David's psalm of thanksgiving for God's mighty deliverances and manifold blessings.
1AND David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, 1and out of the hand of Saul:
1 That is, especially out of the hand of Saul, whose persecution was the most dangerous of all to David. Compare Mark 16:7.
2And he said, 2Thea LORD is my 3rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
2 Compare this song with the 18th Psalm.
a Psalm 18:2, etc.
3 See Deut. 32 on verse 4, 31. Also below, verse 47.
34The God of my rock; in him will Ib5trust: he is my shield, and the 6horn of my salvation, my 7high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
4 Or, God is my rock.
b Heb. 2:13.
5 Or, go to him for refuge; so in verse 31. Compare Ruth 2 on verse 12.
6 That is, Who by His power fights for me, defends and saves me. A comparison taken from animals which defend and protect themselves with their horns. Compare Num. 32:22; 24:8; Deut. 33 on verse 17.
7 Hebr. properly: height, high place. As an height where I hide myself and am secure and safe. These and other comparisons are borrowed from the means which they used in those times to hide and defend themselves from the violence of the enemies, as on rocks, heights, towers, fortresses, strongholds, etc.
4 I 8will call on the LORD, 9who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
8 Or, I called on the LORD. Hebr. properly: will call on; and so often in the following verses. The Hebrews use many words in relating of passed histories which otherwise do properly signify the time to come, or something that continually and commonly happens.
9 Or, who is praised.
5When the 10waves of death compassed me, the floods of 11ungodly men made me afraid;
10 David does intimate with these elegant, lofty, flowery discourses that his distresses have been such that without God’s wonderful and powerful deliverance he would have been a lost man.
11 That is, of disastrous and vicious rabble, or of the devil and his instruments. See Deut. 13 on verse 13.
6The sorrows of 12hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;
12 Or, of the grave, that is, anxieties which threatened death. Other, pains of hell.
7In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of 13his temple, and my cry 14did enter into his ears.
13 That is, out of heaven, from where He ordered the following miracles for David’s deliverance. Other, palace, that is, tabernacle. See Psalm 5 on verse 7.
14 Compare Psalm 18:6.
8Then the earth 15shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because 16he was wroth.
15 This is a metaphorical description of earthquakes and dreadful storms, whereby God, being called upon by David, has waged war for him and his people against their enemies. Compare Judges 5 on verses 20, 21; Psalm 29:5, 6, 7, etc.; 144:5, 6, 7. Of the foundations, pillars and powers of heaven see Job 26 on verse 11.
16 Hebr. because to him was kindled, namely, the anger.
9There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled 17by it.
17 Or, by him, namely, the Lord.
10He bowed the heavens also, and 18came down; and darkness was under his feet.
18 Spoken of God after the manner of men in regard of His workings in the air, whereby He manifests His special presence, in stormy winds, sweeping rains, thunder, lightning, hail, etc., as follows.
11And he rode upon a 19cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.
19 That is, angel (see Gen. 3 on verse 24), whereby the angelical hosts are understood, which God uses for His service, according to His good pleasure.
12And he made darkness pavilionsc round about him, dark waters, and 20thick clouds of the skies.
c large tents
20 God holds the waters in the thick black clouds, as if it were bound up together, loosening and pouring down the same at His pleasure. See Job 26:8.
1321Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.
21 A description of lightning, as verse 9.
14The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his 22voice.
22 The sound of thunderclaps. See Psalm 29 on verse 3.
15And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and 23discomfited them.
23 Or, defeated them, dispersed them, namely, the enemies.
16And the 24channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the 25rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath 26of his nostrils.
24 From the terrible storms, as follows.
25 See Psalm 9 on verse 5.
26 Or, of his anger. God’s anger is so described by a comparison taken from men. Compare Job 4:9; Psalm 74 on verse 1.
17He 27sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of 28many waters;
27 Namely, His help, or His holy angels; or, He put forth, namely, His right hand, as when a man takes hold of anyone that is in danger of drowning, and pulls him up out of the water.
28 Or, many violent waters, that is, out of deep dangers and distresses, into which I, as it were, was sunk, which overwhelmed me as a strong flood and threatened to swallow me up or carry me away. See likewise of this comparison Job 22:11; Psalm 32:6; 66:12; 69:1, 2; 124:4; Isa. 43:2; Ezek. 26:19, etc.
18He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.
19They prevented me in the day of my 29calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
29 Compare 1 Sam. 23:24, 25, 26. The Hebrew word signifies ruin, destruction, deadly danger. See Deut. 32:35. It otherwise signifies mist, Gen. 2:6, whereunto (as also unto darkness) miseries and perils are not unsuitably resembled.
20He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
21The LORD rewarded me according to my 30righteousness: according to the 31cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
30 That is, innocency or righteousness of my case. For, David’s enemies were in the wrong, hating and persecuting him wrongfully, or without cause. Whereas on the contrary, he was careful not to sin in any wise, even against his most bitter enemies or for their sakes, as is evidently shown in the matter with Saul, and is related in the sequel. David knew otherwise very well that he was a sinner and had to obtain his salvation from God, out of free grace, by the Promised Seed, the Messiah, according to his own manifold confessions, even here in the 24th verse. See 2 Samuel 11; 12; Psalm 51, etc.
31 See Gen. 20 on verse 5.
22For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not 32wickedly departed from my God.
32 Other, I have not dealt wickedly in departing from my God.
23For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
24I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine 33iniquity.
33 That I might not be tempted by the corruption and wickedness that is in me, to do any unrighteous thing.
25Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness 34in his eye sight.
34 That is, which He knew full well, which was known to Him.
26With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.
27With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself 35unsavoury.
35 Or, as a wrestler, by wonderful, unexpected and often incomprehensible ways ensnaring, catching, striking down, and so justly punishing the wicked, who walk in wicked and perverse ways against Thee and those who are godly. Other, unsavoury, that is, wayward, unpleasant, according to the opinion of those who understand that here is used another word in the Hebrew than in Psalm 18:26. Compare further Lev. 26:24, 27, 28.
28And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the 36haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.
36 That is, proud, lofty persons.
29For thou art my 37lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will 38lighten my 39darkness.
37 Or, candle, lamp, That is, the Cause and Author of all my prosperity, joy and comfort.
38 Hebr. properly, he causeth my darkness to shine, he maketh it shining.
39 That is, adversity, sorrow, misery. See Gen. 15 on verse 12.
30For 40by thee I have 41run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.
40 That is, by Thy mighty, powerful help.
41 Other, I break, or, break through.
31As for 42God, hisd43way is perfect; thee word of the LORD is 44tried: 45he is a bucklerf to all them that trust in him.
42 Hebr. God, his way is perfect. Other, God is perfect in his way.
d Deut. 32:4; Dan. 4:37; Rev. 15:3.
43 See Gen. 18 on verse 19.
e Psalm 12:6; 119:40; Prov. 30:5.
44 As metal, which is purified by the goldsmith’s art and refined from all dross and filth. See Psalm 12:6.
45 The LORD.
f small shield*
32For whogis God, save the LORD? and who is a 46rock, save our God?
g Deut. 32:39; 1 Sam. 2:2; Psalm 86:8; Isa. 45:5.
46 As verses 2, 3.
33God is my strength 47and power: and he 48maketh my 49way perfect.
47 Or, in the host.
48 Hebr. loosened.
49 My passage, which I could pass in spite of mine enemies, whereas I seemed to be shut up.
34He maketh my feet 50like hinds’ feet: and setteth me upon my 51high places.
50 Swift and light in running. Compare 2 Sam. 1:23.
51 Whereunto I retired to be safe and secure from mine enemies; as in Saul’s time he was compelled to do often. Otherwise this may be compared with Deut. 32:13 and 33:29, understanding it of the secured forts and strong holds, which God enabled David to subdue.
35He 52teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of 53steel is broken by mine arms.
52 That is, makes them suitable for battle.
53 Or, copper.
36Thou hast also given me 54the shield of thy salvation: and thy 55gentleness hath made me great.
54 That is, Thy saving, conquering, delivering shield; or, Thy salvation which was as a shield unto me.
55 That is, by that adversity, which otherwise would have destroyed me, Thou has wonderfully exalted me, made me great and mighty. Other, by thy hearing, etc., that is, in that Thou hast heard my prayer. For this it is said, Psalm 18:35, by thy gentleness.
37Thou hast enlarged my 56steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.
56 Or, going, treading, that I went on my way freely and firmly to smite mine enemies and to put Thy people in safety, as is declared in the following words.
38 I 57have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.
57 Other, I shall, etc. and so in the following verse.
39And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.
40For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.
41Thou hast also given me the 58necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.
58 That they fled before me; or, Thou hast, as it were, held forth their neck unto me, that I might cut it off. See Gen. 49 on verse 8; Exod. 23:27.
42They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
43Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.
44Thou also hast delivered me from the 59strivings of my people, thou hast 60kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.
59 Which Israel had, partly with the surrounding pagan enemies, which are now ended by my victories; partly (to which this seems to refer mainly) with myself, in the time of Saul, Ishbosheth, Absalom and Sheba, who all perished miserably, and Israel did submit themselves with one accord unto me.
60 In so many dangers, for the kingdom.
4561Strangers shall 62submit themselves unto me: 63as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
61 Hebr, sons or children of a stranger; also in the following verse. That is, foreign nations, which are estranged from God and His people, have vowed obedience and servitude unto me out of fear, although they meant it not from the heart.
62 Hebr. have lied to me, feigned, dissembled, as hypocrites are wont to do in the prosperity of the godly. See Deut. 33 on verse 29.
63 Hebr. at the hearing or with the hearing of the ear; as soon as they had heard what God had done through me.
46Strangers shall 64fade away, and they shall be 65afraid out of their close places.
64 As leaves and flowers do wither and fall off.
65 To encounter me out of their forts, or came trembling with their weapons out of their close places, being dismayed, and doubting. Other, did quake, as Psalm 18:45, that is, ran away with quaking and trembling.
47The LORD liveth; and 66blessed be my rock; and 67exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.
66 Or, praised.
67 That is, highly praised.
48It is God that 68avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,
68 Hebr. vengeances, that is, perfect vengeance.
49And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the 69violent man.
69 Hebr. man of violence, namely, from Saul, who has continually hunted after me with wrong and violence, and others, who have rebelled against me with irritable intention. See Psalm 5 on verse 6; Psalm 140:1, 4.
5070Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen,h and I will sing praises unto thy name.
70 Here David prophesies of the calling of the Gentiles to the fellowship of the Lord Christ, Rom. 15:9; as undoubtedly many other things in this psalm of praise do point to the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, Whose type David has been.
h Rom. 15:9.
51He is 71the tower of 72salvation for his 73king: and sheweth mercy to his 74anointed, unto 75David, and to his seed 76for evermore.
71 Other, That maketh great, as Psalm 18:50.
72 Or, victories. See 2 Sam. 8 on verse 6.
73 Of David.
74 Compare Psalm 2:2.
75 Who was a type and ancestor (according to the flesh) of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is also called David, Jer. 30:9; Ezek. 34:23, 24; Hosea 3:5, and sprung from his seed, Acts 13:23; Rom. 1:3, having also His own spiritual seed, that is, the children whom God has given Him, Heb. 2:13.
76 Compare 2 Sam. 7:12, 13.