The Lord is David's strength in battle and in salvation
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| 1 ¶
<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD,
who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD
delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul:
And he said,>> I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
.2 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
- O Lord, my strength At this point
of success, David would have been tempted to consider his victories as
by his own wisdom and might.
2 - Rock Hebrew sela, a mountain crag or a cliff. Thus a place of refuge. |
| .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. .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. |
4
- Sorrows The Hebrew word means "ropes"
or "cords." See 2sa2205.
On "of death," see 1sa2003.
We see this in the experience of Jesus lu2253.
5 - Hell Hebrew sheol, the grave. See on ps01610, pr1511. He feared for his life. 5 - Prevented Hebrew qadam, "confronted." This word in older English is from Latin meaning, "before" and "come." |
| .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 LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. |
7
- Then the earth shook In David's distress
the Lord apparently came to him in vision. It shows us about God.
9 - Darkness was under His feet He conquerors the forces of darkness. Compare re1201c. 10 - Rode upon a cherub We see angels in the wheels when God brought his throne of judgment in the storm wind ez0104f. You may wish to read the whole chapter. See especially verse 15. "Cherub" is singular. The plural is "cherubim." The KJV adds "s" which makes Hebrew scholars uncomfortable. |
| 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. |
14
- Arrows "Lightning" in the context.
15 - Channels of waters See ex1508. |
| 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. 19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. |
17
- Enemy Saul.
18 - Prevented See on v5. 19 - Large place See on ps00401. |
| 20 ¶ The LORD rewarded
me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands
hath he recompensed me.
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. .23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. 24 Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. |
20
- Recompensed ... righteousness This is not salvation by
works but works are an index to the extent that we have accepted His work
in and for us.
20 - Cleanness ps02403f., ps00708, |
| 25 With the 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. 27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks. .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. |
28 - Candle Compare jb2903. |
| 30 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? 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. |
34
- Teacheth my hands Compare ps14401.
35 - Shield How would salvation be a shield? jn1027ff. 35 - Thy gentleness Or "Thy condescension." Jesus took our place that we might have His. Love beyond our understanding! |
| 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. |
37
- Pursued mine enemies This verse begins a crescendo of victory
ending in v45. ex1509.
42 - Small Crushed. 2ki1307. |
| 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. |
43 - Head Israel, under David, became the dominant power of the whole area. |
| 46 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 delivereth 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. |
49 - Heathen Or "nations." See on ps00201. |
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