A Meditation on Psalm 18 – part one

This particular psalm is quoted twice in Scripture, making it a psalm of significance. Initially, it gives us a commentary on the life of David (see 2 Samuel 22), but then speaks for all saints of God who can testify to the blessedness of divine deliverance throughout their lives.

In the life of David, the lengthy title first sets this psalm at the turning point in his life: ‘in the day that the LORD delivered him … from the hand of Saul’. As it also includes ‘…from all enemies…’ indicates that the reality of the Lord’s deliverance was known on a much wider scale, throughout David’s life. To this point however, David had known much distress and trouble. He had been hunted. Many were against him. Life was lived in the shadow of death, but time and again, whenever David ‘called upon the LORD’, he could testify that ‘he heard my voice’ (v.6), acted (v.7-16) and ‘delivered me’ (v.17-19).

This deliverance happened in different ways at different times, not just before he was crowned king, but after, indeed, throughout his life – note that when this psalm is quoted in 2 Samuel 22, it comes right at the end of David’s life, as it were in summary, when the proof that David had been ‘brought forth into a large place’ (v.19), from the constraints of the distress and calamity, into a place of freedom and blessing as king (v.50) were visibly evident.

David knew that it was the LORD alone who had brought him through, and he loves Him for it: ‘I will love thee, O LORD’ (v.1). Therefore, this psalm is a victory psalm, praising the virtues of his God. He will do so in five ways, praising the LORD for His …

• Protection (v.1-3)
• Pity (v.4-6)
• Power (v.7-19)
• Purity (v.20-27)
• Provision (v.28-45)

… until he comes to a wonderful note of rejoicing and praise at the end, desiring that even ‘the heathen’ (v.49) would hear of the wonders of his God who has given him such ‘great deliverance’ (v.50).

The LORD liveth and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.