17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me; for they were mightier than I. 18 They encountered me in the day of my calamity, but Jehovah was my stay. 19 And he brought me forth into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20 Jehovah hath rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 21 For I have kept the ways of Jehovah, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 22 For all his ordinances were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me; 23 And I was upright with him, and kept myself from mine iniquity. 24 And Jehovah hath recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. 25 With the gracious thou dost shew thyself gracious; with the upright man thou dost shew thyself upright; 26 With the pure thou dost shew thyself pure; and with the perverse thou dost shew thyself contrary. 27 For it is thou that savest the afflicted people; but the haughty eyes wilt thou bring down. 28 For it is thou that makest my lamp to shine: Jehovah my God enlighteneth my darkness.
29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. 30 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of Jehovah is tried: he is a shield to all that trust in him. 31 For who is +God save Jehovah? and who is a rock if not our God? 32 The God who girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect, 33 Who maketh my feet like hinds' [feet], and setteth me upon my high places; 34 Who teacheth my hands to war, and mine arms bend a bow of brass; 35 And thou didst give me the shield of thy salvation, and thy right hand held me up; and thy condescending gentleness hath made me great. 36 Thou didst enlarge my steps under me, and mine ankles have not wavered. 37 I pursued mine enemies, and overtook them; and I turned not again till they were consumed. 38 I crushed them, and they were not able to rise: they fell under my feet.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 18:17-38
Commentary on Psalm 18:1-19
(Read Psalm 18:1-19)
The first words, "I will love thee, O Lord, my strength," are the scope and contents of the psalm. Those that truly love God, may triumph in him as their Rock and Refuge, and may with confidence call upon him. It is good for us to observe all the circumstances of a mercy which magnify the power of God and his goodness to us in it. David was a praying man, and God was found a prayer-hearing God. If we pray as he did, we shall speed as he did. God's manifestation of his presence is very fully described, Hebrews 5:7. God made the earth to shake and tremble, and the rocks to cleave, and brought him out, in his resurrection, because he delighted in him and in his undertaking.
Commentary on Psalm 18:20-28
(Read Psalm 18:20-28)
Those that forsake the ways of the Lord, depart from their God. But though conscious to ourselves of many a false step, let there not be a wicked departure from our God. David kept his eye upon the rule of God's commands. Constant care to keep from that sin, whatever it be, which most easily besets us, proves that we are upright before God. Those who show mercy to others, even they need mercy. Those who are faithful to God, shall find him all that to them which he has promised to be. The words of the Lord are pure words, very sure to be depended on, and very sweet to be delighted in. Those who resist God, and walk contrary to him, shall find that he will walk contrary to them, Leviticus 26:21-24. The gracious recompence of which David spoke, may generally be expected by those who act from right motives. Hence he speaks comfort to the humble, and terror to the proud; "Thou wilt bring down high looks." And he speaks encouragement to himself; "Thou wilt light my candle:" thou wilt revive and comfort my sorrowful spirit; thou wilt guide my way, that I may avoid the snares laid for me. Thou wilt light my candle to work by, and give me an opportunity of serving thee. Let those that walk in darkness, and labour under discouragements, take courage; God himself will be a Light to them.
Commentary on Psalm 18:29-50
(Read Psalm 18:29-50)
When we praise for one mercy, we must observe the many more, with which we have been compassed all our days. Many things had contributed to David's advancement, and he owns the hand of God in them all, to teach us to do likewise. In verse 32, and the following verses, are the gifts of God to the spiritual warrior, whereby he is prepared for the contest, after the example of his victorious Leader. Learn that we must seek release being made through Christ, shall be rejected. In David the type, we behold out of trouble through Christ. The prayer put up, without reconciliation Jesus our Redeemer, conflicting with enemies, compassed with sorrows and with floods of ungodly men, enduring not only the pains of death, but the wrath of God for us; yet calling upon the Father with strong cries and tears; rescued from the grave; proceeding to reconcile, or to put under his feet all other enemies, till death, the last enemy, shall be destroyed. We should love the Lord, our Strength, and our Salvation; we should call on him in every trouble, and praise him for every deliverance; we should aim to walk with him in all righteousness and true holiness, keeping from sin. If we belong to him, he conquers and reigns for us, and we shall conquer and reign through him, and partake of the mercy of our anointed King, which is promised to all his seed for evermore. Amen.