Psalm 18

Well, this is the longest psalm by far so far. David really knew how to sing praises to God once he'd been delivered.

vs 1

If you had to sum up this entire psalm in one verse, this would be it. God is David's strength, and he loves God for it.

vs 2

Well, if you can think of any other metaphors for God being your strength and the thing you hide behind, then feel free to throw them in here. I say metaphors, because I don't believe God is actually a rock, or a shield, or a horn or a stronghold. He is a deliverer, though - and that is why David particularly is praising him in this psalm.

vs 3

I wonder if it is worth a comparison between the prayers of David when he is asking for deliverance (short, punchy, a little whiny) and his praise to God when he does get delivered (long, flowery, very much focused on God).

David wants everyone to know that he relied on God, and God came through. He's not alive because of his own skill, and his enemies have not been defeated because of his ability.

He also wants people to know that when you call on God, you will be saved. God answers the call. Whose calls does he answer? That comes later in the psalm.

vs 4-5

David now goes through a few verses to show just how irredeemable his situation was. His situation was hopeless - death and destruction were assured.

vs 6

David called God, and God heard his call. So God can hear the calls of those down here on earth. Now, I will point out that David calls out to God because God is his God. I don't know how worthwhile it is calling out to God if he's not your God.

Another thing - the temple had not been built yet. I wonder if there is a history of referring to heaven as God's temple... or if this betrays a later writing. Now David may well have lived to see the temple built - at the very least he lived to see the plans handed on to his son Solomon. And he may have even written the psalm in his old age, who knows. I'm sure that the stories of David's life were very popular. But God still wasn't "in" a temple that wasn't built yet.

vs 7-8

God not only heard, but David's words have elicited a response from God. God gets angry. God doesn't like injustice and suffering of his people. Now, was there really an earthquake when David prayed? Did God have burning coals in his mouth? Or are these just flowery poetic language for "God got angry".

vs 9-10

Did God really come down from heaven in the described way? I'm almost positive he didn't. But the reality doesn't matter so much. The fact is that, by God acting to help and relieve David in his time of need, God did 'come down from heaven' to assist him. He worked for a miraculous redeeming of David from his situation. And that makes David happy.

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