This appears to be a version of 2nd Samuel chapter 22 slightly revised to make it suitable for general use. The title indicates the circumstances of this jubilant thanksgiving. His deliverance from "all his enemies" (see title) would suggest the period after 2nd Samuel chapter 8, when his life was crowned by almost unbroken success.
LS M'Caw
This psalm, though placed among the first, was penned among the last, as the preface assures us, and is left as the epitome of the general history of David's life. It is twice recorded in the Scripture (2nd Sam. chapter 22, and in this book of Psalms). Holy David, being near the shore, here looks on his former dangers and deliverances with a thankful heart, and writes this psalm to bless the Lord: as if each of you that are grown into years should review your lives and observe the wonderful goodness and providence of God towards you; and then sit down and write a modest memorial of His most remarkable mercies, for the comfort of yourselves and posterity; an excellent practice.
Richard Steele
Verse 2. "The Lord is my rock and my fortress". Dwelling among the crags and mountain fastness of Judea David had escaped the malice of Saul, and here he compares his God to such a place of concealment and security. — "My deliverer". — Interposing in my hour of peril. When almost captured the Lord's people are rescued from the hand of the mighty by Him who is mightier still. — "My God." — That is all good things in one. — "My strength". — This word is really "my rock", in the sense of strength and immobility. The first time it is a rock for concealment, but here a rock for firmness and immutability. — "In whom I will trust".— Faith must be exercised, or the preciousness of god is not truly known; and God must be the object of faith, or faith is mere presumption.— "My buckler". — Warding off the blows of my enemy. The Lord furnishes his warriors with weapons both offensive and defensive. — "The horn of my salvation." Enabling me to push down my foes, and to triumph over them with holy exultation. — "My high tower." - We may conclude with Calvin that David here equips the faithful from head to foot.
C.H. Spurgeon
Verse 3. "I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from our enemies".
"No fearing or doubting with Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting 'The Lord will provide'".
Verses 6 & 7. "In my distress I called upon the Lord … then the earth shook and trembled." The prayer of a single saint is sometimes followed with wonderful effects: "In my distress I called … then the earth shook". What then can a thundering legion of such praying souls do? It was said of Luther "That man could have of God what he would". His enemies felt the weight of his prayers; and the Church of God reaped the benefits thereof. The Queen of Scots confessed that she was more afraid of the prayers of Mr Knox than of an army of ten thousand men.
John Flavel
Verse 10. "And he rode upon a cherub, and he did fly upon the wings of the wind". When God comes to punish his foes and rescue his people, nothing has ever surprised his friends or foes more than the admirable swiftness with which He moves and acts: he flies "upon the wings of the wind".
William Plumer
Verse 16. Now comes the rescue. The author is divine — "He sent:" The work is heavenly — "from above:" The deliverance is marvellous — "He drew me out of many waters:" Here David was like another Moses, drawn from the water; and thus are all believers like their Lord whose baptism in many waters of agony and in his own blood has redeemed us from the wrath to come.
C.H. Spurgeon
Verse 23. "I was also upright before Him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity". As in the hive there is one master-bee, so in the heart there is one-master sin; there is one sin that is not only near to the man as the garment, but dear to him as the right eye. This sin is Satan's Fort-Royal &hellip The devil can hold a man as fast by this one link as by a whole chain of vices. The fowler hath the bird fast enough by one wing. Herod did many things, but there was one sin so dear to him that he would sooner behead the prophet than behead that sin.
Thomas Watson
Verse 23. "Mine iniquity". A man's darling sin may change with the change of man's condition, and some occasion that may present itself. Wantonness may be the darling of a man's youth, and worldliness the darling of his old age.
William Strong
(To be concluded in the next edition)
This Page Title – Gleanings in the Psalms – Psalm 18 The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 53 – placed on line March 2005 Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |