Psalms 18:50

50 Great triumphs he gives to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his descendants for ever.

Psalms 18:50 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 18:50

Great deliverance giveth he to his king
Not that is king over him; for he is King of kings and Lord of lords; but that is made king by him, as David was; who did not usurp the throne, but was anointed king by the appointment of God, and was placed by him upon the throne; to whom he gave great deliverance from his enemies, or "magnified salvations" to him; which were great in kind, and many in number; and as Christ is, whom God has set as his King on his holy hill of Sion, against whom the Heathen raged, and kings and princes set themselves; but he is delivered from them all, and saved from the power of death and the grave, and ever lives to reign over, protect, and defend his people; in ( 2 Samuel 22:51 ) , it is, he is "the tower of salvation for his king", with which compare ( Proverbs 18:10 ) ;

and showeth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for
evermore;
which may be understood either of David literally, who was the Lord's anointed, and to whom God showed mercy in various instances; and then by his seed is meant the Messiah, who was of his seed according to the flesh; or of the Messiah, whose name signifies Anointed; and who is often called David, ( Ezekiel 34:23 Ezekiel 34:24 ) ( Ezekiel 37:24 Ezekiel 37:25 ) ( Hosea 3:5 ) ; and so some of the Jewish doctors F21 from this verse prove that the name of the Messiah is David: and by his seed are meant his spiritual seed; all the elect of God, who are given him as his children, to whom he stands in the relation of the everlasting Father: and as mercy is kept with him for evermore, ( Psalms 89:28 ) ; so it is shown to them in regeneration, in the forgiveness of their sins, and in their everlasting salvation.


FOOTNOTES:

F21 Echa Rabbati, fol. 50. 2.

Psalms 18:50 In-Context

48 who delivered me from my enemies; yea, thou didst exalt me above my adversaries; thou didst deliver me from men of violence.
49 For this I will extol thee, O LORD, among the nations, and sing praises to thy name.
50 Great triumphs he gives to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his descendants for ever.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.