Psalm 18 Outline Wednesday Bible Study

I. David's Reverence Psalm 18:1
Psalm 18:1 I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
1. The object of David's Love. "thee, O Lord"
2. The measure of David's Love. "I will love" an earnest and intense love is spoken of here, the very tenderest of love.
3. The inspiration of David’s Love. “love” this type of love is usually reserved to describe God’s love for His people. A reciprocal type of love that David learned from the way the Lord has loved him. 1Jn 4:19 “We love him, because he first loved us.”

II. David’s realization Psalm 18:2-3

Psalm 18:2-3 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. 3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

1. The Lord is a powerful deliverer. “my God, my strength, in whom I will trust” David put complete confidence in that strength

2. The Lord is a perfect deliverer. In v. 2 alone David uses 7 metaphors to describe our Lord. This is no accident as 7 is the biblical number for perfection.

3. The Lord is a personal deliverer. 8 times David uses the personal pronoun “my” to remind us of a wonderful truth, God knows us personally! He knows our every need, our every circumstance and our every problem better than we do. Even better, He has the solution!

4. The Lord is a praised deliverer. Even before he prays, he prais es God. We should learn like David to praise Him amidst the trial not just after answered prayer.

III. David’s Rescue Psalm 18:4-19
1. David's peril vss. 4-5 4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. 5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
We may have tough times but few have ever faced what20David depicts in these 2 verses.

2. David's prayer vs. 6 6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
The Lord is never too busy to hear the cry of His children. His prayer was:
-passionate "called" "cried"
-purposed it was right to the point
-productive it got results from God

3. David's protection vss. 7-18 7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. 8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. 9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. 10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. 12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire. 13 The LORD20also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. 14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. 15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils. 16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. 17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. 18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. Through majestic metaphors David describes the coming of our Lord to rescue him. David saw a big God, bigger than any problem he faced. How do we see God in light of our circumstances?
-the Lord’s Arrival vss. 9-10< /FONT>
-the Lord’s Appearance vss. 8, 11
-the Lord’s Actions vss. 7, 12-18

4. David’s Promotion vs. 19 19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

He is not just rescued and protected but he is brought to a better place (both physically and emotionally) than he was before he prayed.

IV. David’s reflection < /SPAN>Ps 18:20-50
After God’s deliverance in David’s time of trial, David begins to reflect and explain his understanding of how and why God blessed. Remember this was probably written at David’s coronation or some other special event shortly after David is crowned King. He is looking back at the lessons he has learned from his experience (being pursued by Saul).
1. David was righteous. He was simply stating that in this matter he was not guilty of what he had been accused of, that the statements made against him were unfair and unsubstantiated. He was not sinless but blameless in this matter.
Vss 20, 24 “according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands” vs 23 “I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.”
2. David was responsible. He placed himself under the authority of the Word of God, it was his measuring stick for proper behavior. Many people think they are “good” or that their actions are proper. How would you know that without a proper standard? God’s Word is the standard!
Vss 21 “For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.” 22 “For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.”
3. David was recompensed. David was compensated by the Lord for his treatment of the Lord. Our regard for God’s Word is regard for God Himself.
Vss 20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 24 Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
4. David was reaping. David was gathering a harvest for his treatment of others. We are Judged righteous by God for our actions toward Him and or treatment of men. There is a correlation between the two, being right with God and fellow man go hand in hand (this was one of the rebukes that Jesus had for the Pharisees, they thought they were right with God while they were cruel to men).
Vss 25 With=2 0the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; 26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
These verses are dealing with our actions toward our fellow man. In David’s case I think it is referring specifically to his actions toward Saul. He wouldn’t raise his hand against him or speak harshly about him. God recompensed David for his handling of the things of God and rewarded him for his dealing with men (Saul).
5. David was rejuvenated. In verses 28-29; 32-45 David uses past , present and future tenses. As he reflects on past trials. he is invigorated and energized at the prospects of his future. He has confidence in what God has done in the past and what He will do in the future. We need to look at our tough times like this, see God’s hand and realize He is preparing us for bigger things in the future. God has a plan for what you are facing today. It is a stepping stone for what lies ahead. King David will draw strength from his experiences and place his confidence in the Lord.
Vss 28 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. 29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
vss 32-45 32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. 33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. 34 He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. 35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. 36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip. 37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. 38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.
39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. 40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. 41 They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. 42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets. 43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me. 44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. 45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
6. David was rejoicing. We must never forget to praise God and be thankful for what He has done and what He is doing! David ends this Psalm (coronation speech) giving credit and bragging on the Lord.
Vss 30-31 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. 31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
Vss 46-50 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. 47 It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. 48 He=2 0delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. 49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. 50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.
This Psalm begins with reverence and ends with rejoicing (praising God). When we have these present in our lives NOTHING can keep us from the victory that is given by the Lord!

Pastor Timothy Braun
Matt 5:16

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