Psa 18 | MHCC | e4.org | 1-19 The first words, "I will love thee, O Lord, my strength," are the scope and contents of the psalm. Those that truly love God, may triumph in him as their Rock and Refuge, and may with confidence call upon him. 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. David was a praying man, and God was found a prayer-hearing God. If we pray as he did, we shall speed as he did. God's manifestation of his presence is very fully described, ver. #7-15|. Little appeared of man, but much of God, in these deliverances. It is not possible to apply to the history of the son of Jesse those awful, majestic, and stupendous words which are used through this description of the Divine manifestation. Every part of so solemn a scene of terrors tells us, a greater than David is here. God will not only deliver his people out of their troubles in due time, but he will bear them up under their troubles in the mean time. Can we meditate on ver. 18, without directing one thought to Gethsemane and Calvary? Can we forget that it was in the hour of Christ's deepest calamity, when Judas betrayed, when his friends forsook, when the multitude derided him, and the smiles of his Father's love were withheld, that the powers of darkness prevented him? 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, because he delighted in him and in his undertaking.

‏ Psalms 18

* David rejoices in the deliverances God wrought for him. (1-19)

He takes the comfort of his integrity, which God had cleared up.

(20-28) He gives to God the glory of all his mighty deeds.

(29-50)1-19 The first words, "I will love thee, O Lord, my strength,"

are the scope and contents of the psalm. Those that truly love

God, may triumph in him as their Rock and Refuge, and may with

confidence call upon him. 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. David was a praying man, and God was found

a prayer-hearing God. If we pray as he did, we shall speed as he

did. God's manifestation of his presence is very fully

described, ver. #7-15|. Little appeared of man, but much of God,

in these deliverances. It is not possible to apply to the

history of the son of Jesse those awful, majestic, and

stupendous words which are used through this description of the

Divine manifestation. Every part of so solemn a scene of terrors

tells us, a greater than David is here. God will not only

deliver his people out of their troubles in due time, but he

will bear them up under their troubles in the mean time. Can we

meditate on ver. 18, without directing one thought to Gethsemane

and Calvary? Can we forget that it was in the hour of Christ's

deepest calamity, when Judas betrayed, when his friends forsook,

when the multitude derided him, and the smiles of his Father's

love were withheld, that the powers of darkness prevented him?

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,

because he delighted in him and in his undertaking. 20-28 Those that forsake the ways of the Lord, depart from

their God. But though conscious to ourselves of many a false

step, let there not be a wicked departure from our God. David

kept his eye upon the rule of God's commands. Constant care to

keep from that sin, whatever it be, which most easily besets us,

proves that we are upright before God. Those who show mercy to

others, even they need mercy. Those who are faithful to God,

shall find him all that to them which he has promised to be. The

words of the Lord are pure words, very sure to be depended on,

and very sweet to be delighted in. Those who resist God, and

walk contrary to him, shall find that he will walk contrary to

them, #Le 26:21-24|. The gracious recompence of which David

spoke, may generally be expected by those who act from right

motives. Hence he speaks comfort to the humble, and terror to

the proud; "Thou wilt bring down high looks." And he speaks

encouragement to himself; "Thou wilt light my candle:" thou wilt

revive and comfort my sorrowful spirit; thou wilt guide my way,

that I may avoid the snares laid for me. Thou wilt light my

candle to work by, and give me an opportunity of serving thee.

Let those that walk in darkness, and labour under

discouragements, take courage; God himself will be a Light to

them. 29-50 When we praise for one mercy, we must observe the many

more, with which we have been compassed all our days. Many

things had contributed to David's advancement, and he owns the

hand of God in them all, to teach us to do likewise. In verse

#32|, and the following verses, are the gifts of God to the

spiritual warrior, whereby he is prepared for the contest, after

the example of his victorious Leader. Learn that we must seek

release being made through Christ, shall be rejected. In David

the type, we behold out of trouble through Christ. The prayer

put up, without reconciliation Jesus our Redeemer, conflicting

with enemies, compassed with sorrows and with floods of ungodly

men, enduring not only the pains of death, but the wrath of God

for us; yet calling upon the Father with strong cries and tears;

rescued from the grave; proceeding to reconcile, or to put under

his feet all other enemies, till death, the last enemy, shall be

destroyed. We should love the Lord, our Strength, and our

Salvation; we should call on him in every trouble, and praise

him for every deliverance; we should aim to walk with him in all

righteousness and true holiness, keeping from sin. If we belong

to him, he conquers and reigns for us, and we shall conquer and

reign through him, and partake of the mercy of our anointed

King, which is promised to all his seed for evermore. Amen