Psalm 18
Pt. 4
David’s Hymn in Retrospect of a Life Crowned with Many Mercies
How God rose to save him when he cried to Him

In this section of the Psalm David praised God for rescuing him but it also seems that David was taking credit for ‘righteousness’ of his own as being the reason he was rescued. But do not camp on that and think him a heretic or yourself wrong all these years for believing that the Lord does not behave in this way. In the next section of the Psalm he will add to this information that any goodness about him is enabled (Grace) by God.

Ps 18:16-27
16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

“Because He delighted in me,” is quite an amazing thing. He, like the rest of us, was that person Paul described in Rom 3:10-19, a sinner without any goodness about him at all. The whole scenario of David’s life and manifold blessings were because of an act of total Mercy toward a vile sinner.

But, what He has done is truly amazing, described under several images.

“He sent from above,” all of the images of the volcano and earthquake pictured this reality.

“He drew me out of many waters,” as if he were drowning. “Waters” is used in scripture to describe humanity in general. Apparently, there was a massive army arrayed against Israel. It might also be thought of as an image of being rescued from drowning. In either image we see David as being overwhelmed and completely unable to rescue himself.

“They prevented me in the day of my calamity.” Or, “they confronted me.” And the day would have been a total calamity apart from the Lord intervening powerfully on his behalf.

“A broad place,” as contrasted with a narrow and constricted one, surrounded by enemies far to strong for him and no place for him to hide.

This was, no doubt, a description of an approaching battle with overwhelming forces but if one thinks but for a moment it is also a picture of personal salvation, being “translated out of the Kingdom of Darkness.”

20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 22 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. 23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. 24 Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

As I said above, these words sit uncomfortably with the humble Christian but David sometimes spoke in this way. And if his words are taken from places like this without reference to the totality of what he said (v.32 for example) it can seem if he was making claims for himself that contrast with the humble tone of the NT writers. But these works of righteousness which played such an important role in his deliverance were enabled by God. Strange that it works this way. God enables the believer to be righteous and then rewards him for that righteousness. But every reward given on the Great Day of Judgment will be given under that scenario.

25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; 26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. 27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks. KJV

God loves (gives grace to) the humble but is indignant with (resists) the proud. Solomon learned that on some level from his father. This is also a little foreview of the principles of the Beatitudes. True, eternally true, no matter the time frame.

Thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

— April 24, 2020