1To the chief MusicianH5329, A Psalm of DavidH1732, the servantH5650 of the LORDH3068, who spakeH1696 unto the LORDH3068 the wordsH1697 of this songH7892 in the dayH3117 that the LORDH3068 deliveredH5337 him from the handH3709 of all his enemiesH341, and from the handH3027 of SaulH7586: And he saidH559, I will loveH7355 thee, O LORDH3068, my strengthH2391. 2The LORDH3068 is my rockH5553, and my fortressH4686, and my delivererH6403 ; my GodH410, my strengthH6697, in whom I will trustH2620 ; my bucklerH4043, and the hornH7161 of my salvationH3468, and my high towerH4869. 3I will callH7121 upon the LORDH3068, who is worthy to be praisedH1984 : so shall I be savedH3467 from mine enemiesH341 . 4The sorrowsH2256 of deathH4194 compassedH661 me, and the floodsH5158 of ungodly menH1100 made me afraidH1204 . 5The sorrowsH2256 of hellH7585 compassed me aboutH5437 : the snaresH4170 of deathH4194 preventedH6923 me. 6In my distressH6862 I calledH7121 upon the LORDH3068, and criedH7768 unto my GodH430: he heardH8085 my voiceH6963 out of his templeH1964, and my cryH7775 cameH935 beforeH6440 him, even into his earsH241. 7Then the earthH776 shookH1607 and trembledH7493 ; the foundationsH4146 also of the hillsH2022 movedH7264 and were shakenH1607, because he was wrothH2734 . 8There went upH5927 a smokeH6227 out of his nostrilsH639, and fireH784 out of his mouthH6310 devouredH398 : coalsH1513 were kindledH1197 by it. 9He bowedH5186 the heavensH8064 also, and came downH3381 : and darknessH6205 was under his feetH7272. 10And he rodeH7392 upon a cherubH3742, and did flyH5774 : yea, he did flyH1675 upon the wingsH3671 of the windH7307. 11He madeH7896 darknessH2822 his secret placeH5643; his pavilionH5521 round aboutH5439 him were darkH2824 watersH4325 and thick cloudsH5645 of the skiesH7834. 12At the brightnessH5051 that was before him his thick cloudsH5645 passedH5674, hailH1259 stones and coalsH1513 of fireH784. 13The LORDH3068 also thunderedH7481 in the heavensH8064, and the HighestH5945 gaveH5414 his voiceH6963; hailH1259 stones and coalsH1513 of fireH784. 14Yea, he sent outH7971 his arrowsH2671, and scatteredH6327 them; and he shot outH7232 lightningsH1300, and discomfitedH2000 them. 15Then the channelsH650 of watersH4325 were seenH7200, and the foundationsH4146 of the worldH8398 were discoveredH1540 at thy rebukeH1606, O LORDH3068, at the blastH5397 of the breathH7307 of thy nostrilsH639. 16He sentH7971 from aboveH4791, he tookH3947 me, he drewH4871 me out of manyH7227 watersH4325. 17He deliveredH5337 me from my strongH5794 enemyH341, and from them which hatedH8130 me: for they were too strongH553 for me. 18They preventedH6923 me in the dayH3117 of my calamityH343: but the LORDH3068 was my stayH4937. 19He brought me forthH3318 also into a large placeH4800; he deliveredH2502 me, because he delightedH2654 in me. 20The LORDH3068 rewardedH1580 me according to my righteousnessH6664; according to the cleannessH1252 of my handsH3027 hath he recompensedH7725 me. 21For I have keptH8104 the waysH1870 of the LORDH3068, and have not wickedly departedH7561 from my GodH430. 22For all his judgmentsH4941 were before me, and I did not put awayH5493 his statutesH2708 from me. 23I was also uprightH8549 before him, and I keptH8104 myself from mine iniquityH5771. 24Therefore hath the LORDH3068 recompensedH7725 me according to my righteousnessH6664, according to the cleannessH1252 of my handsH3027 in his eyesightH5869. 25With the mercifulH2623 thou wilt shew thyself mercifulH2616 ; with an uprightH8549 manH1399 thou wilt shew thyself uprightH8552 ; 26With the pureH1305 thou wilt shew thyself pureH1305 ; and with the frowardH6141 thou wilt shew thyself frowardH6617 . 27For thou wilt saveH3467 the afflictedH6041 peopleH5971; but wilt bring downH8213 highH7311 looksH5869. 28For thou wilt lightH215 my candleH5216: the LORDH3068 my GodH430 will enlightenH5050 my darknessH2822. 29For by thee I have run throughH7323 a troopH1416; and by my GodH430 have I leaped overH1801 a wallH7791. 30As for GodH410, his wayH1870 is perfectH8549: the wordH565 of the LORDH3068 is triedH6884 : he is a bucklerH4043 to all those that trustH2620 in him. 31For who is GodH433 saveH1107 the LORDH3068? or who is a rockH6697 saveH2108 our GodH430? 32It is GodH410 that girdethH247 me with strengthH2428, and makethH5414 my wayH1870 perfectH8549. 33He makethH7737 my feetH7272 like hinds'H355 feet, and settethH5975 me upon my high placesH1116. 34He teachethH3925 my handsH3027 to warH4421, so that a bowH7198 of steelH5154 is brokenH5181 by mine armsH2220. 35Thou hast also givenH5414 me the shieldH4043 of thy salvationH3468: and thy right handH3225 hath holden me upH5582, and thy gentlenessH6037 hath made me greatH7235 . 36Thou hast enlargedH7337 my stepsH6806 under me, that my feetH7166 did not slipH4571 . 37I have pursuedH7291 mine enemiesH341, and overtakenH5381 them: neither did I turn againH7725 till they were consumedH3615 . 38I have woundedH4272 them that they were not ableH3201 to riseH6965 : they are fallenH5307 under my feetH7272. 39For thou hast girdedH247 me with strengthH2428 unto the battleH4421: thou hast subduedH3766 under me those that rose upH6965 against me. 40Thou hast also givenH5414 me the necksH6203 of mine enemiesH341 ; that I might destroyH6789 them that hateH8130 me. 41They criedH7768, but there was none to saveH3467 them: even unto the LORDH3068, but he answeredH6030 them not. 42Then did I beatH7833 them small as the dustH6083 beforeH6440 the windH7307: I did cast them outH7324 as the dirtH2916 in the streetsH2351. 43Thou hast deliveredH6403 me from the strivingsH7379 of the peopleH5971; and thou hast madeH7760 me the headH7218 of the heathenH1471: a peopleH5971 whom I have not knownH3045 shall serveH5647 me. 44As soon as they hearH8088 H241 of me, they shall obeyH8085 me: the strangersH1121 H5236 shall submitH3584 themselves unto me. 45The strangersH1121 H5236 shall fade awayH5034, and be afraidH2727 out of their close placesH4526. 46The LORDH3068 livethH2416; and blessedH1288 be my rockH6697; and let the GodH430 of my salvationH3468 be exaltedH7311 . 47It is GodH410 that avengethH5414 H5360 me, and subduethH1696 the peopleH5971 under me. 48He deliverethH6403 me from mine enemiesH341 : yea, thou liftest me upH7311 above those that rise upH6965 against me: thou hast deliveredH5337 me from the violentH2555 manH376. 49Therefore will I give thanksH3034 unto thee, O LORDH3068, among the heathenH1471, and sing praisesH2167 unto thy nameH8034. 50GreatH1431 deliveranceH3444 giveth he to his kingH4428; and shewethH6213 mercyH2617 to his anointedH4899, to DavidH1732, and to his seedH2233 forH5704 evermoreH5769.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 "The servant of the LORD," which in the Hebrew precedes "David," is a significant part of the title (and not a mere epithet of David), denoting the inspired character of the song, as the production of one entrusted with the execution of God's will. He was not favored by God because he served Him, but served Him because selected and appointed by God in His sovereign mercy. After a general expression of praise and confidence in God for the future, David gives a sublimely poetical description of God's deliverance, which he characterizes as an illustration of God's justice to the innocent and His righteous government. His own prowess and success are celebrated as the results of divine aid, and, confident of its continuance, he closes in terms of triumphant praise. 2Sa. 22:1-51 is a copy of this Psalm, with a few unimportant variations recorded there as a part of the history, and repeated here as part of a collection designed for permanent use. (Psa. 18:1-50)
I will love thee--with most tender affection.
2 The various terms used describe God as an object of the most implicit and reliable trust.
rock--literally, "a cleft rock," for concealment.
strength--a firm, immovable rock.
horn of my salvation--The horn, as the means of attack or defense of some of the strongest animals, is a frequent emblem of power or strength efficiently exercised (compare
Deut 33:17;
Luke 1:69).
tower--literally, "high place," beyond reach of danger.
3 to be praised--for past favors, and worthy of confidence.
4 sorrows--literally, "bands as of a net" (
Ps 116:3).
floods--denotes "multitude."
5 death--and hell (compare
Ps 16:10) are personified as man's great enemies (compare
Rev 20:13-
Rev 20:14).
prevented--encountered me, crossed my path, and endangered my safety. He does not mean he was in their power.
6 He relates his methods to procure relief when distressed, and his success.
temple--(Compare
Ps 11:4).
7 God's coming described in figures drawn from His appearance on Sinai (compare
Deut 32:22).
8 smoke out . . . his nostrils--bitter in His wrath (compare
Ps 74:1).
by it--that is, the fire (
Exod 19:18).
9 darkness--or, a dense cloud (
Exod 19:16;
Deut 5:22).
10 cherub--angelic agents (compare
Gen 3:24), the figures of which were placed over the ark (
1Sam 4:4), representing God's dwelling; used here to enhance the majesty of the divine advent. Angels and winds may represent all rational and irrational agencies of God's providence (compare
Ps 104:3-
Ps 104:4).
did fly--Rapidity of motion adds to the grandeur of the scene.
11 dark waters--or, clouds heavy with vapor.
12 Out of this obscurity, which impresses the beholder with awe and dread, He reveals Himself by sudden light and the means of His terrible wrath (
Josh 10:11;
Ps 78:47).
13 The storm breaks forth--thunder follows lightning, and hail with repeated lightning, as often seen, like balls or coals of fire, succeed (
Exod 9:23).
14 The fiery brightness of lightning, in shape like burning arrows rapidly shot through the air, well represents the most terrible part of an awful storm. Before the terrors of such a scene the enemies are confounded and overthrown in dismay.
15 The tempest of the air is attended by appropriate results on earth. The language, though not expressive of any special physical changes, represents the utter subversion of the order of nature. Before such a God none can stand.
16 from above--As seated on a throne, directing these terrible scenes, God--
sent--His hand (
Ps 144:7), reached down to His humble worshipper, and delivered him.
many waters--calamities (
Job 30:14;
Ps 124:4-
Ps 124:5).
18 prevented-- (
Ps 18:3).
19 a large place--denotes safety or relief, as contrasted with the straits of distress (
Ps 4:1). All his deliverance is ascribed to God, and this sublime poetical representation is given to inspire the pious with confidence and the wicked with dread.
20 The statements of innocence, righteousness, &c., refer, doubtless, to his personal and official conduct and his purposes, during all the trials to which he was subjected in Saul's persecutions and Absalom's rebellions, as well as the various wars in which he had been engaged as the head and defender of God's Church and people.
23 upright before him--In my relation to God I have been perfect as to all parts of His law. The perfection does not relate to degree.
mine iniquity--perhaps the thought of his heart to kill Saul (
1Sam 24:6). That David does not allude to all his conduct, in all relations, is evident from
Ps 51:1, &c.
25 God renders to men according to their deeds in a penal, not vindictive, sense (
Lev 26:23-
Lev 26:24).
merciful--or, "kind" (
Ps 4:3).
26 froward--contrary to.
27 the afflicted people--that is, the humbly pious.
high looks--pride (
Ps 101:5;
Ps 131:1).
28 To give one light is to make prosperous (
Job 18:5-
Job 18:6;
Job 21:17).
thou--is emphatic, as if to say, I can fully confide in Thee for help.
29 And this on past experience in his military life, set forth by these figures.
30 God's perfection is the source of his own, which has resulted from his trust on the one hand, and God's promised help on the other.
tried--"as metals are tried by fire and proved genuine" (
Ps 12:6). Shield (
Ps 3:3). Girding was essential to free motion on account of the looseness of Oriental dresses; hence it is an expressive figure for describing the gift of strength.
33 God's help farther described. He gives swiftness to pursue or elude his enemies (
Hab 3:19), strength, protection, and a firm footing.
35 thy gentleness--as applied to God--condescension--or that which He gives, in the sense of humility (compare
Pro 22:4).
36 enlarged my steps--made ample room (compare
Pro 4:12).
37 In actual conflict, with God's aid, the defeat of his enemies is certain. A present and continued success is expressed.
39 that rose up against me--literally, "insurgents" (
Ps 3:1;
Ps 44:5).
40 given me the necks--literally, "backs of the necks"; made them retreat (
Exod 23:27;
Josh 7:8).
42 This conquest was complete.
43 Not only does He conquer civil foes, but foreigners, who are driven from their places of refuge.
44 submit, &c.--(compare Margin)--that is, show a forced subjection.
46 The Lord liveth--contrasts Him with idols (
1Cor 8:4).
47 avengeth me--His cause is espoused by God as His own.
48 liftest me up--to safety and honors.
49 Paul (
Rom 15:9) quotes from this doxology to show that under the Old Testament economy, others than the Jews were regarded as subjects of that spiritual government of which David was head, and in which character his deliverances and victories were typical of the more illustrious triumphs of David's greater Son. The language of
Ps 18:50 justifies this view in its distinct allusion to the great promise (compare
2Sam 7:12). In all David's successes he saw the pledges of a fulfilment of that promise, and he mourned in all his adversities, not only in view of his personal suffering, but because he saw in them evidences of danger to the great interests which were committed to his keeping. It is in these aspects of his character that we are led properly to appreciate the importance attached to his sorrows and sufferings, his joys and successes.