Psalm 18 is one of my favorite psalms, for it reveals the rich and deep relationship David had with his Lord, who sustained him in the midst of the problems, pressures and the present dangers of his life. David is a good example to us, as he takes everything to God and lives in the Lord’s strength, power and protection, not trying to make it on his own.
“For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.”
[And we all know how Saul sought to kill David and how God protected him from Saul’s anger.]
Psalm 18:1 “I love you, O LORD, my strength.”
[You, Lord, are the intimate and ultimate God, whose deep love for us calls forth an echo of affection from our hearts. To love you is a great privilege, a wonderful freedom, a deep grace, bringing us out from our natural negative notions into the light of your marvelous presence, your mighty power and majestic wisdom. There your love overflows onto us, washing through us, bringing us cleansing, renewing and joy.
You, Jesus, declared in John 15:9, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.”
This is an amazing statement: Jesus offers us the great, eternal, all powerful love that the Father has for Him: whole-hearted, enthusiastic, unending, joyful, grace-filled, kind and warm. So, as Jesus is secure in His relationship with the Father, we can be secure in our relationship with Him. And His love calls forth the desire to love Him back, to remain in His love by obeying him in all that we know to be right.
In verse 11 Jesus continues, “…. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete”.
[You are not only the One who loves us but the one who desires to share your joy with us and out of that love and joy your power flows into our lives. You are my strength–I have so little; in fact, practically speaking, no strength of my own, especially in comparison to that of our enemy, Satan, who is much stronger than I am. So I need your power to stand against the wiles of the devil.
As it says in Revelation 12:17, “Then [Satan] the dragon was enraged…and went off to wage war against…those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.”
The accuser gives no quarter, and I cannot possibly defend myself against him—but you, O Lord God, are my defender, my salvation and protector.
Later in Psalm 18 David declares that the LORD “reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support” (Psa. 18:16-18).
Praise be to you, Lord God, that your power is made perfect in the poverty of our personal weakness. Our lack of strength is your opportunity to bring salvation to us, to display your great power in your love by providing, protecting and prolonging our lives in the midst of attacks by the enemy who is too powerful for us. Glory be to your name!
May I live in your love and under your protection today by keeping on your armor and offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving for whatever comes, trusting you, honoring you and seeing the salvation of the Lord.]
