For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall. Psalm 18:29
Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Saul
David describes God’s qualities and launches into a vivid, image-rich report of divine deliverance. David returns to God and praises Him for the many benefits he has received. Because of all the Lord has done in showing Himself David’s Savior, the psalmist will praise God forever.
Key concepts. Fortress, Salvation, Warfare
18:1-3. David’s images of God are personal, relational, and reflect his own role as a warrior. Thus to David God represents his fortress (security), his shield (protection), and the “horn of my salvation” (power to deliver from enemies).
1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord, who spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said: I will love You, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.
18:19-29. David simply recognizes the fact that God is committed to those who keep themselves from sin and do not turn from God.
19 He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. 20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has 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 blameless before Him, And I kept myself from my iniquity. 24 Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight. 25 With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; 26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. 27 For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks. 28 For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. 29 For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall.
18:46-50. This is the nature of praise: to give God credit for who He is and for what He has done.
46 The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted. 47 It is God who avenges me, And subdues the peoples under me; 48 He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man. 49 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name. 50 Great deliverance He gives to His king, And shows mercy to His anointed, To David and his descendants forevermore.
⇒ While David was cowering in darkness scared of losing is life by those who were hunting him down, he cried out to God for help. When God heard David’s prayer, He gave him more than what he asked for. God equipped David to fight and went to war with him.
