Praise for Divine Deliverance – Part 1 & 2 – Psalm 18:1-19

Part 2 – 6 Apr 2025

Exposition of Psalm 18 – Part 1. The theme of this Psalm is David’s prayer of thanksgiving for Divine deliverance from his enemies.

The Prologue to the Psalm – the prologue gives us helpful information concerning the setting and the subject of the Psalm.

1. The addressee – “To the Chief Musician”
2. The author – “A Psalm of David”. Note that David refers to himself as “the servant of the LORD”. By this stage, David was king of the nation and yet he is full of humility. True praise has a humble view of self and an exalted view of God.
3. The aim – “who spake unto the LORD”. The Psalm is addressed to God and is an ascription of praise to God for His deliverance from David’s enemies. The theme is thanksgiving for Divine deliverance from the enemy. This Psalm has been called “The Song of a Grateful Heart”. C.H. Spurgeon describes it as “the song of a grateful heart overwhelmed with a retrospect of the manifold and marvelous mercies of God. We will call it THE GRATEFUL RETROSPECT.”

The Structure of the Psalm: Allen Ross writes, “The Psalmist begins with a summary praise of what the LORD means to him (Vs. 1-3) and then turns to report his great suffering and miraculous deliverance (Vs. 4-19). This is followed by a didactic (sermonic/teaching) section in which he attributes the deliverance to the LORD (Vs. 20-30). Then in a lengthy tribute, the psalmist reposts the blessings he has received from the LORD in his military experiences (Vs. 31-45). The Psalm then closes with a doxology (Vs. 46-51).”

A suggested outline for the Psalm is as follows:

• The Resolve towards Divine Deliverance (Vs. 1-3)
• The Remembrance of Divine Deliverance (Vs. 4-19)
• The Righteousness of Divine Deliverance (Vs. 20-27)
• The Reassurance in Divine Deliverance (Vs. 28-45)
• The Rejoicing in Divine Deliverance (Vs. 46-50)

Part 1 – 30 Mar 2025

Part 2 – 6 Apr 2025

The Resolve Towards Divine Deliverance (Vs. 1-3)

David’s resolve can be seen in his two “I will” statements – “I will love thee” and “I will call upon the LORD”. There is…

A Resolve to Praise (Vs. 1-2)

1. The Passion for God (Vs. 1a)
   1. The word ‘love’ David uses her is an intense and passionate word. David’s heart was aflame with passion and fervour for his God. “The verb here described a deep feeling of tender affection. It usually refers to the LORD’s tender compassion for his people, but here the Psalmist used it to express his deep affection for the LORD.” (Ross) “The word is intensely forcible, the love of the deepest kind. “I will love heartily, with my inmost bowels.” (Spurgeon)
   2. There is nothing like meditating on the theme of God’s deliverance to awaken and stir spiritual affections. Psalm 40:1 “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.”
   3. Our love for God is a response to His love for us – “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
2. The Preciousness of God (Vs. 1b-2) God is precious because of who He is and what He has done. God is precious because he is our God through saving grace. Note the personal pronoun ‘my’ occurs 9 times in these two verses!
   1. “my strength” = speaks of God as our power. In the context of battle, this is a precious truth. To be “strengthened with all might according to his glorious power” (Col. 1:11) and “to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man” (Eph. 3:16) is a great and glorious thing.
   2. “my rock” = speaks of God as our foundation. The rock is a frequent metaphor for God in the Psalms. There are three references to this in the Psalm (Vs. 2, 31 & 46). It is a reoccurring theme in the Psalms (at least 19 times the Psalmist refers to God as his Rock). The figure of the rock speaks of the fact God is unshakable and unchangeable and is therefore a sure foundation for His people. Our faith rests upon His Person and work. “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” (Ps. 40:2) Jesus Christ referred to Himself as the rock upon which the church is built (Matt. 16:18). He is the church’s foundation (1 Cor. 3:10-11).
   3. “my fortress” = speaks of God as our protection. God is called a ‘fortress’ five times in the Psalms (Ps. 18:2; 31:3; 71:3; 91:2; 144:2). Earthly fortresses can and do fall (Illustration: Nazi super fortresses) but God is an impenetrable fortress who will never fail. “A Mighty Fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing”.
   4. “my deliverer” = speaks of God as our Saviour. This speaks to the theme of the Psalm. Praise God He is our Redeemer and Rescuer from the devil’s dungeon and the darkness and depravity of sin. Praise God that as His children we are protected from every danger.
   5. “my God” = speaks of God as the Almighty One and the believer’s possession by faith. The only way you can say God is “your God” is to receive Him through salvation.
   6. “my strength” = second mention of the word. However, this comes from a different Hebrew word referring to rock or cleft in the rock. In fact, the Hebrew word is most frequently translated “rock” in the Old Testament. God is a strong place of refuge. His strength is both our empowerment and our concealment.
   7. “my buckler” = speaks of God as our defence. The buckler was a small shield used by archers and swordsmen (1 Chro. 5:18) (Cloud). It was a “small, round shield held by a grip or worn on the arm” (Defined KJV). God is a shield to us when we are engaged in battle with the enemy.
   8. “the horn of my salvation” = speaks of God as our mighty Saviour. The horn is often used in Scripture to symbolize power and strength (Deut. 33:17; Ps. 75:4-5; Jer. 48:25; Zec. 1:21). What mighty saving power was unleashed to redeem and regenerate us. Eph. 1:19 “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.” The figure is also a reminder that salvation is all of God, not our works. “To say that God is the horn of my salvation is to say that He is the power and preserver of my salvation and nothing can take it away.” (D. Cloud)
   9. “my high tower” = speaks of God as our refuge. Three times God is called a high or strong tower in the Psalms (Ps. 18:2; 61:3; 144:2). In Christ, we have been raised up far above the powers of darkness (See Eph. 1:21; 2:6). That is a very high tower above the enemy! Provers 18:10 reads, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” The same Hebrew word is translated ‘refuge’ in a number of Psalms. For example, Psalm 9:9 – “The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” Psalm 46:7,11 “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” (See also Ps. 48:3) It is also translated numerous times as ‘defence’ (Ps. 59:9, 16, 17; 62:2, 6; 94:22).

A Resolve to Pray (Vs. 3)

In light of what God was to David (the nine “my” statements), it is little wonder that his prayer of faith follows.

1. David’s Call upon God (Vs. 3a)
   1. The Psalmist resolves to call upon the Lord. He adds the note that God is “worthy to be praised”.
   2. The God upon which we call is praiseworthy. Let us remember to infuse our prayers with the spirit of praise and thanksgiving. Our God is worthy of all honour, glory and praise from us as His redeemed children. He is worthy of more honour than we can ever give Him!
2. David’s Confidence in God (Vs. 3b)
   1. David had an assurance that God would answer his cry for help and save him from his enemies.
   2. If like David, we are on God’s side of the battle, we can have such assurance when we pray for victory over the enemy. When we pray in the battle, do we pray in faith?

The Remembrance of Divine Deliverance (Vs. 4-19)

David’s plea is supported by the remembrance of God’s faithful dealings in the past. Answers to prayer in the past provide a foothold for faith in the present as we ask the Lord for fresh victories. David recounts:

The Distress from the Enemy (Vs. 4-5)

“The Psalmist explains how he was almost dead at the hands of his enemies. He uses four parallel expressions to stress the point that he was being entangled and pulled down to the grave.” (Ross) The deadly, diabolical character of the enemy is revealed in these verses! David had experienced the enemy’s attempts to:

1. Encircle him – (Vs. 4a; 5a). “Death like a cruel conqueror seemed to twist round about him the cords of pain.” (Spurgeon)
   1. “sorrows of death compassed me” (Vs. 4a) The word ‘compassed’ means “to surround”.
   2. “sorrows of hell compassed me about” (Vs. 5b). Here the word ‘hell’ is used in relation to the grave.
   3. David’s life was under physical threat from the enemy. That was certainly true when he was being pursued by Saul. To be surrounded by a deadly enemy is a very dangerous position to be in and causes great fear and distress. Such a perilous position requires supernatural power to escape.
   4. “From all sides the hell-hounds barked furiously. A cordon of devils hemmed in the hunted man of God. Satan knows how to blockade our coasts with the iron war-ships of sorrow, but, blessed by God, the port of all prayer is still open, and grace can run the blockade bearing messages from earth to heaven, and blessings in return from heaven to earth.” (Spurgeon)
2. Engulf him (Vs. 4b)
   1. “floods of ungodly men” = David’s enemies were numerous and powerful. A powerful flood sweeps away everything in its path. How the devil loves to try and overwhelm us with satanic force! When faced with the devil and his multitude of dark minions, we can easily fear. We are no match for them but they are no match for our God!
   2. Isaiah 59:19 “…When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”
3. Entrap him (Vs. 5b)
   1. “the snares of death” = a snare was a trap for catching animals. The snares David faced were life threatening. While the snares we face in the Christian life may not be threatening to our physical lives, they are threatening to our spiritual lives.
   2. “prevented me” = the word ‘prevented’ in old English meant “came or went before, preceded” (Defined KJV). The picture therefore is of a hunter who goes ahead and lays a trap. What a picture of the enemy we face!

The Defeat of the Enemy (Vs. 6-16)

Note the word ‘then’ in verse 7. David recounts God’s majestic and mighty response to his cry for help.

1. David’s Supplication because of the enemy (Vs. 6) Prayer was David’s response to the “distress” he found himself in. Is prayer our first or last resort? The enemy may encircle you but the hounds of hell cannot hinder your prayers from reaching the throne room of heaven.
   1. The fervency of his prayer (Vs. 6a)
      1. He called upon God. “The word ‘distress’ is the Hebrew word ‘sar’ meaning “narrow; a tight place” (Strongs). It is also translated “narrow” (Num. 22:26), “tribulation” (Deut. 4:30), “trouble” 17 times (2 Chr. 15:4), “adversary” 26 times (Est. 7:6), “anguish” (Job 7:11), “sorrow” (Is. 5:30), and “affliction” 3 times (Is. 63:9).” (Cloud)
      2. He cried out to God. See how the prayer grows in intensity. He calls then cries.
   2. The receptivity to his prayer (Vs. 6b)
      God heard David’s prayer! The reality that God hears the prayers of his children is emphasised in several ways:
      1. “he heard my voice out of his temple” = the temple here is a reference to the heavenly temple, the dwelling place of God. Satan can’t stop your prayers getting to God!
      2. “my cry came before him”
      3. “even into his ears”
2. God’s Indignation towards the Enemy (Vs. 7-8)
   These verses contain an awesome and fearful depiction of the Divine wrath. God’s wrath is pure, holy and righteous.
   1. The shaking of His wrath (Vs. 7). The picture is that of an earthquake so great that the very foundations of the hills are disturbed.
   2. The burning of His wrath (Vs. 8). The smoke out of the nostrils and fire from the mouth are figures of speech in the oriental world that describe fierce wrath. These are symbols of Divine wrath being breathed out.
   3. Bishop Mant aptly rhymes the verse thus:“Smoke from his heated nostrils came,
      And from his mouth devouring flame;
      Hot burning coals announced his ire,
      And flashes of careering fire.”
3. God’s Intervention against the Enemy (Vs. 9-15)
   What a picture is painted by the brush of inspiration in these verses! When God comes in power to rescue his people, all nature is moved at his coming. God’s intervention was:
   1. Personal (Vs. 9-11) God personally comes to his servant’s aid. God could have simply said a word from the throne to defeat David’s enemy, but such is his love for his child that he personally descends from heaven to deal with David’s enemies.
      1. The Majesty of His Presence (Vs. 9-10). God is pictured as bowing the heavens in his descent to aid David and riding on a cherub. “Under the Mosaic system the cherubim are frequently represented as the chariot of God.” (See Ez. 1) God rides of angelic chariotry.
      2. The Mystery of His Presence (Vs. 11). The presence of God is enveloped in darkness and thick clouds. There is only so much of the Divine glory that sinful men can look upon. Apparently, the phenomenon of a dark thunderstorm appeared to be a covering for his glorious presence.
   2. Powerful (Vs. 12-15)
      1. The Lord thundered against the enemy (Vs. 12-13)
      2. The Lord scattered the enemy (Vs. 14). The word ‘discomforted’ means “defeated, routed, put to flight; destroyed” (Defined KJV). The enemy is pulverised by God’s power. “Suddenly the terrible artillery of heaven was discharged. Volleys of hailstones and coals of fire were hurled forth upon the enemy. The lightnings seemed to cleave the clouds and kindle them into a blaze and then hailstones and flakes of fire with flashes of terrific grandeur terrified the sons of men.” (Spurgeon)
      3. The Lord overwhelmed the enemy (Vs. 15)
   3. “There is an intensity and energy here as Jehovah moves to deliver His child. The earth is shaken, there is flaming fire to consume and an issuing smoke to confuse. It is divine power manifested against the enemies of God and good. Jehovah moves heaven and earth to defend and deliver His people. He bowed the heavens and came down.” (Flanigan)
   4. “The whole passage is intended to depict God’s descent to the help of his child, attended by earthquake and tempest; at the majesty of his appearing the earth rocks, the clouds gather like smoke, and the lightning as flaming fire devours, setting the world on a blaze. What grandeur of description is here!” (Spurgeon)

The Deliverance form the Enemy (Vs. 16-19)

1. The Rescue Described (Vs. 16-18)
   1. He drew me (Vs. 16). The imagery of being drawn out of many waters harks back to the “floods of ungodly men” mentioned in verse 4.
   2. He delivered me (Vs. 17). David describes his enemy as those who “hated” and were “too strong” for him. David was no match for such an enemy but God’s power was!
   3. He defended me (Vs. 18). “So tremendous was the shock of God’s assault that the order of nature was changed, and the bottoms of rivers and seas were laid bare.” (Spurgeon)
2. The Reason Declared (Vs. 19)
   1. God brought David into a large place. This is in contrast to the narrow place (‘distress’ = a narrow place) he was in when surrounded by the enemy.
   2. God delivered David because he delighted in him. David was an object of God’s grace and favour. God’s grace was the basis for the glorious deliverance David has just described. “Grace is the truth which lies at the bottom of every well of mercy.” (Spurgeon)

Conclusion

Thanks be to God for delivering us from sin and Satan!

1. Theological lessons (what we learn about God)
2. Christological lessons (what we learn about Christ)
3. Practical lessons (what we learn about the Christian life)

Sermon 22 & 23 in Heaven’s Hymnbook (the Psalms)

Sermon Audio Id: 3302553505525 & 4425630176436