“I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horm of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies…He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters…For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock, except our God?...He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights…Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O Lord; I will sing praises to your name.” (Psalm 18: 1-3; 16, 31, 33, 49. NIV) [Read Psalm 118]Scholars agree that David is author of this magnificent psalm of praise. Most versions of this Psalm have an introductory note, added by an editor early enough for it to be included in ancient manuscripts. It reads: “For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord. He sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:” And the Psalm begins with that first-person statement: “I love You, O Lord my strength!” –a very personal, positive and testimonial invocation. The psalm is a magnificent song of praise with each section worthy of much comment. This devotional merely touches the highlights. I pray you will read the whole psalm in several translations and let its beauty and truths enliven your faith. David uses many poetic metaphors to describe the majesty, might and omnipotence of God the Savior. He reveals His power and strength, and helps King David in all areas of need. The Psalm recounts a series of triumphant thanksgivings to God, giving highly figurative and poetic accounts of the author’s deliverance from danger (verses 4-19). The poet is not afraid to recount his own strengths in verses 20-24, because it is God who grants them. The character of God and how it is demonstrated to the psalmist is given in verses 25-28. Thanksgivings for victories won are enumerated in verses 29-48.
When it seems that the “coils of the grave” wound around David, he saw the Lord revealed in many ways: in earthquake, thunder, fire (lightning), darkness, clouds, the waters. And God’s sustaining power gave strength to the warrior. Even his feet were as hind’s feet (deer) and he had sure footing in hard-to-climb places. This can be taken literally or figuratively. Being a poet of sorts and a definite lover of poetry, I am lifted and inspired by David’s language in this Psalm. Thanks be to God for lofty words, for poetic expression! Even the excellence of David’s hymn to God and the very best any of us can do to express God’s power and might cannot fathom or unveil His wonder and majesty! Dr. Alton H. McEachern, in commenting on this Psalm, stated: “We praise God because He is our powerful Savior. Salvation includes both refuge and deliverance. God rescues and protects those who faithfully obey Him. Such rescue may involve equipping us to defend ourselves” (see verses 32-45). [The Disciples Study Bible. Nashville: Holman, 1988. p. 647]
If we can remember and quote Psalm 18:19, it will encourage and help us at all times, and especially in times of depression or hardship: “He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.” What a wonderful thought: God “delights in me”! God takes pleasure in me—one of His children! This thought by David is substantiated in other scripture references. “The Lord takes pleasure in His people” (Psalm 149:4a. TEV). “You created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.” (Revelation 4:11. NLT). At this Thanksgiving season, take time to thank God for His delight in each of us and for salvation by grace through faith! Let us, as David, not be ashamed to tell this good news abroad to everyone, to “praise You among the nations, O Lord; sing praises to Your name!”
c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Tuesday, November 16, 2010
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