Psalm 18 explained: A King's Song of Rescue

Love for God, cry for help (vv. 1-6)

David piles up pictures of safety: a rock to hide in, a fortress, a shield, and a horn, an old symbol of an animal's strength. He describes death and the grave as hunters closing in with ropes and traps, and says God heard him call out.

God comes in the storm (vv. 7-15)

Earthquake, smoke, fire, thunder and lightning echo the scene when God met Israel at Mount Sinai, and the cherubim are winged heavenly beings God rides like a chariot. This is poetry showing God's power stirred up on David's behalf, not a report of one specific storm.

Drawn out of the water (vv. 16-19)

Being pulled out of overwhelming water stands for troubles too strong to survive alone, and being set in open, roomy ground means relief after being hemmed in. David says he was rescued because God took delight in him.

Clean hands and fair dealing (vv. 20-29)

David's claims of innocence most likely refer to staying loyal to God while he was hunted and falsely accused, not to a flawless life, since other passages admit his serious wrongs. The idea is that God responds to people in kind: faithful with the faithful, and a match for the crooked.

Strength for battle (vv. 30-45)

David credits God with sure footing, trained hands and the strength to bend a heavy metal bow. The victory language is fierce and unsoftened, with enemies beaten to dust and foreign peoples submitting to him.

Praise from the king (vv. 46-50)

The song ends by praising God for keeping his promise of lasting love to David and his descendants. Christians later read this, along with verse 49 about praise among the nations, as pointing to Jesus, a descendant of David.

Key verse: Psalm 18:2

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on how far this psalm speaks only of David's own wars and rescues, and how far it is also meant to point ahead to Jesus.

Something to think about

When something goes right for you after a hard stretch, how do you decide what or whom to give the credit to?