Psalms 18
18
# 18 This magnificent poem is so important to the Holy Spirit that it appears twice in the Bible. You will also find it in 2 Sam. 22. I Love You, Lord
A song # 18 There are fifty psalms that are described as “a song” in the inscription, and each one is a power song of victory and breakthrough. to the Pure and Shining One by King David, his servant, composed when the Lord rescued David from all his many enemies, including from the brutality of Saul. # 18 Or “the paw of Saul.” Saul was like a beast that chased David until his death. He said:
1I love you, Yahweh, and I’m bonded to you, # 18:1 David didn’t employ the common Hebrew word for “love,” ‘ahav, but instead used the Hebrew word for “pity” or “mercy.” How could David have mercy for God? The word he used, racham, is the word for a mother who loves and pities her child so much it manifests with a deep love and emotional bond. This concept, although difficult to convey in English, carries the thought of embrace and touch. It could actually be translated “Lord, I want to hug you.” Haven’t you ever felt like that?
my strength!
2Yahweh, you’re the bedrock beneath my feet,
my faith-fortress, my wonderful deliverer,
my God, my rock of rescue where none can reach me.
You’re the shield around me,
the mighty power # 18:2 Or “horn” (i.e., horn of my salvation), which comes from a root word meaning “ray of brightness.” that saves me,
and my high place.
3All I need to do is to call on you,
Yahweh, the praiseworthy God.
When I do, I’m safe and sound in you—
delivered from my foes!
4-5For when the cords of death wrapped around me
and torrents of destruction overwhelmed me, # 18:4–5 Or “waves of Sheol [death] engulfed me.” See 2 Sam. 22:5.
taking me to death’s door,
6in my distress I cried out to you, the delivering God,
and from your temple-throne you heard my troubled cry,
and my sobs went right into your heart. # 18:6 This scene is not only a poetic portrayal of how God answered David’s prayer, but also a picture of the sufferings of a greater Son of David, Jesus, who hung on the cross with cries of agony. God heard him and shook the planet as thick clouds covered the sun.
7The earth itself shivered and shook.
It reeled and rocked before him.
As the mountains trembled, they melted away,
for his anger was kindled on my behalf!
8Fierce flames leapt from his mouth, # 18:8 Or “nostrils.”
erupting with blazing, burning coals as smoke
and fire encircled him.
9-10He stretched heaven’s curtain open and came to my defense.
Swiftly he rode to earth as the stormy sky was lowered.
He rode a chariot of thunderclouds amidst thick darkness;
his steed was a cherub,
soaring on outstretched wings of Spirit-Wind.
11Wrapped in the thick-cloud darkness,
his thunder-tabernacle surrounded him.
He hid himself in mystery-darkness;
the dense rain clouds were his garments.
12Suddenly the brilliance of his presence broke through
with lightning bolts and hail—
a tempest dropping coals of fire.
13The Lord thundered; the great God above every god
spoke with his thunder-voice from the sky.
The Most High uttered his voice!
14He released his lightning-arrows, and routed my foes.
See how they ran and scattered in fear!
15Then with his mighty roar he laid bare the foundations of the earth,
uncovering the secret source of the sea.
The hidden depths of land and sea were exposed
by the blast of his hot breath.
16He rescued me from the mighty waters
and drew me to himself!
17Even though I was helpless in the hands
of my hateful, strong enemy, # 18:17 Death is our strong enemy. Only through Christ are we delivered from its grip.
you were good to deliver me.
18When I was at my weakest, # 18:18 Or “In the day of my calamity.” my enemies attacked—
but the Lord held on to me.
19His love broke open the way,
and he brought me into a beautiful, broad place. # 18:19 This could be the throne room of heaven.
He rescued me—because his delight is in me! # 18:19 Here in verses 16–19 you can see the glorious resurrection of Christ as the Father reached down and kissed the Son with life and love. Read it again and think of Christ in the tomb being raised by the Father.
20He rewarded me for doing what’s right and staying pure.
21I will follow his commands and
I’ll not sin by ceasing to follow him, no matter what.
22For I’ve kept my eyes focused on his righteous words,
and I’ve obeyed everything that he’s told me to do.
23I’ve been blameless before him and followed all his ways,
keeping my heart pure.
24And so Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
because I kept my heart clean before his eyes.
25Good people will taste your goodness.
And to those who are loyal to you,
you love to prove that you are loyal and true.
26And for those who are purified, they find you always pure.
But you’ll outwit the crooked and cunning with your craftiness.
27To the humble you bring heaven’s deliverance,
but the proud and haughty you disregard.
28God, all at once you turned on a floodlight for me!
You are the revelation-light in my darkness,
and in your brightness I can see the path ahead.
29With you as my strength I can crush an enemy horde,
advancing through every stronghold that stands in front of me. # 18:29 Or “by my God I can jump over a wall.”
30Yahweh, what a perfect God you are!
All Yahweh’s promises have proven true.
What a secure shelter for all those
who turn to hide themselves in you,
the wraparound God. # 18:30 The Hebrew word used here (often translated “shield”) means “to wrap around in protection.” God himself is our shield of grace.
31Could there be any other god like Yahweh?
For there is not a more secure foundation # 18:31 Or “rocky cliff.” than you.
32God, you have wrapped me in power
and made my way perfect.
33Through you I ascend to the highest peaks
to stand strong and secure in you. # 18:33 Or “You make my legs like a deer to stand firm on the heights.”
34You’ve trained me with the weapons of warfare-worship;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35You empower me for victory with your wraparound presence.
Your power within makes me strong to subdue.
By stooping down in gentleness,
you made me great!
36You’ve set me free, and now I’m standing complete,
ready to fight some more!
37I caught up with my enemies and conquered them
and didn’t turn back until the war was won!
38I smashed them to pieces and
I finished them once and for all; they’re as good as dead.
39You’ve placed your armor upon me
and made my enemies bow low at my feet.
40You’ve made them all turn tail and run,
for through you I’ve destroyed them all!
41They shouted for help, but no one dared to rescue them.
They cried out to Yahweh, but he refused to answer them.
42So I pulverized them to powder and cast them to the wind.
I swept them away like dirt on the floor.
43You gave me victory on every side,
for you make me a leader of nations.
Even those I’ve never heard of come and bow at my feet.
44As soon as they heard of me they submitted to me.
Even the rebel foreigners obey my every word.
45Their rebellion fades away as they come near;
trembling in their strongholds,
they come crawling out of their hideouts,
cringing in fear before me.
46Yahweh lives!
Praise is lifted high to the unshakable God!
Towering over all, my Savior-God is worthy to be praised!
47Look how he pays back harm to all who harm me,
subduing all who come against me.
48He rescues me from my enemies;
he lifts me up high and keeps me out of reach,
far from the grasp of my violent foe.
49So I thank you, Yahweh, with my praises!
I will sing my song to the highest God,
so all among the nations will hear me. # 18:49 Paul quoted this verse as one of four prophecies to show that Christ came for all people, not just the Jews. See Rom. 15:9.
50You have given me, your king, great victories.
You’ve always been tender and kind to me, your anointed one,
your loving servant, David, and to all my descendants!
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Psalms 18: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationPsalms 18
18
For the choir director: A psalm of David, the servant of the Lord. He sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. He sang:
1I love you, Lord;
you are my strength.
2The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
3I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and he saved me from my enemies.
4The ropes of death entangled me;
floods of destruction swept over me.
5The grave#18:5 Hebrew Sheol. wrapped its ropes around me;
death laid a trap in my path.
6But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
yes, I prayed to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
my cry to him reached his ears.
7Then the earth quaked and trembled.
The foundations of the mountains shook;
they quaked because of his anger.
8Smoke poured from his nostrils;
fierce flames leaped from his mouth.
Glowing coals blazed forth from him.
9He opened the heavens and came down;
dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.
10Mounted on a mighty angelic being,#18:10 Hebrew a cherub. he flew,
soaring on the wings of the wind.
11He shrouded himself in darkness,
veiling his approach with dark rain clouds.
12Thick clouds shielded the brightness around him
and rained down hail and burning coals.#18:12 Or and lightning bolts; also in 18:13.
13The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded
amid the hail and burning coals.
14He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies;
great bolts of lightning flashed, and they were confused.
15Then at your command, O Lord,
at the blast of your breath,
the bottom of the sea could be seen,
and the foundations of the earth were laid bare.
16He reached down from heaven and rescued me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
17He rescued me from my powerful enemies,
from those who hated me and were too strong for me.
18They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress,
but the Lord supported me.
19He led me to a place of safety;
he rescued me because he delights in me.
20The Lord rewarded me for doing right;
he restored me because of my innocence.
21For I have kept the ways of the Lord;
I have not turned from my God to follow evil.
22I have followed all his regulations;
I have never abandoned his decrees.
23I am blameless before God;
I have kept myself from sin.
24The Lord rewarded me for doing right.
He has seen my innocence.
25To the faithful you show yourself faithful;
to those with integrity you show integrity.
26To the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
27You rescue the humble,
but you humiliate the proud.
28You light a lamp for me.
The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.
29In your strength I can crush an army;
with my God I can scale any wall.
30God’s way is perfect.
All the Lord’s promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
31For who is God except the Lord?
Who but our God is a solid rock?
32God arms me with strength,
and he makes my way perfect.
33He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
34He trains my hands for battle;
he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
35You have given me your shield of victory.
Your right hand supports me;
your help#18:35 Hebrew your humility; compare 2 Sam 22:36. has made me great.
36You have made a wide path for my feet
to keep them from slipping.
37I chased my enemies and caught them;
I did not stop until they were conquered.
38I struck them down so they could not get up;
they fell beneath my feet.
39You have armed me with strength for the battle;
you have subdued my enemies under my feet.
40You placed my foot on their necks.
I have destroyed all who hated me.
41They called for help, but no one came to their rescue.
They even cried to the Lord, but he refused to answer.
42I ground them as fine as dust in the wind.
I swept them into the gutter like dirt.
43You gave me victory over my accusers.
You appointed me ruler over nations;
people I don’t even know now serve me.
44As soon as they hear of me, they submit;
foreign nations cringe before me.
45They all lose their courage
and come trembling from their strongholds.
46The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock!
May the God of my salvation be exalted!
47He is the God who pays back those who harm me;
he subdues the nations under me
48and rescues me from my enemies.
You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies;
you save me from violent opponents.
49For this, O Lord, I will praise you among the nations;
I will sing praises to your name.
50You give great victories to your king;
you show unfailing love to your anointed,
to David and all his descendants forever.
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