8/24/03
Text: Psalm 18:1-50
Introduction
One writer calls Psalm 18 "a magnificent hymn"
He says, "David sketches a few grand outlines in the Psalm...reflections of his life...and record the marvellous deliverances and victories which the Lord had given him."
Another writer said, "The Psalm breathes the atmosphere of extemporaneous praise" W. T. Purkiser
Another writer called it an "exuberant thanksgiving" Derek Kidner
and still another, "one of the most magnificent lyrical raptures in the Scriptures" George Gi fillan
It is fitting for us to end our Psalms for Psummer Psunday Nights (at least for this summer) with this most beautiful Psalm
Read Text: Psalm 18:1-50
Some commentators indicate that this Psalm was one of the last ones that David wrote.
So here we see David, after a long and glorious life.
Obviously filled with ups and downs along the way...
looking back at his life....
reflecting upon what God had done for him...
perhaps remembering very specific situations in which God helped him...
but also just being overwhelmed with the general sense that God has been with him throughout his life.
And these 50 verses are an outpouring of David’s praise to God for what He has done for him.
Body
1. First of all, David Tells of His Love for His Lord Ps 18:1-3
In verses 1-3, you almost get the sense of David’s overwhelming joy as he bursts out into song.
He starts off saying those 3 precious words "I Love You"
I’ve said it before, but it certainly bears mentioning again, sometimes we need the say the words!
It’s not enough to just love your wife or kids or husband, you need to tell them.
And that goes for the Lord too.
It is good for us to say the words, "I love You" to the Lord.
David goes on to call the Lord:
"my strength,
my Rock,
my Fortress,
my Deliverer,
my Refuge,
my Shield,
the Horn of my salvation,
my Stronghold"
Obviously David thinks of God as being Strong...
but also his Protector.
Undoubtedly, David, as a warrior had many times owed his life to the protection of his shield...or to the protection of a fortress.
Other times, God intervened in a great show of strength.
those words, "horn of my salvation" takes on the image of the horns of a wild animal.
and how that animal uses its horns to push down and through the enemy.
Thus God, like the horns of a battering ram, provided salvation many times by the strength of His hands.
David indicates that he just calls out to the Lord...
and God saves him from his enemies.
2. David Tells of His Deliverance Provided by the Lord Ps 18:4-19
David goes on to tell, in very picturesque language, how God provided deliverance.
It is important to note, that in the examples that David cites, he doesn’t indicate that he NEVER had difficult times...
on the contrary, he says:
"the cords of death entangled me"
"the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me"
The cords of the grave coiled around me
The snares of death confronted me"
Obviously the situation was grim...
In today’s language, he might say,
"I was a goner...
I was nearly done for...
I was as helpless as a sitting duck...
I was a lost cause"
But then, David indicates that he "called to the Lord for help"
and his cry for help did not go unheeded!
Because God heard his cry...
and God came!
Boy, did He!
David says that the ground shook...
there was smoke coming from his nostrils.
fire from His mouth...
and He flew down to earth on a cherubim
and came to the rescue in an incredible, miraculous way!
Verse 16 says that God "reached down from on high and drew me out of deep waters"
I remember one time, we had been invited to swim out at Tropicana Village.
We had turned our backs for a second,
and Jason had taken off his life jacket and jumped into the water.
I looked back, and there was Jason, under the water...
I quickly grabbed him and lifted him up to safety.
In the same way, just when we think we have "bought the farm"...
God reaches down and saves us and sets our feet on the solid rock!
3. David Tells of the Faithfulness of God to His People Ps 18:20-29
In verses 20-29, David tells how God has always been faithful to him.
And, not only to him, but in verse 25, he says, "to the faithful, you show yourself faithful"
I like verse 29, it says, "with Your help, I can advance against a troop; with my God, I can scale a wall"
This is David’s way of saying that,
when the situation was grim...
when the difficulties seemed insurmountable...
when the way seemed impossible...
That, with God’s help, he could run through a whole troop...
he could leap over tall walls...
I used to watch Superman when I was a boy...
and the show always started,
"faster than a speeding bullet,
more powerful than a locomotive,
able to leap tall buildings in a single bound,
is it a bird?
Is it a plane?
It’s Superman!!
Well, with God on our side, we can be like super men and women...
not because of our own abilities and strengths
but because, like David said, "with God’s help" we can accomplish anything!
4. David Tells of God’s Power Behind All His Achievements Ps 18:30-45
David’s list of accomplishments are pretty incredible...
when he was a boy, he fought off lions from his father’s sheep...
he defeated Goliath...
he defeated armies that we larger and better armed than his...
and much more...
I’m sure it would be easy to get a little arrogant...
a little cocky about what he has accomplished...
But David acknowledges that it all comes from God!
He says, "It is God who arms me with strength"
He "makes my way perfect"
He makes my feet surefooted like the deer
He give me strength for my arms...
He gives my protection like my shield...
He guides me and directs me to keep me from falling"
He’s the one to made me what I am...
Without God, I would be nothing!
David Lifts His Voice in Praise to the Lord Ps 18:46-50
5. Finally, David concludes this Psalm with beautiful summary of praise for God.
In no place, does David express anything but praise and adoration for God...
He never takes personal credit...
and he says, "I will praise you among the nations"
I will sing praises to your name"
And it is certainly appropriate, at this point...
after remembering everything God has done...
after remembering all the times that God has delivered him...
after remembering all the times that God intervened with strength and power...
after remember all the times that God strengthened him for the battles...
it is appropriate to life his voice and sing praises to the One who has made all this possible.
Conclusion
I would like to give you a homework assignment.
No, its not something that you will have to turn in...
but I think it will be a good spiritual exercise for you.
Sometime at home...during your time of personal prayer and devotions...
Take out a piece of paper and a pen...
and begin to look back over your life...
think back about those times that God was with you...
think back about those times that God answered your prayers...
think back about those times that God spoke to you...
think back about those times that God intervened in your life...
and begin to write about it!
Don’t worry if you aren’t a skilled poet like David...
But just write down your praise to God...
let it flow from your heart.
Like I mentioned earlier...
it is always good to let people know that you love them...
well, let Jesus know that you love Him...
and let Him know why...
and do it on paper...
It will be meaningful to Him...
and it will be a blessing to you as well.
Close with a chorus
