Psalm 18:3 ESV
I Samuel 21:8-11 ESV
Psalm 18:1-2 ESV
Psalm 18 written by David shows David’s complete reliance on God. We know that many of the psalms of David were written during a very dark time in his life.
In Psalm 18:3 David wrote, “I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.”
David’s enemies were sent by King Saul and they were very powerful.
We know that King Saul pursued David during the latter years of his reign. We know that King Saul’s popularity and reputation had waned and the King pursued young David because he was loved by the people. We know that David ran for fear of losing his life to Saul’s men.
In I Samuel 21:8-11 we learn that earlier David left Saul’s palace quickly and he fled to Gath, “Then David said to Ahimelech, “Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.” And the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here.” And David said, “There is none like that; give it to me.” And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances,‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”
We know from this scripture that the people had great respect for David.
They respected him so much that they even sang about David being more powerful in battle than King Saul.
King Saul would have known of David’s reputation and he would hate hated David. He would have sent his armies to pursue David so they could slay him.
In response to Saul’s pursuit, David turned to God. Many of the psalms written by David were pinned while he was on the run from Saul.
However, the tone of Psalm 18 was a little different. This psalm was written to God, the Chief Musician as a declaration of the fulfillment of God’s salvation.
David is telling God in all things He is worthy of praise.
David declared God’s victory because He had saved David.
The tone of this verse announces David’s victory. In this Psalm while David had been pursued by King Saul and his men for years, he now knows he was saved.
It’s difficult for us to understand how long David had been on the run from Saul and what that meant to him. Even though David had been chosen to be the next king of Israel, even though he was seeking to do what God wanted him to do, even though his obedience came at great cost, David didn’t remind God what he had done for God.
David was fully thankful and grateful that he had been delivered. This Psalm was about what God did for David.
Still, he didn’t call on God to tell Him he was glad his trial was finally over. David genuinely and ardently praised God because God was the ONE who was worthy of praise.
David gave credit where credit was due.
The man who was named to be the next King of Israel fully surrendered himself to God.
As Psalm 18 opens in verses 1-2, David wrote, “I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
As I read and realize the context of David’s words I am humbled. David has fought the good fight with God’s help. He was obedient to God’s call. But he didn’t remind God of his great sacrifice. He didn’t tell God he was glad this day finally came. David didn’t pretend he was worthy that this moment arrived.
David simply proclaimed his love for God.
He recognized that God alone was his strength.
He knew that through every trial it was God who had been his rock.
God was his refuge. God had shielded him from Saul and his armies. God saved him. God had been and would always be his stronghold.
David called on the name of the Lord so he could praise Him for his mighty deeds.
David recognized the Victory was from God.
He knew that nothing that was done was apart from God. Only God.
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Recognize the Victory
See God was your Champion who has brought victory to you.
In God, Deborah
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