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Commentary on Psalms 18 verses 1–19
The title gives us the occasion of penning this psalm; we had it before (Sa2 22:1), only here we are told that the psalm was delivered to the chief musician, or precentor, in the temple-songs. Note, The private compositions of good men, designed by them for their own use, may be serviceable to the public, that others may not only borrow light from their candle, but heat from their fire. Examples sometimes teach better than rules. And David is here called the servant of the Lord, as Moses was, not only as every good man is God's servant, but because, with his sceptre, with his sword, and with his pen, he greatly promoted the interests of God's kingdom in Israel. It was more his honour that he was a servant of the Lord than that he was king of a great kingdom; and so he himself accounted it (Psa 116:16): O Lord! truly I am thy servant. In these verses,
I. He triumphs in God and his relation to him. The first words of the psalm, I will love thee, O Lord! my strength, are here prefixed as the scope and contents of the whole. Love to God is the first and great commandment of the law, because it is the principle of all our acceptable praise and obedience; and this use we should make of all the mercies God bestows upon us, our hearts should thereby be enlarged in love to him. This he requires and will accept; and we are very ungrateful if we grudge him so poor a return. An interest in the person loved is the lover's delight; this string therefore he touches, and on this he harps with much pleasure (Psa 18:2): "The Lord Jehovah is my God; and then he is my rock, my fortress, all that I need and can desire in my present distress." For there is that in God which is suited to all the exigencies and occasions of his people that trust in him. "He is my rock, and strength, and fortress;" that is, 1. "I have found him so in the greatest dangers and difficulties." 2. "I have chosen him to be so, disclaiming all others, and depending upon him alone to protect me." Those that truly love God may thus triumph in him as theirs, and may with confidence call upon him, Psa 18:3. This further use we should make of our deliverances, we must not only love God the better, but love prayer the better - call upon him as long as we live, especially in time of trouble, with an assurance that so we shall be saved; for thus it is written, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, Act 2:21.
II. He sets himself to magnify the deliverances God had wrought for him, that he might be the more affected in his returns of praise. It is good for us to observe all the circumstances of a mercy, which magnify the power of God and his goodness to us in it.
1.The more imminent and threatening the danger was out of which we were delivered the greater is the mercy of the deliverance. David now remembered how the forces of his enemies poured in upon him, which he calls the floods of Belial, shoals of the children of Belial, likely to overpower him with numbers. They surrounded him, compassed him about; they surprised him, and by that means were very near seizing him; their snares prevented him, and, when without were fightings, within were fears and sorrows, Psa 18:4, Psa 18:5. His spirit was overwhelmed, and he looked upon himself as a lost man; see Psa 116:3.
2.The more earnest we have been with God for deliverance, and the more direct answer it is to our prayers, the more we are obliged to be thankful. David's deliverances were so, Psa 18:6. David was found a praying man, and God was found a prayer-hearing God. If we pray as he did, we shall speed as he did. Though distress drive us to prayer, God will not therefore be deaf to us; nay, being a God of pity, he will be the more ready to succour us.
3.The more wonderful God's appearances are in any deliverance the greater it is: such were the deliverances wrought for David, in which God's manifestation of his presence and glorious attributes is most magnificently described, Psa 18:7, etc. Little appeared of man, but much of God, in these deliverances. (1.) He appeared a God of almighty power; for he made the earth shake and tremble, and moved even the foundations of the hills (Psa 18:7), as of old at Mount Sinai. When the men of the earth were struck with fear, then the earth might be said to tremble; when the great men of the earth were put into confusion, then the hills moved. (2.) He showed his anger and displeasure against the enemies and persecutors of his people: He was wroth, Psa 18:7. His wrath smoked, it burned, it was fire, it was devouring fire (Psa 18:8), and coals were kindled by it. Those that by their own sins make themselves as coals (that is, fuel) to this fire will be consumed by it. He that ordains his arrows against the persecutors sends them forth when he pleases, and they are sure to hit the mark and do execution; for those arrows are lightnings, Psa 18:14. (3.) He showed his readiness to plead his people's cause and work deliverance for them; for he rode upon a cherub and did fly, for the maintaining of right and the relieving of his distressed servants, Psa 18:10. No opposition, no obstruction, can be given to him who rides upon the wings of the wind, who rides on the heavens, for the help of his people, and, in his excellency, on the skies. (4.) He showed his condescension, in taking cognizance of David's case: He bowed the heavens and came down (Psa 18:9), did not send an angel, but came himself, as one afflicted in the afflictions of his people. (5.) He wrapped himself in darkness, and yet commanded light to shine out of darkness for his people, Isa 45:15. He is a God that hideth himself; for he made darkness his pavilion, Psa 18:11. his glory is invisible, his counsels are unsearchable, and his proceedings unaccountable, and so, as to us, clouds and darkness are round about him; we know not the way that he takes, even when he is coming towards us in ways of mercy; but, when his designs are secret, they are kind; for, though he hide himself, he is the God of Israel, the Saviour. And, at his brightness, the thick clouds pass (Psa 18:12), comfort returns, the face of affairs is changed, and that which was gloomy and threatening becomes serene and pleasant.
4.The greater the difficulties are that lie in the way of deliverance the more glorious the deliverance is. For the rescuing of David, the waters were to be divided till the very channels were seen; the earth was to be cloven till the very foundations of it were discovered, Psa 18:15. There were waters deep and many, waters out of which he was to be drawn (Psa 18:16), as Moses, who had his name from being drawn out of the water literally, as David was figuratively. His enemies were strong, and they hated him; had he been left to himself, they would have been too strong for him, Psa 18:17. And they were too quick for him; for they prevented him in the day of his calamity, Psa 18:18. But, in the midst of his troubles, the Lord was his stay, so that he did not sink. Note, God will not only deliver his people out of their troubles in due time, but he will sustain them and bear them up under their troubles in the mean time.
5.That which especially magnified the deliverance was that his comfort was the fruit of it and God's favour was the root and fountain of it. (1.) It was an introduction to his preferment, Psa 18:19. "He brought me forth also out of my straits into a large place, where I had room, not only to turn, but to thrive in." (2.) It was a token of God's favour to him, and that made it doubly sweet: "He delivered me because he delighted in me, not for my merit, but for his own grace and good-will." Compare this with Sa2 15:26, If he thus say, I have no delight in thee, here I am. We owe our salvation, that great deliverance, to the delight God had in the Son of David, in whom he has declared himself to be well pleased.
In singing this we must triumph in God, and trust in him: and we may apply it to Christ the Son of David. The sorrows of death surrounded him; in his distress he prayed (Heb 5:7); God made the earth to shake and tremble, and the rocks to cleave, and brought him out, in his resurrection, into a large place, because he delighted in him and in his undertaking.
Praise issuing from a pure conscience delights the Lord, and so the same psalmist exhorts us, “Praise ye the Lord because a psalm is good; to our God be joyful and comely praise.” With this in mind, aware of how pleasing to God is this ministry, the psalmist again declares, “Seven times a day I have given praise to you.” To this he adds a further promise: “And my tongue shall meditate your justice, your praise all the day long.” Without doubt, he had experience of the good to be derived from this work, for he reminds us [in the psalm before us]: “Praising I will call on the Lord, and I shall be saved from my enemies.” It was with such a shield of praise to protect him that as a boy [David] destroyed the great power of the giant Goliath, and, in many other instances, came out victorious over the invaders.
"With praise will I call upon the Lord, and I shall be safe from Mine enemies" [Psalm 18:3]. Seeking not My own but the Lord's glory, I will call upon Him, and there shall be no means whereby the errors of ungodliness can hurt Me.
There you have something you can do. Praising, call—but remember it is the Lord you praise and call on. Because if you praise yourself, you will not be saved from your enemies. Praising, call on the Lord, and you will be saved from your enemies.
He is my refuge, he is my liberator; as I praise and call on him I will be safe from my enemies. Let me say this in the present so that I may not doubt it in the future.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 18:3 stands as a powerful declaration of King David's unwavering faith and proactive reliance on God amidst profound adversity. This verse encapsulates the foundational truth that engaging with the Lord through worship and prayer is the assured pathway to divine intervention and comprehensive deliverance from all forms of opposition, establishing a timeless pattern of confident trust in God's inherent power and saving character.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 18:3 employs several powerful literary devices that amplify its message. The verse functions as a clear Declaration of Intent, as David explicitly states his resolve ("I will call upon the LORD"). This declaration is imbued with strong Anticipation, as the future tense "so shall I be saved" expresses a confident expectation rather than a mere hope, showcasing David's unwavering Faith in God's character and power. The structure itself, moving from the act of calling to the attribute of God and then to the assured outcome, demonstrates a logical and theological Progression. The phrase "[who is worthy] to be praised" acts as a powerful Justification, providing the theological rationale for David's profound confidence and the certainty of his deliverance. Furthermore, the "enemies" can be seen as a form of Synecdoche, representing not just specific individuals but the totality of all threats, dangers, and adversities that David faced throughout his tumultuous life, making the promise of salvation comprehensive and all-encompassing. The verse also exhibits a subtle Cause and Effect relationship, where David's action (calling upon the Lord) directly leads to God's intervention (being saved).
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 18:3 encapsulates a core biblical truth that resonates throughout redemptive history: God's inherent worthiness of praise is the bedrock for confident prayer and the assurance of divine deliverance. This principle affirms that when believers turn to the Lord with hearts of worship and trust, His character compels Him to act on their behalf. David's experience serves as a paradigm for all who face overwhelming opposition, demonstrating that the pathway to salvation and victory lies in acknowledging God's sovereignty and His unfailing power. It highlights that praise is not merely an emotional response or a ritualistic act but a profound theological statement that aligns the worshiper with God's truth, unlocking His saving power and inviting His intervention. This verse underscores that God's glory and His people's salvation are inextricably linked.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 18:3 offers a timeless blueprint for navigating life's inevitable challenges and adversaries. It challenges us to re-evaluate our initial response to adversity: do we first resort to our own strength, human strategies, or despair, or do we immediately "call upon the LORD"? This verse encourages a proactive, worshipful approach to prayer, reminding us that our confidence in deliverance stems not from the magnitude of our faith, but from the infinite worthiness, power, and faithfulness of the God we address. To praise God even in the midst of our struggles shifts our focus from the problem to the Problem-Solver, aligning our perspective with His omnipotence and sovereignty. It cultivates a spirit of confident expectation, knowing that the God who is worthy of all praise is also the God who hears, intervenes, and saves. This isn't a magical formula, but an invitation to deepen our relational dependence on the One who is our ultimate refuge and deliverer, transforming our anxieties into acts of worship and our fears into confident trust.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does "saved from mine enemies" only refer to physical deliverance?
Answer: While David's immediate context in Psalms 18 primarily concerns physical and military deliverance from his adversaries (like Saul and the Philistines), the Hebrew word yashaʻ ("saved") has a broader theological scope in Scripture. It can encompass rescue from any form of distress, danger, or oppression, including spiritual and eternal salvation. For the believer today, "enemies" can represent not only external threats but also internal struggles (e.g., sin, doubt), spiritual attacks (e.g., from the devil), or overwhelming circumstances (e.g., illness, financial ruin). Thus, the principle extends beyond physical safety to encompass all forms of divine rescue and victory that God provides for His people, ultimately pointing to the comprehensive salvation found in Christ, who delivers us from our greatest enemies: sin, death, and the devil, as promised in Romans 6:23.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 18:3, a declaration of David's reliance on God for deliverance, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. David, as an anointed king and a type of the Messiah, experienced salvation from his earthly enemies, but Christ embodies the perfect "call upon the LORD" and the ultimate "being saved." Jesus, in His earthly life, consistently called upon His Father, demonstrating perfect dependence and trust, even to the point of agonizing prayer in Gethsemane (e.g., Luke 22:42) and His final cry from the cross (e.g., Luke 23:46). He is the one truly "worthy to be praised," not only as the eternal Son of God but as the Lamb who was slain, whose worthiness to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise is celebrated eternally in heaven (e.g., Revelation 5:12). Furthermore, Jesus' resurrection from the dead is the supreme act of God's "saving" Him from the ultimate enemy—death itself—and through His victory, all who call upon His name are likewise "saved from their enemies" of sin, death, and the devil (e.g., Romans 10:9-10). David's song of deliverance becomes a prophetic echo of the greater, eternal salvation achieved by Christ, who perfectly models the call to the praiseworthy God and secures comprehensive salvation for all who believe, fulfilling the promise of Acts 4:12.