Gleanings in the Psalms

Psalm 18 (continued)

Verse 25. "With the merciful thou will show thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright". Every man shall have his meat weighed on his own scales, his corn meted out in his own bushel, and his land measured with his own rod. No rule can be more fair; to ungoldly men more terrible, or to the generous more honourable. How would men throw away their light weights and break their short yards, if they could but believe that thy themselves are sure to be in the end the losers by their knavish tricks.

C. H. Spurgeon

Verse 28. "For thou wilt light my candle …" The metaphor of the whole verse is founded upon the dolorous nature of darkness and the delightfulness of light. The lighting of the lamp is a cheerful moment in the winter's evening, but the lifting up of the light of God's countenance is happier far. It is said that the poor in Egypt would stint themselves of bread to buy oil for their lamps, so that they may not sit in darkness; we could well afford to part with all earthly comforts if the light of God's love could but constantly gladden our souls.

C. H. Spurgeon

Verse 29. "For by thee I have run through a troop …" David ascribes his victories to God, declaring that, under His conduct, he had broken through the wedges of his enemies, and had taken by force their fortified cities. Thus we see that, although he was a valiant warrior and skilled in arms, he arrogates nothing to himself.

John Calvin

Verses 37 and 38. "I have pursued mine enemies … they are fallen under my feet."

"Oh, I have seen the day,
When with a single word,
God helping me to say,
'My trust is in the Lord;'
My soul has quelled a thousand foes,
Fearless of all that could oppose".

John Newton

Verse 41. "They cried but there was none to save them …" Sad examples there are enough of concerning the truth of this prophecy. Of Esau it is written that he "found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears". (Heb. 12:17) But, most appropriate to this passage it is written of Saul: "When he enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets." (1 Sam. 28:6). And therefore, Jeremiah the prophet warns us: "Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains", as Saul's feet indeed stumbled upon the dark mountains of Gilboa. – "They cried, but there was none to save them; Even unto the Lord", but he answered them not." But, they cried unto him, it has been well remarked, not through a Mediator; but by their own merits, and in their own name, and so cried in vain.

J. M. Neale

Verse 41. "They cried … even unto the Lord …" Nature prompts men in an extremity to look up for help. But, as it is the prayer of the flesh for ease and not of the spirit for grace, therefore, God hears it not.

John Trapp

Verse 46. "The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted".
(1) Honours DIE; Pleasures DIE; The World DIES – BUT, The Lord liveth.
(2) My flesh is as SAND; my Fleshy Life – strength, glory, etc. Is as a WORD WRITTEN on SAND – BUT, "Blessed be my ROCK".
(3) Let OUTWARD SALVATION vanish; Let the SAVED be crucified, -– BUT, Let the God of our salvation be EXALTED

This Lord is MY ROCK; this God is MY SALVATION.

Peter Sterry

Verse 46. "The Lord Liveth …" A godly woman on the death of her child consoled herself and her family with this word – "The Lord Liveth". Soon her second child died, but she did not waver in her faith, but added comfort to comfort for herself and her husband and remaining child – "Comforts die, but the Lord liveth", she was heard to repeat. Shortly after, her dear husband was also taken, and the poor woman sat down overwhelmed and oppressed with sorrow. So she sat until the one remaining child came to her side: "Is the Lord now dead, Mother", the child asked; "is God dead?" "THE LORD LIVETH", she was enabled to say, "The Lord Liveth".

From Oliver Heywood's
"Sure Mercies of David".