Post by foxjj on Dec 2, 2023 8:13:01 GMT
Psalm 18: 1-31 (NIV)
In the opening verse’s David begins with a statement from his heart, which describes his love and reliance upon Yahweh. These are the words of one who has experienced the very presence, and comforting help of The Lord. When you and I experience a saving relationship through Jesus, we can make these verse’s our own prayer:
“1 I love you, Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and I have been saved from my enemies.”
Referring to God as a Rock, is to recognize that He is strong, and a firm foundation on whom we can commit our lives. Seeing God as a fortress is to know that you and I can find security in Him because, He has redeemed us from the bondage of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus. The Lord becomes as it were, a cleft of safety for all who believe in Him. Through faith in Jesus, you and I can know that we have The Holy Spirit within. He becomes our Shield; a protection from the weapons of the enemy of our soul.
When David refers to God as a Horn he is calling to mind the symbolism of strength as in the mighty animals that bear large horns. Just as Yahweh was David’s stronghold and salvation, we who are in Christ Jesus have confidence in our Heavenly Father for both our daily needs, as also our eternal destiny.
In verse’s 4-6, David describes the dangers that he has experienced starting with expressions of the snares of death:
“4 The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called to the Lord;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.”
Using very impressive, and expressive words, David continues by describing Yahweh coming down to his aid:
“7 The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.”
Cherubim are often described as the bearers of the throne chariot as described in Ezekiel chapter 1.
In the following verses, David continues to use amazing language in his endeavour to describe Yahweh as the Avenging Heavenly Warrior:
“11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
13 The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy,
with great bolts of lightning he routed them.
15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, Lord,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.”
In verse’s 16-19, David describes Yahweh’s deliverance:
“16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.
19 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.”
In the following verse’s David asserts his righteousness. It is understand that this Psalm was written before he’s adultery with Bathsheba. Righteousness is deemed the result of faithfulness unto God, which is a result of justification after forgiveness. In the Old Covenant one was required to offer sacrifices. In the New Covenant, the sacrifice of Jesus is a once and for all sacrifice for sin. When we confess, and accept His sacrifice on our behalf, we are justified and stand in His Righteousness:
“20 The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord;
I am not guilty of turning from my God.
22 All his laws are before me;
I have not turned away from his decrees.
23 I have been blameless before him
and have kept myself from sin.
24 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
26 to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.
27 You save the humble
but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
28 You, Lord, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
29 With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.”
Verse’s 30 and 31 reflect the praise of all who have experienced the graciousness of our God:
“30 As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?”
Today, let us give thanks to our Great God for His blessings.
John Joseph Fox.
In the opening verse’s David begins with a statement from his heart, which describes his love and reliance upon Yahweh. These are the words of one who has experienced the very presence, and comforting help of The Lord. When you and I experience a saving relationship through Jesus, we can make these verse’s our own prayer:
“1 I love you, Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and I have been saved from my enemies.”
Referring to God as a Rock, is to recognize that He is strong, and a firm foundation on whom we can commit our lives. Seeing God as a fortress is to know that you and I can find security in Him because, He has redeemed us from the bondage of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus. The Lord becomes as it were, a cleft of safety for all who believe in Him. Through faith in Jesus, you and I can know that we have The Holy Spirit within. He becomes our Shield; a protection from the weapons of the enemy of our soul.
When David refers to God as a Horn he is calling to mind the symbolism of strength as in the mighty animals that bear large horns. Just as Yahweh was David’s stronghold and salvation, we who are in Christ Jesus have confidence in our Heavenly Father for both our daily needs, as also our eternal destiny.
In verse’s 4-6, David describes the dangers that he has experienced starting with expressions of the snares of death:
“4 The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called to the Lord;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.”
Using very impressive, and expressive words, David continues by describing Yahweh coming down to his aid:
“7 The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.”
Cherubim are often described as the bearers of the throne chariot as described in Ezekiel chapter 1.
In the following verses, David continues to use amazing language in his endeavour to describe Yahweh as the Avenging Heavenly Warrior:
“11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
13 The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy,
with great bolts of lightning he routed them.
15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, Lord,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.”
In verse’s 16-19, David describes Yahweh’s deliverance:
“16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.
19 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.”
In the following verse’s David asserts his righteousness. It is understand that this Psalm was written before he’s adultery with Bathsheba. Righteousness is deemed the result of faithfulness unto God, which is a result of justification after forgiveness. In the Old Covenant one was required to offer sacrifices. In the New Covenant, the sacrifice of Jesus is a once and for all sacrifice for sin. When we confess, and accept His sacrifice on our behalf, we are justified and stand in His Righteousness:
“20 The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord;
I am not guilty of turning from my God.
22 All his laws are before me;
I have not turned away from his decrees.
23 I have been blameless before him
and have kept myself from sin.
24 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
26 to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.
27 You save the humble
but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
28 You, Lord, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
29 With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.”
Verse’s 30 and 31 reflect the praise of all who have experienced the graciousness of our God:
“30 As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?”
Today, let us give thanks to our Great God for His blessings.
John Joseph Fox.
