시편 Chapter 18

Translation: ESV

1

I love you, O LORD, my strength.

Key Message

The natural response of a believer who has experienced God's salvation is the deep confession of love — this is the essence of praise.

▸Psalm 18 is nearly identical to 2 Samuel 22, a thanksgiving psalm David offered after God delivered him from all his enemies and from Saul.

Psalm 18 is nearly identical to 2 Samuel 22, a thanksgiving psalm David offered after God delivered him from all his enemies and from Saul. In 'I love you' (erhamekhah Yahweh), the verb 'love' (raham) is Hebrew's most intense love verb, normally used by God toward humanity — yet here David uses it toward God. This expresses the deep gratitude and devotion a believer feels toward God.

2

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Key Message

God is the complete protector for every danger the believer faces — he is the answer to every threat in life.

▸This verse presents seven images of God in succession in a literarily rich verse: rock, fortress, deliverer, rock (of refuge), shield, horn of salvation, stronghold.

6

In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.

Key Message

Prayer offered in distress surely reaches God's ears, and God answers from his temple (his presence).

▸This verse is the narrative section of Psalm 18, recalling prayer in extreme crisis and God's answer.

46

The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation—

Key Message

God, unlike dead idols, is the living God who acts in history — this is the basis for praise.

▸'The LORD lives' (hai Yahweh) declares that unlike dead idols, Israel's God is alive and acts.