Psalm 18 reminds
me of the power in loving praise. It is easy to find negative things
to say about people, but praise often requires effort. This psalm of
David comes with an introduction. It always adds something to a song
when the writer tells us the circumstances when he wrote it. “He
sang to the Lord… when the Lord delivered him… from the hand of
Saul“.
Saul, the King of Israel pursued David with every resource possible.
It was one innocent man against a jealous king and his entire army.
The psalm begins, “I
love you, O Lord, my strength… my rock, my fortress and my
deliverer… in whom I take refuge… my salvation, my stronghold“.
He declares that God is “worthy
of praise“.
David vividly describes the feeling of being hunted, “the
torrents
of
destruction overwhelmed me… the snares of death confronted me… In
my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help“.
And he explains, “He
heard my voice;
my
cry came before Him, into His ears“.
The only prayers that God does not hear are those not offered.
But
notice David begins his prayer with praise. Praise is not about
preparing God, it is how
we prepare ourselves.
Praise helps us keep our reverence before the Almighty. When we are
in love it is never hard to find words to express those that delight
us. Do you delight in God?
Next David
described the incomprehensible power of God in protecting him from
Saul’s army. “The
earth trembled and quaked… because He was angry… fire came from
His mouth… He soared on the wings of the wind… The Lord thundered
from heaven… and
scattered
the enemies“.
In all of this David was kept safe, “He
reached down from on high and took hold of me… He rescued me
because He delighted in me“.
This reminds me of an event yet to come. The world is comfortable
with the Jesus that was born as a baby in Bethlehem, turning the
other cheek and demonstrating sacrificial love. But the Bible is
very clear that Jesus came first as a lamb, but at an
appointed time, He will return as a warrior to reclaim the earth.
Revelation chapter 19, describes
Jesus the conqueror, “Before
me was a white horse whose rider was called Faithful and True… His
eyes are like blazing fire…He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood
and His name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following
Him… Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword… On his robe…this is
written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords“.
Like David, I believe the church will be snatched up before the
battle. Revelation 19 also tells us “of
a great multitude in heaven shouting: Hallelujah! Salvation and
glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are His
judgments“.
God protects His beloved.
The
psalm ends with David declaring the reason for his success, “As
for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is flawless“.
David knew he was not perfect, but rather that everything he
accomplished was through God’s Spirit. “It
is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect… He
trains my hands for battle… I pursued my enemies and overtook them…
I crushed them so that they could not rise… You have delivered me
from the attacks of the people“.
I believe David was effective because “All
His laws are before me“.
In good times and bad, David studied God’s Word. That is why he
could say,
“The
Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted
be God my Savior!”
We know this was an important psalm because David quoted it at his
end of his life (2 Samuel 22). Looking back, David can only exalt
the One that loved him, Therefore
I
will praise you among the nations,
O
Lord; I will sing praises to Your name.
What song will you sing at the end of your life?