Revelation 5:12-14. He had learned that the "effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much," James 5:16.

Divine Intervention

Verses 4-19:

Verse 4 relates that David was stalked by the sorrows and shadows of death, as he was hunted and haunted by hatred of Saul, who had sought his death from his youth, Psalms 116:3. Like a death threatening flood-tide, ungodly men, men who knew not God, had encircled him to cause him to run, to tremble, and to dash from hiding place to hiding place, like a rabbit or fox close chased by a pack of hounds, Habakkuk 2:5; Psalms 38:19; Psalms 139:23; 2 Samuel 22:5; Isaiah 13:8; Isaiah 53:3-4; 2 Corinthians 1:9.

Verses 5, 6 add that the sorrows of hell (Sheol) or the grave encircled him, to prevent his escape. Death or hell (Hades) is presented as an hunter that lays or casts a snare-net or trap upon animals so that they can not escape. So had David’s enemies hounded and dogged his life. The sons of Belial, worthless men were ever pursuing the king of Israel, man of God, Deuteronomy 13:13; 2 Samuel 23:6. From his distress, imminent danger and tormenting fear, he cried aloud to "my God," his Lord. Then he recounted that his God heard him from the temple, where He pledged to be always available to hear those who cried to Him from an honest and obedient heart, 2 Chronicles 7:14-15; Isaiah 6:1-9; Matthew 18:20; Hebrews 10:25.

Verse 7 begins to relate God’s appearance in a great wind storm, through which his might is unveiled, through verse 19. At His appearance the earth "shook and trembled." The foundations of the hills shook from beneath, "because he was wroth," with his persecutors. How much more should men tremble at the presence of God’s word and spirit when they are confronted with rebellion against God, owner and ruler of the universe and their lives, Matthew 27:45-51; Romans 14:11-12; Philippians 2:10-11.

Verses 8, 9 assert that out of God’s spread or angry nostrils went out and up an expansion of smoke, and a billow of flames of fire shot forth from His mouth, as if kindled by coals. He also bowed the heavens, and this fury of His anger came forth as He descended in clouds upon the wicked. And darkness, dark clouds, were under His feet, as He strode forth spewing His wrath on His enemies, Isaiah 64:1; Joel 3:16; Matthew 24:29; Hebrews 12:26.

Verse 10 adds that God came riding upon a cherubim, a chariot of God, and he did fly, in rapidity of speed on the wings of the wind, as described 1 Chronicles 28:18; Psalms 99:1; Psalms 104:3.

Verse 11 restates the idea of v.9 that he made darkness to be His secret or hiding place, His retreat, as He put darkness "under His feet." His encircling pavilion of judgment wrath about Him was dark waters and thick clouds, from which lightning, thunder, water, and hail were to fall, v.12-14; Psalms 97:2.

Verses 12, 13 relate that at the explosive brightness of His judgment the thick black clouds gave off hail stones and coals of fire, flames of lightning. He thundered as Lord Highest of the heavens and at the sound of His voice, His beacon call hail stones and coals of fire belched forth upon the earth, as described Psalms 29:3; Psalms 78:47; Psalms 48; Exodus 9:23-24; Joshua 10:11.

Verses 14, 15 continue a description of God’s judgment upon David’s enemies. He sent out "His arrows" and scattered, confused, and dispersed them. He shot out His lightnings from the clouds and blinded, scattered them in terror. At His word channels of water, furious torrents of destructive, rolling, foaming deathly waters were seen by the enemies of God; At the blast of God’s breath and flare of His nostrils the very foundations of the earth were uncovered, as at the flood, Psalms 144:6-7; Numbers 24:8; Deuteronomy 32:23; Deuteronomy 32:42; Job 6:4; Isaiah 30:30; Habakkuk 3:4.

Verses 16, 17 are David’s testimony that the Lord sent from above (angelic sentries) and drew him out of many waters, or hostile oppression, much as He preserved and drew Moses from the bulrushes and preserved him, a type of God’s oft repeated care of His own, Exodus 2:10; Psalms 34:7; Psalms 144:7. He adds that the Lord brought him forth out of and away from his enemies, into a large expansive place, no longer imprisoned, in hiding, or hemmed in. He delivered him, liberated him from his strong enemies who hated him. For they were too strong for David; without the Lord’s help David was overmatched; with the help of the omnipotent God his enemies were overmatched.

Verses 18, 19 relate that David’s enemies prevented him (surprised him) in the day of his calamity, when Saul camped at the opening of his cave with 3,000 soldiers, at which David referred to himself as a "dead dog" or a "flea," 1 Samuel 24:1-17. But the Lord brought him forth, even into a large place of honor arid responsibility and accountability, because He delighted in His servant David, Psalms 118:5.

David’s Reward

Verses 20-31:

Verses 20, 21 relate David’s experience of answered prayer and rewards from the Lord, in spite of his perils and trials. He asserted that the Lord had amply rewarded and vindicated him on the righteous basis of his personal conduct, according to the directions of the righteous laws of God. He certified that he had kept (in) the ways of the Lord, not departing from God, to the right hand or to the left, Joshua 1:5-9; 2 Samuel 22:21; Proverbs 18:10; Isaiah 49:4; Isaiah 62:11; Matthew 6:4; 1 Corinthians 3:8. Tho David had on occasion grievously sinned against God, he had not departed from Him, in the sense of renouncing Him. He repeatedly returned and found mercy, 1 John 1:8-9.

Verses 22, 23 add that David kept the judgments of the Lord before him and did not renounce his statutes, as a standard of right and wrong, even when he did or had done evil. He remained upright in attitude toward the Lord, continually guarding himself from his natural impulses toward lawlessness in both moral and ethical ways. His eyes repeatedly falling on the law of the Lord kept him from wandering too far away from God, Psalms 119:176. David witnessed that he was upright with the Lord, came directly to Him for help and forgiveness with his sins and problems, Genesis 17:1; Deuteronomy 18:13; 1 Kings 14:8; He acknowledged repeatedly that he needed God’s help to subdue corruption from breaking out in his own life, Psalms 17:4; 1 Samuel 24:4-7; 1 Samuel 26:23-24.

Verse 24 states that in view of David’s attitude of reverence for God and His law the "Lord recompensed" or repaid him for his upright behavior and righteous deeds that he did in the sight of the Lord, James 1:22. See also Ruth 2:12; 1 Samuel 26:23; Matthew 10:41-42; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10.

Verses 25, 26 declare that to those who show mercy, God will respond in showing or returning mercy toward them, 1Ki 8;32; Matthew 5:7. To the upright man, the one who stands up for truth and right, as a hero, God will sustain him, in or through all his trials or testings, as He did Joseph, Moses, Job, David, Daniel, the three Hebrew children and Paul through all his testings, to an heroic end, 2 Timothy 4:7-8. With the pure God shows Himself as pure, God responds to man in blessings or curses as man responds to the word and will of God in his choices and conduct of life, Leviticus 26:23-24; Deuteronomy ch. 32.

Verse 27 witnesses that God will save, deliver, or liberate the oppressed and the afflicted people, but He will also bring down or dethrone the proud, the haughty, and the one with an high look or looks, 2 Timothy 3:12; Luke 18:14.

Verses 28, 29 continues to exalt, extol the Lord, David said, "Thou who lightest my candle" or lamp, dost give me hope and prosperity, as promised and expressed Joshua 1:8-9; Job 18:5-6; Job 21:17. God’s past blessings on David and the righteous gave David a basis of faith and hope for the Lord’s enlightening his darkness in the future. For by the Lord, He had run or stormed through a troop of soldiers, overcome them in the past, by the strength of the Lord; He had leaped over, surmounted the walls, barriers of his enemies. In such assurance of Divine help he faced the future, Philippians 4:14; 2 Corinthians 2:14.

Verse 30 concludes that the way of God is perfect, even as He is perfect in nature, character, and all His deeds, Deuteronomy 32:4; Daniel 4:37; Romans 12:2; Revelation 15:3; Matthew 5:48. The word of the Lord is declared to be tried or tested, true, accurate, trustworthy, from the beginning, Psalms 12:6; Psalms 119:160; Proverbs 30:5. It is a buckler, trustworthy support to all those who trust in and lean on the Lord, Proverbs 3:3-5.

Verse 31 asks just who is God, save (except) the Lord, the Jehovah or who is a rock hiding place, or true found action and support for men, except the trinitarian or living God? The inferred answer is that none other truly exists, Exodus 20:1; 1 Corinthians 8:5-6; Ephesians 4:6.

Taught of God

Verses 32-50:

Verses 32, 33 relate David’s praise to God who continually girded and sustained him with strength and made his ways perfect, by His spirit, even as He is perfect, v. 30; Matthew 5:48. He added that the Lord caused his feet to be like the hind, of fleet movement in conquests, and set him up or exalted him upon his "high places," his places of administrative rule in Jerusalem and over all Israel, 2 Samuel 2:18; Habakkuk 3:19; Deuteronomy 32:13; Deuteronomy 33:29.

Verses 34-36 extol Jehovah God for teaching David’s hands to war, so that a bow of steel was broken, bent or stretched by his arms. His prowess in warfare he attributed to God alone, not to himself. He declared that God had given to him his shield of His salvation, and upheld him in battle by His own right hand of strength, so that His gentle care had made David to be great, as expressed in our salvation as a gift from God, warding off fiery darts of Satan, Ephesians 6:12-16. He is lowly, gentle toward His people, Isaiah 27:8; Isaiah 66:1-2; Hosea 11:1; Hosea 11:3-4; Deuteronomy 1:31; Deuteronomy 32:10-12; Matthew 11:28-30. David witnessed that the Lord had "enlarged his steps under him," cleared out or removed hindrances so that his feet did not slip or his ankles did not turn under him as he was in conflict with his enemies.

Verses 37, 38 add that it was God who helped him to pursue and overtake his enemies in flight, nor did he turn back until they were consumed or subdued, surrendered, in death or defeat. He stated that he had wounded them, as his and God’s enemies, as they fell at his feet and were not able to rise, even to this moment; as he acknowledged the Lord in all his battles and ways, Proverbs 3:3-5.

Verses 39-42 continue David’s praise to the Lord for girding in strength for battle, subduing those who rose up before him, giving him the necks of his enemies, that he might destroy those who hated him for his love for God, Ephesians 6:11-18. The enemies are described as crying, even to the Lord, when it was too late, as the rich man did from hell, Luke 16:25; See also Proverbs 1:22-30; Proverbs 29:1.
Verse 42 asserts that then, in their heathen like rebellion against God’s anointed, David did beat them fine as the dust before the wind and cast them to be trampled in humiliation in the streets. See Exodus 23:27; Joshua 7:8; 1 Chronicles 11:16-19; See further Job 27:9; Job 35:12-13; Proverbs 1:28; Isaiah 1:15; Jeremiah 11:11; Jeremiah 14:12; Ezekiel 8:18; Micah 3:4.

Verse 43-45 praise God for delivering David from the striving, clamoring of the masses, making him head over the heathen, a people he had now known, to serve as lord over them, Psalms 35:1. He expressed belief that as soon as they heard of him they would be glad to have him serve as king over them, as they voluntarily submitted to obey him, 2 Samuel 8:9-12; 2 Samuel 22:44. Even the strangers would "fade away," become faint, draw back from opposing David’s reign over them, Micah 7:17. Even so shall all men one day fall down in reverential submission to the judgeship of Jesus Christ, Romans 14:11-12; Philippians 2:10-11.

Verses 46, 47 witness that the Lord lived on, as a living, helping God, a rock of strength to David, even that rock, Jesus Christ the Messiah, 1 Corinthians 10:4; Jeremiah 10:10. He asked that God of his salvation be exalted. He added that it was the true, living God who avenged him of his enemies and subdued them under his feet, even as our Lord shall one day triumph over all the earth in His glorious reign in the restitution of all things to the Father, Acts 3:19-21; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28.

Verse 48 recounts David’s testimony that God continuously, without interruption, delivered him from his enemies, continually exalting him above and over those who arose as insurrectionists against him, in his own kingdom, even delivering him from the violent man, the man who sought his life, be it Saul, Absalom, or other of his enemies, Psalms 59:1.

Verse 49 concludes that out of gratitude for the Lord’s delivering and protecting care over him he would sing praises to the living God, and give thanks before and among the heathen, for his name, honor, merited gratitude and praise, Romans 15:9. In praising men one may exaggerate, stretch the truth, but not in praising God. His excellence in character and deed always excel our ability of praise to Him, Deuteronomy 32:43; Psalms 117:1. These passages indicate that salvation was then, is now, and will always be for the heathen, for all gentiles, as well as all Jews who will trust in the Redeemer, Acts 10:43; Romans 1:16.

Verse 50 summarizes David’s praise of this Psalm in declaring that He (God) continually gives great deliverance to His King, even to David, showing mercy continuously to David, His anointed and to his seed for evermore, even to the coming of Jesus Christ as Redeemer at his first advent, Luke 1:30-34; And as the restorer of all the universe to harmony with God the Father at His second advent, Romans 8:16-26.