Psalm 18: From v.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. The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. …………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. 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. 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? 32 It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. 33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. 34 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35 You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great. 36 You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way. 46 The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! 47 He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, 48 who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me. 49 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name. 50 He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing love to his anointed, to David and to his descendants forever.
Today’s Three Pearls
- 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: Heaven forbid that we ever get weighed down or discouraged in any type of distress, no matter how intense or ferocious. The fervent prayer made in the name of He who made us righteous penetrates the elements and any formidable obstacles into the presence of The Deity. When desperation turns that prayer into a cry, it goes straight into his ears. What father is not moved by a crying, repentant child in trouble? Even if he plans to have a good talk with the child later on, he moves swiftly and suddenly to relieve the cause of that piercing cry and gives the child a reassurance that he has his back when faced with the enemy. 16-17 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.
- v. 16-19: On cue, David lavishly ascribes his deliverance to a mighty God who moved heaven and earth to save him from his foes. He knew his father well, God does not share his glory with anyone, Is.42:8. We should not be blinded or complacent about this just because He uses people (willingly or unwillingly), resources or institutions to give us relief. While it is proper to show appreciation to the instruments used by God in any deliverance; an overarching and immediate gratitude is due to God whenever we are rescued from a sticky situation. 18-19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. 29 With your help I can advance against a troop ; with my God I can scale a wall….Even when we fight the battles ourselves, the ability is from God. So, the victory is God’s, the triumph is God’s and the glory will always be God’s. Anything else is boasting…..
- v.47-48: He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, who saves me from my enemies. When God comes to the rescue of the Christian, He comes suddenly, seemingly at the last minute and acts powerfully. But it appears that when the Christian obediently leaves vengeance for Him, He takes His time in dealing with the oppressors. Often a slow drip of punishments….One wonders, is He giving them time and many chances to turn from their wicked schemes? But the vengeance eventually happens, and while the Christian should not execute and therefore cannot boast about a personal revenge, He is able to take note of God’s revenge on his behalf, without gloating.
Ref: Treasury of David
Hilltop Thoughts, Valley Strengths 