←Psalm 18→BSB

In This Chapter 1 person 87 terms 5 themes 4 resources

People

David 2

Key Terms

Salvation (Physical) 8 Righteousness (Standard) 8 Complete 8 Shield 7 Save (Help) 7 Seek Refugue 5 Be Complete 4 To Show Oneself Loyal 4 To Acknowledge 4 Seek Safety 3 Horn (Symbol) 3 Salvation (Rescuer) 3 Way of Life 3 Serve 3 Bless (Approval) 3 Anointed 3 Wickedness 2 Arrow 2 To Act Wickedly 2 Transgression 2 Loyal Person 2 Kindness (Solidarity) 2 Salvation Salvation (State) Save (Restore) Salvation (Deliverance) Save (Rescue) Salvation (Means) Saving (Means) Be (Or Show Oneself) Just Acquit Justice (Right) Righteousness (Act) Just Put Right With Make Righteous Deserved Justify (Vindicate) Justify Justly Justice Righteousness (Quality) The Way Way of the Lord (Metaphorical) Way to Live Way of Life Act Unjustly Complete Certainty Be Fully Assured To Sin Sin Guilt (State) Sin (Act) Sin (Incur Guilt) Guilty (Responsible) Guilt (Consequence) Guiltiness Trespass (Sin) Sinful Sin (Offense) To Stand Guilty Sin (Guilty) Sin (Wrongdoing) Guilty Considered Guilty Guilty Of Sin Previously Sin Against Force to Serve Enslave Hold in Bondage Gain Control Over Blessing (Act) Bless (Favor) Blessing (Content) Blessed Bless (Request Favor) Praise Be Kind Kindness (Benevolence) Kindness (Graciousness) Kindness (Affection) Anoint (Pour) Anoint (Assign) Anoint (Smear) Anointing (Act) Anoint (Rub On)

Themes

Praise Psalms Royal Psalms Salvation in the Psalms The Poor and Needy in the Psalms Wisdom Psalms

Resources

Psalms Book Overview David Articles Jude, Letter of Articles Samuel, Books of First and Second Articles

The LORD Is My Rock

(2 Samuel 22:1–51)

For the choirmaster. Of David the servant of the LORD, who sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:

ⓘ This royal drama of divine rescue (also found...

This royal drama of divine rescue (also found with minor variations in 2 Sam 22:1–51) encourages readers who are following the laments and requests for rescue in Pss 16 and 17. The psalmist describes the dramatic nature of God’s rescue in three different ways (18:7–15, 16–19, 30–36). The psalm also extends hope that a future Son of David will be totally victorious over evil (18:43–50; cp. Ps 2).
1I love You, O LORD, my strength.
2The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,my shield, and the horn of my salvation,my stronghold.3I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;so shall I be saved from my enemies.
4The cords of death encompassed me;the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me.5The cords of Sheol entangled me;the snares of death confronted me.6In my distress I called upon the LORD;I cried to my God for help.From His temple He heard my voice,and my cry for His help reached His ears.
ⓘ The psalmist depicts the Lord’s descent from heaven...

The psalmist depicts the Lord’s descent from heaven to earth with phenomena such as earthquakes, flames, smoke, darkness, and rain. Creation shudders at God’s marvelous coming as the Divine Warrior (see 97:2–5) and Judge (see 50:1–6).
7Then the earth shook and quaked,and the foundations of the mountains trembled;they were shaken because He burned with anger.8Smoke rose from His nostrils,and consuming fire came from His mouth;glowing coals blazed forth.
ⓘ The Lord’s sovereignty extends over all of nature...

The Lord’s sovereignty extends over all of nature (see 104:2–4; 148:5–6).
9He parted the heavens and came downwith dark clouds beneath His feet.10He mounted a cherub and flew;He soared on the wings of the wind.11He made darkness His hiding place,and storm clouds a canopy around Him.12From the brightness of His presenceHis clouds advanced—hailstones and coals of fire.†
13The LORD thundered from heaven;the voice of the Most High resounded—hailstones and coals of fire.†14He shot His arrows and scattered the foes;He hurled lightning and routed them.15The channels of the sea appeared,and the foundations of the world were exposed,at Your rebuke, O LORD,at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
16He reached down from on high and took hold of me;He drew me out of deep waters.17He rescued me from my powerful enemy,from foes too mighty for me.18They confronted me in my day of calamity,but the LORD was my support.19He brought me out into the open;He rescued me because He delighted in me.
ⓘ The psalmist affirms that loyalty is rewarded. He...

The psalmist affirms that loyalty is rewarded. He puts his trust in the Lord (see 16:1) and commits himself to living with integrity (see Pss 1, 15, 24; see also 19:12–14).
20The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness;He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands.21For I have kept the ways of the LORDand have not wickedly departed from my God.22For all His ordinances are before me;I have not disregarded His statutes.23And I have been blameless before Himand kept myself from iniquity.24So the LORD has repaid me according to my righteousness,according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.
ⓘ The faithful God remains true to his character....

The faithful God remains true to his character. He loves faithfulness, blamelessness, and purity, and he hates the perverse (see 1:6).
25To the faithful You show Yourself faithful,to the blameless You show Yourself blameless;26to the pure You show Yourself pure,but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd.27For You save an afflicted people,but You humble those with haughty eyes.
28For You, O LORD, light my lamp;my God lights up my darkness.29For in You I can charge an army,and with my God I can scale a wall.
ⓘ The psalmist experiences God’s rescue and provision of...

The psalmist experiences God’s rescue and provision of victory.
30As for God, His way is perfect;the word of the LORD is flawless.He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
31For who is God besides the LORD?And who is the Rock except our God?
ⓘ The psalmist’s victories come from the Lord. He...

The psalmist’s victories come from the Lord. He completely depends on God.
32It is God who arms me with strengthand makes my way clear.33He makes my feet like those of a deerand stations me upon the heights.34He trains my hands for battle;my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35You have given me Your shield of salvation;Your right hand upholds me,and Your gentleness exalts me.†36You broaden the path beneath meso that my ankles do not give way.
ⓘ With help from the Divine Warrior, the psalmist...

With help from the Divine Warrior, the psalmist experienced victory over his enemies.
37I pursued my enemies and overtook them;I did not turn back until they were consumed.38I crushed them so they could not rise;they have fallen under my feet.
39You have armed me with strength for battle;You have subdued my foes beneath me.40You have made my enemies retreat before me;I destroyed those who hated me.41They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—to the LORD, but He did not answer.42I ground them as dust in the face of the wind;I trampled them† like mud in the streets.
ⓘ With God’s victorious help, the psalmist achieved military...

With God’s victorious help, the psalmist achieved military and political success, thus fulfilling the history of David’s dynasty (Ps 2). The previous laments find some resolution in this psalm.
43You have delivered me from the strife of the people;You have made me the head of nations;a people I had not known shall serve me.44When they hear me, they obey me;foreigners cower before me.45Foreigners lose heartand come trembling from their strongholds.
ⓘ The psalmist again reflects on the Lord’s victories....

The psalmist again reflects on the Lord’s victories. God’s marvelous rescue and the king’s victory are cause for celebration.
46The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock!And may the God of my salvation be exalted—47the God who avenges meand subdues nations beneath me,48who delivers me from my enemies.You exalt me above my foes;You rescue me from violent men.49Therefore I will praise You, O LORD, among the nations;I will sing praises to Your name.†
50Great salvation He brings to His king.He shows loving devotion to His anointed,to David and his descendants forever.