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Psalms 18:1-50

esv

The Lord Is My Rock and My Fortress 18 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, f the servant of the Lord , g who addressed the words of this h song to the Lord on the day when the Lord rescued him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said: 1 I love you, O Lord , my strength. 2 The Lord is my i rock and my j fortress and my deliverer, my God, my i rock, in k whom I take refuge, my l shield, and m the horn of my salvation, my n stronghold. 3 I call upon the Lord , who is o worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. 4 p The cords of death encompassed me; q the torrents of destruction assailed me; 1 5 p the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. 6 r In my distress I called upon the Lord ; to my God I cried for help. From his s temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. 7 Then the earth t reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry. 8 Smoke went up from his nostrils, 1 and devouring u fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. 9 He v bowed the heavens and w came down; x thick darkness was under his feet. 10 He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on z the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness his covering, his a canopy around him, thick clouds b dark with water. 12 Out of the brightness before him c hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds. 13 The Lord also d thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his e voice, hailstones and coals of fire. 14 And he sent out his f arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and g routed them. 15 Then h the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your i rebuke, O Lord , at the blast of j the breath of your nostrils. 16 He k sent from on high, he took me; he l drew me out of m many waters. 17 He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were n too mighty for me. 18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. 19 He brought me out into o a broad place; he rescued me, because he p delighted in me. 20 The Lord dealt with me q according to my righteousness; according to r the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me. 21 For I have s kept the ways of the Lord , and have not wickedly departed from my God. 22 For t all his rules 1 were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me. 23 I was u blameless before him, and I kept myself from my guilt. 24 So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. 25 With v the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; 26 with the purified you show yourself pure; and with w the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. 27 For you save x a humble people, but y the haughty eyes you bring down. 28 For it is you who light my z lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. 29 For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can a leap over b a wall. 30 This God—his way is c perfect; 1 the word of the Lord d proves true; he is e a shield for all those who f take refuge in him. 31 For g who is God, but the Lord ? And who is h a rock, except our God?— 32 the God who i equipped me with strength and made my way j blameless. 33 He made my feet like the feet of a k deer and set me secure on l the heights. 34 He m trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35 You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand n supported me, and your o gentleness made me great. 36 You p gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. 37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed. 38 I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet. 39 For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me. 40 You made my enemies q turn their backs to me, 1 and those who hated me I destroyed. 41 r They cried for help, but there was none to save; they cried to the Lord , but he did not answer them. 42 I beat them fine as s dust before the wind; I cast them out like t the mire of the streets. 43 You delivered me from u strife with the people; you made me v the head of the nations; w people whom I had not known served me. 44 As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me; x foreigners y came cringing to me. 45 x Foreigners lost heart and z came trembling out of their fortresses. 46 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation— 47 the God who gave me vengeance and a subdued peoples under me, 48 who delivered me from my enemies; yes, you b exalted me above those who rose against me; you rescued me from c the man of violence. 49 d For this I will praise you, O Lord , among the nations, and e sing to your name. 50 Great f salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his g anointed, to h David and his offspring forever.

Psalms 18:1-51

wlc

18 1 לַמְנַצֵּ֤חַ ׀ לְעֶ֥בֶד יְהוָ֗ה לְדָ֫וִ֥ד אֲשֶׁ֤ר דִּבֶּ֨ר ׀ לַיהוָ֗ה אֶת ־ דִּ֭בְרֵי הַשִּׁירָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את בְּי֤וֹם הִֽצִּיל ־ יְהוָ֘ה אוֹת֥וֹ מִכַּ֥ף כָּל ־ אֹ֝יְבָ֗יו וּמִיַּ֥ד שָׁאֽוּל ׃ 2 וַיֹּאמַ֡ר אֶרְחָמְךָ֖ יְהוָ֣ה חִזְקִֽי ׃ 3 יְהוָ֤ה ׀ סַֽלְעִ֥י וּמְצוּדָתִ֗י וּמְפַ֫לְטִ֥י אֵלִ֣י צ֭וּרִי אֶֽחֱסֶה ־ בּ֑וֹ מָֽגִנִּ֥י וְקֶֽרֶן ־ יִ֝שְׁעִ֗י מִשְׂגַּבִּֽי ׃ 4 מְ֭הֻלָּל אֶקְרָ֣א יְהוָ֑ה וּמִן ־ אֹ֝יְבַ֗י אִוָּשֵֽׁעַ ׃ 5 אֲפָפ֥וּנִי חֶבְלֵי ־ מָ֑וֶת וְֽנַחֲלֵ֖י בְלִיַּ֣עַל יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִי ׃ 6 חֶבְלֵ֣י שְׁא֣וֹל סְבָב֑וּנִי קִ֝דְּמ֗וּנִי מ֣וֹקְשֵׁי מָֽוֶת ׃ 7 בַּצַּר ־ לִ֤י ׀ אֶֽקְרָ֣א יְהוָה֮ וְאֶל ־ אֱלֹהַ֪י אֲשַׁ֫וֵּ֥עַ יִשְׁמַ֣ע מֵהֵיכָל֣וֹ קוֹלִ֑י וְ֝שַׁוְעָתִ֗י לְפָנָ֤יו ׀ תָּב֬וֹא בְאָזְנָֽיו ׃ 8 וַתִּגְעַ֬שׁ וַתִּרְעַ֨שׁ ׀ הָאָ֗רֶץ וּמוֹסְדֵ֣י הָרִ֣ים יִרְגָּ֑זוּ וַ֝יִּתְגָּֽעֲשׁ֗וּ כִּי ־ חָ֥רָה לֽוֹ ׃ 9 עָ֘לָ֤ה עָשָׁ֨ן ׀ בְּאַפּ֗וֹ וְאֵשׁ ־ מִפִּ֥יו תֹּאכֵ֑ל גֶּ֝חָלִ֗ים בָּעֲר֥וּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ ׃ 10 וַיֵּ֣ט שָׁ֭מַיִם וַיֵּרַ֑ד וַ֝עֲרָפֶ֗ל תַּ֣חַת רַגְלָֽיו ׃ 11 וַיִּרְכַּ֣ב עַל ־ כְּ֭רוּב וַיָּעֹ֑ף וַ֝יֵּ֗דֶא עַל ־ כַּנְפֵי ־ רֽוּחַ ׃ 12 יָ֤שֶׁת חֹ֨שֶׁךְ ׀ סִתְר֗וֹ סְבִֽיבוֹתָ֥יו סֻכָּת֑וֹ חֶשְׁכַת ־ מַ֝֗יִם עָבֵ֥י שְׁחָקִֽים ׃ 13 מִנֹּ֗גַהּ נֶ֫גְדּ֥וֹ עָבָ֥יו עָבְר֑וּ בָּ֝רָ֗ד וְגַֽחֲלֵי ־ אֵֽשׁ ׃ 14 וַיַּרְעֵ֬ם בַּשָּׁמַ֨יִם ׀ יְֽהוָ֗ה וְ֭עֶלְיוֹן יִתֵּ֣ן קֹל֑וֹ בָּ֝רָ֗ד וְגַֽחֲלֵי ־ אֵֽשׁ ׃ 15 וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח חִ֭צָּיו וַיְפִיצֵ֑ם וּבְרָקִ֥ים רָ֝ב וַיְהֻמֵּֽם ׃ 16 וַיֵּ֤רָא֨וּ ׀ אֲפִ֥יקֵי מַ֗יִם וַֽיִּגָּלוּ֮ מוֹסְד֪וֹת תֵּ֫בֵ֥ל מִגַּעֲרָ֣תְךָ֣ יְהוָ֑ה מִ֝נִּשְׁמַ֗ת ר֣וּחַ אַפֶּֽךָ ׃ 17 יִשְׁלַ֣ח מִ֭מָּרוֹם יִקָּחֵ֑נִי יַֽ֝מְשֵׁ֗נִי מִמַּ֥יִם רַבִּֽים ׃ 18 יַצִּילֵ֗נִי מֵאֹיְבִ֥י עָ֑ז וּ֝מִשֹּׂנְאַ֗י כִּֽי ־ אָמְצ֥וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי ׃ 19 יְקַדְּמ֥וּנִי בְיוֹם ־ אֵידִ֑י וַֽיְהִי ־ יְהוָ֖ה לְמִשְׁעָ֣ן לִֽי ׃ 20 וַיּוֹצִיאֵ֥נִי לַמֶּרְחָ֑ב יְ֝חַלְּצֵ֗נִי כִּ֘י חָ֥פֵֽץ בִּֽי ׃ 21 יִגְמְלֵ֣נִי יְהוָ֣ה כְּצִדְקִ֑י כְּבֹ֥ר יָ֝דַ֗י יָשִׁ֥יב לִֽי ׃ 22 כִּֽי ־ שָׁ֭מַרְתִּי דַּרְכֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹֽא ־ רָ֝שַׁ֗עְתִּי מֵאֱלֹהָֽי ׃ 23 כִּ֣י כָל ־ מִשְׁפָּטָ֣יו לְנֶגְדִּ֑י וְ֝חֻקֹּתָ֗יו לֹא ־ אָסִ֥יר מֶֽנִּי ׃ 24 וָאֱהִ֣י תָמִ֣ים עִמּ֑וֹ וָ֝אֶשְׁתַּמֵּ֗ר מֵעֲוֺנִֽי ׃ 25 וַיָּֽשֶׁב ־ יְהוָ֣ה לִ֣י כְצִדְקִ֑י כְּבֹ֥ר יָ֝דַ֗י לְנֶ֣גֶד עֵינָֽיו ׃ 26 עִם ־ חָסִ֥יד תִּתְחַסָּ֑ד עִם ־ גְּבַ֥ר תָּ֝מִ֗ים תִּתַּמָּֽם ׃ 27 עִם ־ נָבָ֥ר תִּתְבָּרָ֑ר וְעִם ־ עִ֝קֵּ֗שׁ תִּתְפַּתָּֽל ׃ 28 כִּֽי ־ אַ֭תָּה עַם ־ עָנִ֣י תוֹשִׁ֑יעַ וְעֵינַ֖יִם רָמ֣וֹת תַּשְׁפִּֽיל ׃ 29 כִּֽי ־ אַ֭תָּה תָּאִ֣יר נֵרִ֑י יְהוָ֥ה אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י יַגִּ֥יהַּ חָשְׁכִּֽי ׃ 30 כִּֽי ־ בְ֭ךָ אָרֻ֣ץ גְּד֑וּד וּ֝בֵֽאלֹהַ֗י אֲדַלֶּג ־ שֽׁוּר ׃ 31 הָאֵל֮ תָּמִ֪ים דַּ֫רְכּ֥וֹ אִמְרַֽת ־ יְהוָ֥ה צְרוּפָ֑ה מָגֵ֥ן ה֝֗וּא לְכֹ֤ל ׀ הַחֹסִ֬ים בּֽוֹ ׃ 32 כִּ֤י מִ֣י אֱ֭לוֹהַּ מִבַּלְעֲדֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וּמִ֥י צ֝֗וּר זוּלָתִ֥י אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ ׃ 33 הָ֭אֵל הַמְאַזְּרֵ֣נִי חָ֑יִל וַיִּתֵּ֖ן תָּמִ֣ים דַּרְכִּֽי ׃ 34 מְשַׁוֶּ֣ה רַ֭גְלַי כָּאַיָּל֑וֹת וְעַ֥ל בָּ֝מֹתַ֗י יַעֲמִידֵֽנִי ׃ 35 מְלַמֵּ֣ד יָ֭דַי לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וְֽנִחֲתָ֥ה קֶֽשֶׁת ־ נְ֝חוּשָׁ֗ה זְרוֹעֹתָֽי ׃ 36 וַתִּתֶּן ־ לִי֮ מָגֵ֪ן יִ֫שְׁעֶ֥ךָ וִֽימִינְךָ֥ תִסְעָדֵ֑נִי וְֽעַנְוַתְךָ֥ תַרְבֵּֽנִי ׃ 37 תַּרְחִ֣יב צַעֲדִ֣י תַחְתָּ֑י וְלֹ֥א מָ֝עֲד֗וּ קַרְסֻלָּֽי ׃ 38 אֶרְדּ֣וֹף א֭וֹיְבַי וְאַשִּׂיגֵ֑ם וְלֹֽא ־ אָ֝שׁוּב 1 עַד ־ כַּלּוֹתָֽם ׃ 39 אֶ֭מְחָצֵם וְלֹא ־ יֻ֣כְלוּ ק֑וּם יִ֝פְּל֗וּ תַּ֣חַת רַגְלָֽי ׃ 40 וַתְּאַזְּרֵ֣נִי חַ֭יִל לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה תַּכְרִ֖יעַ קָמַ֣י תַּחְתָּֽי ׃ 41 וְֽאֹיְבַ֗י נָתַ֣תָּה לִּ֣י עֹ֑רֶף וּ֝מְשַׂנְאַ֗י אַצְמִיתֵֽם ׃ 42 יְשַׁוְּע֥וּ וְאֵין ־ מוֹשִׁ֑יעַ עַל ־ יְ֝הוָ֗ה וְלֹ֣א עָנָֽם ׃ 43 וְֽאֶשְׁחָקֵ֗ם כְּעָפָ֥ר עַל ־ פְּנֵי ־ ר֑וּחַ כְּטִ֖יט חוּצ֣וֹת אֲרִיקֵֽם ׃ 44 תְּפַלְּטֵנִי֮ מֵרִ֪יבֵ֫י עָ֥ם תְּ֭שִׂימֵנִי לְרֹ֣אשׁ גּוֹיִ֑ם עַ֖ם לֹא ־ יָדַ֣עְתִּי יַֽעַבְדֽוּנִי ׃ 45 לְשֵׁ֣מַֽע אֹ֭זֶן יִשָּׁ֣מְעוּ לִ֑י בְּנֵֽי ־ נֵ֝כָ֗ר יְכַחֲשׁוּ ־ לִֽי ׃ 46 בְּנֵי ־ נֵכָ֥ר יִבֹּ֑לוּ וְ֝יַחְרְג֗וּ מִֽמִּסְגְּרֽוֹתֵיהֶֽם ׃ 47 חַי ־ יְ֭הוָה וּבָר֣וּךְ צוּרִ֑י וְ֝יָר֗וּם אֱלוֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעִֽי ׃ 48 הָאֵ֗ל הַנּוֹתֵ֣ן נְקָמ֣וֹת לִ֑י וַיַּדְבֵּ֖ר עַמִּ֣ים תַּחְתָּֽי ׃ 49 מְפַלְּטִ֗י מֵאֹ֫יְבָ֥י אַ֣ף מִן ־ קָ֭מַי תְּרוֹמְמֵ֑נִי מֵאִ֥ישׁ חָ֝מָ֗ס תַּצִּילֵֽנִי ׃ 50 עַל ־ כֵּ֤ן ׀ אוֹדְךָ֖ בַגּוֹיִ֥ם ׀ יְהוָ֑ה וּלְשִׁמְךָ֥ אֲזַמֵּֽרָה ׃ 51 מגדל 1 יְשׁוּע֪וֹת מַ֫לְכּ֥וֹ וְעֹ֤שֶׂה חֶ֨סֶד ׀ לִמְשִׁיח֗וֹ לְדָוִ֥ד וּלְזַרְע֗וֹ עַד ־ עוֹלָֽם ׃

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Notes

God's King praises God Intro Recap Psalms series thus far, and how to read the Psalms Christ-centredly The importance of Psalm 18 in the sequence. It's length and superscription; t he struggles of Psalms 3-17 are for a while passed. Connections to Psalms 1-2; the King is the righteous, blessed man of Psalm 1. He is given the nations and the assurance of Psalm 2. F irst time since 1-2 that we have 'king' and 'anointed' together 'Rock' - book ends, and also v31, 46. v50 rich theme and seam of the Psalms, through each book; 'Our God Reigns - through his King' 1. The Messiah praises God for rescuing Him (v1-6) Messiah = 'anointed one' = 'Christ'. cf 2 Samuel 22; we'll see this is ultimately a song sung by Jesus to the Father. David's praise is intense, overwhelming, as if language can't quite communicate what he wants it to. The effect is a stacking up of phrase after phrase. Since David knew extreme hardship and darkness - v4-6 for instance - he knew extremely intense praise. v6 from his temple he heard. Jesus is our temple; in him we are heard. Ultimately this is Jesus praising the Father 2. God's rescue was cosmic, and driven by love (v7-19) So much language from Genesis and Exodus; scripture building on scripture etc. G ives us tools for interpreting other Scripture - eg Revelation. Since David is talking truly yet metaphorically. Drawing on the the historical reality, to use motif. cf Daniel. So Exodus and Sinai then become motifs. v7-15 why all the words? David is wanting us not simply to know but to see and feel it. To be impressed and wowed by YHWH. Like Sinai all over again when he intervened. Note our cultural arrogance; we think, if it's poetic genre it is somehow less true. Actually it's the opposite. The point is, the Creator worked in his creation to deliver his servant! cf our problems with reading Revelation. Drew me out of many waters (msh - to draw out - only elsewhere used of Moses Exodus 2.10 ; and remember he was in an 'ark'). Driven by love, cf v19. We are rescued ultimately because of the deep architecture of the Father's love for the Son. Ultimately this is a description of the cross 3. The Messiah praises the faithfulness of God (v20-30) People who don't 'get' David's language, it's because they don't 'get' his hardship. is this coerced praise? cf 'anyone found not smiling will be shot'? No! What is so glorious about God is that his children praise him willingly, longingly, wishing to praise him more, and are delighted by their praise. How to understand v20-24? blameless - ie kept myself wholehearted. He conducted himself as someone right with God. His 'orbit'. We need to be ok with the category of 'righteous' people in the Bible, whilst in another sense not one is righteous. 1 John category of being righteous, in Christ, and that righteous life-sharing being demonstrated. Covenantal righteousness won by Jesus for all those in him. v24 this is what Jesus can say. And what we therefore rejoice in. v30 compare Psalm 2; we are one piece clearer about how this 'works'; through the victory/rescue he gives to his anointed King! Ultimately, the sinless Messiah and the faithful God; salvation belongs to the LORD from beginning to end. We are blessed beneficiaries indeed to be caught up in this. 4. God has given the nations to his Messiah (v31-50) v31-51 the LORD's power to establish his kingdom. The nations mentioned v43-50 a foreshadowing. 30-45 not just a deliverance but a drama of offensive warfare; v43 cf Psalm 2 nations. But carried out in the power of the Spirit as the gospel is preached and believed. HESED to his anointed. Covenantal language, v51. After victory at Agincourt, Henry V bowed down with his army and ordered Psalm 115 to be sung; not to us, not to us but to your name be the glory. cf Romans 15.9 quoting v49 - the Gentiles might praise God and glorify him as humble members of local churches; we join in praising God's rock-like goodness. v50 rich theme and seam of the Psalms, through each book. Fi rst time since 1-2 that we have 'king' and 'anointed' together Ultimately, we stand here with Jesus singing God's praises God's glory . He is the mighty, faithful, powerful, reliable rescuer who fulfills all his promises in steadfast love to his King forever. FCF . We look to other things to be our 'rock'. A particular person; wealth; cleverness and knowledge, general informed-ness; social status; a theological principle or system. v1 - we don't love Him, and don't know him as our strength. Person of Jesus. He is the blameless King who sings this Psalm. He is the One for whom God stepped in, cosmically, to overturn things, because of his sinless, blameless, righteousness. Work of Jesus . His enemies actually caught and killed him. He cried for help and there appeared no one to save (cf v41), the Lord didn't answer. He died the death which the enemies of the LORD's king deserved; what we deserved for not trusting God to be our rock. And God raised him and has given him the inheritance of the nations, we join in singing to the Father with him. Union with Jesus . We praise the Father as Sons together with Jesus. What he is by nature, we are by adoption. His victory and joy is ours. We turn away from false gods which can't save, and we boast in how God already has saved. At every step, we enjoy grace given to us, as the Son intercedes before the Father, and the Spirit applies to us from the Son. Invitation . Come and trust in God the faithful deliverer. Come and build your life upon the Rock. Confrontation . Stop looking to an idol to save and help. Under the guise of a Christian exterior. 'Rebuke' is nearly always to those who are in some way supposed to know better. Consolation . God has saved in Jesus, and so it is utterly certain that the great turnaround is coming. Boast in God the Father! The proof of his steadfast love is not your life, it's Jesus' life. Wrap-up: We are rescued ultimately because of the deep architecture of the Father's love for the Son. This is a description of the suffering of Jesus, of his being lifted up out of death, and of his being given the inheritance of the nations. We are caught up in this rescue, and join in praising God - his Father and ours.

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