Psalm 18 Study Notes

18:27 Oppressed can also mean “humble” and is the opposite of haughty. To humble is literally to “bring down.”

18:28-29 Light is sometimes connected with salvation (deliverance) and provides security and assurance that God protects his own (27:1). The security becomes confidence in 18:29 with the sense that the psalmist could leap over a wall. In other words, he could accomplish the impossible with God on his side (Mt 19:26; Mk 9:23; Lk 18:27).

18:30 The Lord’s word is pure in that it is true and reliable.

18:31 The uniqueness of the Lord is significant in Israel’s theology, and it forms the basis for the distinctiveness of Israel among the other nations (35:10; 89:8; Ex 15:11; Dt 4:32-40).

18:32-36 The descriptions in these verses are of traits important for warfare. Strength is the clothing (1Sm 2:4). Feet of a deer represent swiftness (2Sm 1:23; 2:18). God made the psalmist more skillful by training his hands. The bow of bronze is unusual since bows were not covered with metal. The point seems to be that it was strengthened and made more effective as a weapon (Jb 20:24). The shield is perhaps related to its earlier mention where it was identified with God himself (vv. 2,30). On a spacious place, compare v. 19 and see note at 4:1.

18:37-42 Rather than being pursued (7:1,5), those who are strengthened by God pursue their enemies. The shift between first-person and second-person forms in these verses indicates that God is the one who is at work through his warrior. Though God can work directly, he also uses people as his instruments to accomplish his purposes.

18:43-48 The designation head of nations along with the verb subdues refers to the dominion over the nations that was promised to the Davidic ruler of Israel (110:1-2; Jr 31:7). Some interpreters see this as recalling situations where David himself conquered other nations (2Sm 8:9-10; 10:19).

18:49 The nations are not just defeated and subdued by Israel’s king; they become the audience for the praises of the Lord among his people (57:9; 108:3) so that they too participate in singing praise to God (67:4).

18:50 The combination of king . . . anointed . . . David and his descendants makes the connection with the Davidic covenant even more explicit than the previous verses (110:1-2; 2Sm 7:8-14).