Psalm 18, Smoke and Consuming Fire! (Part 2)

We continue reading David's ecstatic voice of praise in Psalm 18, after deliverance from the hands of King Saul. A version of this song appears in II Samuel 22. Our last scripture blog post ended at verse 29.

Psalm 18: 30-35, Standing on the heights

As for God, his way is perfect; 

the word of the LORD is flawless. 

He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

For who is God besides the LORD? 

And who is the Rock except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; 

he enables me to stand on the heights.

He trains my hands for battle; 

my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

You give me your shield of victory, 

and your right hand sustains me; 

you stoop down to make me great.

The all-powerful Creator "stoops" to work with David. 

Verse 33 is a reference to physical fighting on foot, typical of David's campaigns, prior to the application of the battle chariot in the time of Solomon. These fights would have been very strenuous and fatiguing, with many opportunities for quick death or injury.

Psalm 18: 36-42, Strength for battle

You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.

I pursued my enemies and overtook them; 

I did not turn back till they were destroyed.

I crushed them so that they could not rise; 

they fell beneath my feet.

You armed me with strength for battle;

you made my adversaries bow at my feet.

You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, 

and I destroyed my foes.

They cried for help, 

but there was no one to save them—

to the LORD, but he did not answer.

I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind; 

I poured them out like mud in the streets.

Kidner says that the Hebrew verbs in verses 37-45 are mostly in the imperfect tense, showing actions which are continuing or which are not yet completed.

Psalm 18: 43-45, Deliverance, elevation

You have delivered me from the attacks of the people; 

you have made me the head of nations; 

people I did not know are subject to me.

As soon as they hear me, they obey me; 

foreigners cringe before me.

 They all lose heart; 

they come trembling from their strongholds.

Elevated to the role of King of Israel, David has authority over defeated Philistines and Amelekites and makes treaties with other nations.

Psalm 18: 46-49, Praise You among the nations!

The LORD lives! 

Praise be to my Rock! 

Exalted be God my Savior!

He is the God who avenges me, 

who subdues nations under me,

who saves me from my enemies. 

You exalted me above my foes; 

from violent men you rescued me.

Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD; 

I will sing praises to your name.

The apostle Paul (in Romans 15: 9) uses verse 49 as evidence that even the Gentiles ("among the nations") are invited to praise the God of the Jewish people.

And a final summary verse:
Psalm 18: 50, He controls kings

He gives his king great victories; 

he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, 

to David and his descendants forever.

Some see this verse as evidence that the psalm was really written by (or for) a descendant of David but Kidner points out that David relied on a covenantal promise that his descendants would be the rulers of Israel for all time.

The apostle Paul in the New Testament (eg. Romans 15: 9 where verse 49 is repeated) sees this psalm as speaking of the Jewish Messiah.  Christian writers ever since have agreed that this psalm, like Psalm 2, has messianic overtones.  After all, if this psalm emphasizes David enjoyment of the covenant promised by YHWH, how much more closely must it describe David's ultimate descendant, Messiah Jesus?