one of my 2 favorite psalms

Before you read this psalm, I want to point out a few things.

My name (Craig) means “dweller at the crag” It has to do with strength and stability. I have found in my life that I am weak, and far from stable. For years this bothered me, as I felt the pressure of not living up to my own name. However, I had missed the first part of the meaning of my name. Dweller at the crag. I am not the rock, I need to dwell at the rock. This is what I think of when I read verse 2.

The basic story of this psalm is that David was in trouble (as we all have been from time to time) This time, he was nearly done in. (by the way, this was written just after his son had nearly taken his kingdom – see 2 Sam 22 – David was nearly done in for sure that time – the heartbreak of having to flee for your life from your own son . . . ) But God rescued him, and then supported him in his continued effort to follow God.

He called to the Lord, and then David describes what God’s rescue was like. Not a gentle breeze, but the Storm of God’s Wrath. The awesome power of God. Then verse 19 melts my heart. He rescued me because he loves me. How amazing that we can say that. I think of the idea that God is not safe, but he is altogether good. I am so humbled that God LOVES me.

I think of the verses that follow in light of Romans 4. David speaks of how God rescued him because of David’s righteousness. Yet the peril he had come out of was the direct result of his own shortcomings as a husband and father. However, Romans 4 tells us about the God who justifies the ungoldy, or unrighteous. If it was up to me to be righteous, I am out of luck. However, God has made me righteous, as only he can do. My hands are indeed clean, but not because they have never been dirty. They are clean because 1John 1:9 is true, and this hangs upon God’s credibility, not mine. Praise him for that. How awesome our God is.

Psa 18:1 (For the music leader. A psalm by David, the LORD’s servant. David sang this to the LORD after the LORD had rescued him from his enemies, but especially from Saul.) I love you, LORD God, and you make me strong.
Psa 18:2 You are my mighty rock, my fortress, my protector, the rock where I am safe, my shield, my powerful weapon, and my place of shelter.
Psa 18:3 I praise you, LORD! I prayed, and you rescued me from my enemies.
Psa 18:4 Death had wrapped its ropes around me, and I was almost swallowed by its flooding waters.
Psa 18:5 Ropes from the world of the dead had coiled around me, and death had set a trap in my path.
Psa 18:6 I was in terrible trouble when I called out to you, but from your temple you heard me and answered my prayer.
Psa 18:7 The earth shook and shivered, and the mountains trembled down to their roots. You were angry
Psa 18:8 and breathed out smoke. Scorching heat and fiery flames spewed from your mouth.
Psa 18:9 You opened the heavens like curtains, and you came down with storm clouds under your feet.
Psa 18:10 You rode on the backs of flying creatures and swooped down with the wind as wings.
Psa 18:11 Darkness was your robe; thunderclouds filled the sky, hiding you from sight.
Psa 18:12 Hailstones and fiery coals lit up the sky in front of you.
Psa 18:13 LORD Most High, your voice thundered from the heavens, as hailstones and fiery coals poured down like rain.
Psa 18:14 You scattered your enemies with arrows of lightning.
Psa 18:15 You roared at the sea, and its deepest channels could be seen. You snorted, and the earth shook to its foundations.
Psa 18:16 You reached down from heaven, and you lifted me from deep in the ocean.
Psa 18:17 You rescued me from enemies, who were hateful and too powerful for me.
Psa 18:18 On the day disaster struck, they came and attacked, but you defended me.
Psa 18:19 When I was fenced in, you freed and rescued me because you love me.
Psa 18:20 You are good to me, LORD, because I do right, and you reward me because I am innocent.
Psa 18:21 I do what you want and never turn to do evil.
Psa 18:22 I keep your laws in mind and never look away from your teachings.
Psa 18:23 I obey you completely and guard against sin.
Psa 18:24 You have been good to me because I do right; you have rewarded me for being innocent by your standards.
Psa 18:25 You are always loyal to your loyal people, and you are faithful to the faithful.
Psa 18:26 With all who are sincere, you are sincere, but you treat the unfaithful as their deeds deserve.
Psa 18:27 You rescue the humble, but you put down all who are proud.
Psa 18:28 You, the LORD God, keep my lamp burning and turn darkness to light.
Psa 18:29 You help me defeat armies and capture cities.
Psa 18:30 Your way is perfect, LORD, and your word is correct. You are a shield for those who run to you for help.
Psa 18:31 You alone are God! Only you are a mighty rock.
Psa 18:32 You give me strength and guide me right.
Psa 18:33 You make my feet run as fast as those of a deer, and you help me stand on the mountains.
Psa 18:34 You teach my hands to fight and my arms to use a bow of bronze.
Psa 18:35 You alone are my shield. Your right hand supports me, and by coming to help me, you have made me famous.
Psa 18:36 You clear the way for me, and now I won’t stumble.
Psa 18:37 I kept chasing my enemies, until I caught them and destroyed them.
Psa 18:38 I stuck my sword through my enemies, and they were crushed under my feet.
Psa 18:39 You helped me win victories, and you forced my attackers to fall victim to me.
Psa 18:40 You made my enemies run, and I killed them.
Psa 18:41 They cried out for help, but no one saved them; they called out to you, but there was no answer.
Psa 18:42 I ground them to dust blown by the wind, and I poured them out like mud in the streets.
Psa 18:43 You rescued me from stubborn people, and you made me the leader of foreign nations, who are now my slaves.
Psa 18:44 They obey and come crawling.
Psa 18:45 They have lost all courage, and from their fortresses, they come trembling.
Psa 18:46 You are the living LORD! I will praise you. You are a mighty rock. I will honor you for keeping me safe.
Psa 18:47 You took revenge for me, and you put nations in my power.
Psa 18:48 You protected me from violent enemies and made me much greater than all of them.
Psa 18:49 I will praise you, LORD, and I will honor you among the nations.
Psa 18:50 You give glorious victories to your chosen king. Your faithful love for David and for his descendants will never end.