Ps. 18 THE ARGUMENT This Psalm, with some few and small variations, is written 2 Sam. 22:0. It was composed by David towards the end of his reign and life upon the occasion here mentioned.

The servant of the Lord; who esteemeth it a greater honour to be thy servant, than to be king of Israel, and who doth entirely devote himself to thy service and glory. In the day that the Lord delivered him, i.e.

My rock; to which I flee for refuge, as the Israelites did to their rocks. See Judg. 6:2, 1 Sam. 13:6. The horn; by which I have both defended myself, and subdued mine enemies. It is a metaphor from those beasts whose strength lies in their horns. The horn is oft put for power, as Ps.

Or, I did call—and was saved. For the future tense is commonly used for that which is past. And this seems best to agree with the whole context, which is to praise God for mercies already received.

The sorrows of death, i.e. dangerous and deadly troubles. Or, the bands or cords of death, which had almost seized me, and was putting its bands upon me. Compare Ps. 73:4. The floods of ungodly men; their great multitudes, and strength, and violent assaults, breaking in upon me like a flood.

Of hell; or, of the grave, which brought me to the brink of the grave. Prevented me; had almost taken hold of me, ere I was aware of my danger.

Out of his temple; either, 1. Out of his sanctuary; whence he promised to hear and answer the prayers of his people, which are either made there or directed thither. Or, 2. Out of his heavenly habitation, which is oft called his temple: See Poole “Ps. 11:4”.

Then God appeared on my behalf in a miraculous and glorious manner, and with the great terror and confusion of all mine enemies, which is here compared to an earthquake.

Smoke out of his nostrils; as is usual in persons transported with great anger and rage. He manifestd his great displeasure against my adversaries. Coals were kindled by it; which notes the fervency, constancy, and efficacy of his anger.

He bowed the heavens, by producing thick and dark clouds, by which the heavens seem to come down to the earth. Came down; not by change of place, but by the manifestation of his presence and power on my behalf.

Upon a cherub; or, upon the cherubims, by an enallage of number; that is, upon the angels, who are so called, Gen. 3:24, Heb. 9:5, who are also called God’s chariots, Ps.

His secret place; or, his hiding-place; i.e. he covered himself with dark clouds, from hence he secretly shot at his enemies, as it follows. Dark waters, i.e. watery vapours and thick clouds, as the next words expound these.

At his glorious and powerful appearance his thick clouds passed away, i.e. vanished, (as this word is oft taken, as Ps. 90:5–6, Isa. 29:5, Hab. 3:10) being dissolved into showers of hail-stones, &c.

The Lord also thundered, to wit, against my adversaries. Thunder is a sign of God’s anger, 1 Sam. 2:10, 1 Sam. 7:10. His voice, i.e. thunder, oft so called. The same thing expressed in other words.

His arrows, to wit, lightnings, as it is explained in the next clause. Scattered them, to wit, mine enemies; which is sufficiently understood from Ps. 18:3, Ps. 18:17, and from the whole context.

By mighty and terrible earthquakes, which overturned the earth, and made its lower parts uppermost and visible.

He sent angels, or assistance otherwise.

From them that wanted neither malice nor power.

They were too cunning for me, and had almost surprised me; but they could not prevent thee.

He brought me forth out of my straits and difficulties, out of the little caves in which I was shut up and imprisoned. Into a large place; into a state of freedom, and plenty, and comfort.

As I had a just cause, and made it my care and business to deal righteously with God, and with Saul, and all others; so God (who hath engaged himself by his promise to suceour and reward them that are such) was graciously pleased to own me, and to plead my cause against my unrighteous enemies.

I have observed and obeyed his precepts, and made mine own will, and passions, and interest stoop to them. And I have not knowingly and wilfully forsaken God, and broken his laws, as wicked men do; which he adds by way of correction and explication, lest the former or following clauses should be…

Before me, i.e. before the eyes of my mind; I diligently studied and considered them, that I might govern my whole life by them. From me, i.e. out of my view, as ungodly men do; who like not to retain God nor his word in their hearts or thoughts.

I did not pretend religion before men for my own ends, but did approve my heart and ways to the all-seeing God. And I kept myself from mine iniquity, i e. from that sin which I was most inclined or tempted to; either, 1.

Upright, or sincere, to wit, in performing what thou hast promised to such persons, this being a great part or act of sincerity, when one’s deeds and words, or professions, agree together; as, on the contrary, for those that deal hypocritically and wickedly with thee, thou wilt make them to know…

Pure; free from the least mixture or appearance of unrighteousness, or unfaithfulness, or unkindness; or simply and sincerely, such as thou usest and hast promised to be to them that are such; for purity is oft put for sincerity. Froward, or perverse, i.e.

The afflicted people; such as I and my poor followers were. High looks, i.e. proud persons, who discover the pride of their hearts by their haughty looks and carriages, Ps. 101:5, Prov. 6:17, such as mine enemies were.

Or, thou dost light, or hast lighted, my candle, i.e. given me safety, and comfort, and prosperity, and glory, and posterity also; all which are oft signified by a candle or a light, as Est. 8:16, Job 21:17, Job 29:3, Ps. 97:11, Ps. 132:17;c.

By thee I have broken through the armed troops of mine enemies. I have sealed the walls of their strongest cities and castles, and so taken them.

His way is perfect; his counsel and providence, though it may sometimes be dark and hard to be understood, yet is always wise and just, and every way perfect or unbeareable.

It must needs be as I have said, because our Lord is the only God, and therefore there is none, neither God nor creature, that can hinder him from accomplishing his own word and work, or from defending those that trust him: he is unchangeable and invincible.

That girdeth me with strength; that gives me strength both of mind and body for battle. It is a metaphor taken either from a military girdle, or from a common girdle, wherewith their loose garments were girt about them, whereby they were rendered fitter for any action. Perfect, i.e.

Like hinds’ feet, i.e. most swift and nimble. As he made me wise in counsel and contrivance, (which he elsewhere saith,) so he made me speedy and expeditious in the execution; which are the two great excellencies of a captain.

To him I owe all that military skill, or strength, or cou rage which I have. My strength is sufficient, not only to bend a bow of steel, but to break it.

The shield of thy salvation; thy safeguard and protection, which hath been to me like a shield to defend me. Holden me up; kept me from falling into those snares and mischiefs which mine enemies designed, and I feared. Thy gentleness, or meekness, as this word signifies, Num. 12:3, Ps. 10:17, Ps.

Thou hast enlarged my steps; which before were straitened and confined to a little compass, and entangled with the narrowness and difficulty of the way. Thou hast set my feet in a large room, Ps. 31:8, Ps. 118:5, i.e.

i.e. Cast down to the ground, so as I may tread upon their necks, after the manner of conquerors, Deut. 33:29, Josh. 10:24.

He repeats what he had said Ps. 18:32, lest he should seem to arrogate to himself his great achievements and victories mentioned Ps. 18:37–38, and that he might give God the whole praise and glory of them.

Either, 1. That I might smite or behead them. Or, 2. That I might put my yoke upon their necks, or bring them into subjection. Or rather thus, Thou hast made them turn their backs to me, i.e. flee away from me; for so this very phrase is used and rendered, Ex. 23:27, Josh. 7:8, Josh.

He speaks of his Israelitish enemies, who in their distresses prayed to God for help against him.

Or, rid them away, as dirt is usually swept or carried out of houses or streets. Or, tread them down, or bruise them, as men do dirt when they walk in the streets.

From the strivings of the people; from contentions, and seditions, and tumults of my own people under Saul, and Ish-bosheth, and Absalom. The head of the heathen; of the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, Syrians, and others.

As soon as they hear of me; either, 1. At the fame of my name and victorious arms. Or, 2. At the first tidings of my coming towards them. Or rather, 3. As soon as they understand my will and pleasure, they shall instantly comply with it. Submit themselves unto me, Heb. shall lie unto me, i.e.

Shall fade away, i.e. shall wither and decay in their hopes and strength. Be afraid, i.e. shall come trembling; one verb being put for two, as Ps. 22:21, thou hast heard me, i.e. having delivered me; and Ps. 42:1, panteth, i.e. panting hasteneth; and in many other places.

He and he only is the true living God, and he hath manifested himself to be for my comfort, and for the confusion of mine enemies, when other gods are dead and impotent idols. Or, Let the Lord live. So it is a joyful and thankful acclamation, spoken after the manner of earthly princes.

That avengeth me; that executed vengeance both by me against malicious enemies, and for me against Saul, of whom I would not avenge myself.

Above those that rise up against me; above their malice and power. From the violent man; from Saul, whom for honour’s sake he forbears to mention.

Among the heathen; or, among the Gentiles or nations; i.e. either, 1. In the great congregations, consisting df the Israelites of all tribes; of whom this very word is used, Josh. 3:17—4:1, Ezek. 2:3, and elsewhere, as hath been noted before. Or, 2.

To his king; to the king whom God himself chose, and anointed, or constituted. To his seed; to all his posterity, and especially to the Messias, who is called David’s Seed, Acts 13:23, Rom. 1:3; and his Son, Ps. 89:27, Ps. 90:1, compared with Matt. 22:42; and the Seed by way of eminency, Gal.