Psalm 18 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 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.
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.
More Psalms Chapter 18 (Old Testament)
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.
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.
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.
More Continued
19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
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.
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.
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.
Psalms Chapter 18 Cont'd
36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
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.
More Psalms Chapter 18 Below
42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
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.
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.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 18:2
Verse: יְהוָה צוּרִי וּמָעוֹזִי, מְשַׁעֲנִי בִיּוֹם צָרָה
Transliteration: Adonai tzuri u-ma’oz, m’sha’ani biyom tzarah
English: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.”
Focus Word: צוּר (Tzur)
- Root: צ-ו-ר (Tsade-Vav-Resh)
- Meaning: “Rock,” “stronghold,” “foundation.”
- Deeper Insight: In Hebrew, tzur signifies strength, permanence, and reliability. God as tzur is the unshakable protector in life’s storms.
Biblical Scholars on This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 18 |
|---|---|---|
| John Calvin (University of Paris / Orléans, 1509–1564) | Commentaries on the Psalms | Calvin sees Psalm 18 as David’s song of thanksgiving, emphasizing God’s strength in delivering His people from danger. |
| Matthew Henry (Christ Church, Oxford, 1662–1714) | Exposition of the Old and New Testament | Henry highlights gratitude for God’s power and faithfulness, praising Him for both protection and victory. |
| Richard Sibbes (Pembroke College, Cambridge, 1577–1635) | The Bruised Reed | Sibbes emphasizes God as the believer’s rock, safe refuge, and source of salvation. |
| John Owen (University of Oxford, 1616–1683) | A Commentary on the Psalms | Owen stresses God’s providential deliverance of the faithful from their enemies. |
| Thomas Manton (Christ’s College, Cambridge, 1620–1677) | Exposition of the Psalms | Manton interprets the Psalm as showing both divine justice against foes and God’s mercy toward the righteous. |
| Scholar & Work | View |
|---|---|
| Karl Graf – OT Historical Critic | Graf sees this psalm as a royal thanksgiving for dramatic deliverance. The theophanic imagery highlights God’s intervention in cosmic terms. The psalmist’s righteousness refers to covenant loyalty rather than sinlessness. |
| August Knobel – Die Bücher der Psalmen | Knobel interprets this psalm as both autobiographical and national. The shaking earth and dark clouds depict divine majesty in judgment. Victory is attributed entirely to God’s saving power. |
| Hermann Hupfeld – Supplemental Studies (distinct) | Hupfeld notes the epic character of this long poem. The theophany expresses God’s response to the psalmist’s cry. God strengthens the king for military triumph and protection. |
| Eberhard Nestle – Psalm Essays (19th c.) | Nestle highlights the poetic grandeur of the storm-theophany. God is seen bending nature to deliver His servant. The psalm concludes with a universal proclamation of God’s kingship. |
| Friedrich Bleek – Additional OT Literary Notes | Bleek sees this psalm as a national song of victory with David at its center. The fire and smoke imagery convey divine wrath against oppressors. God equips the king for battle and grants dominion. |
| H. F. B. Compston – Hebrew Poetry Articles | Compston emphasizes the symmetrical structure of the psalm. Divine rescue is portrayed as both personal and cosmic. The psalmist’s success reflects God’s covenant faithfulness. |
| C. H. Toy – Early American OT Studies | Toy sees this psalm as an example of Hebrew epic poetry. God’s intervention displays both natural and supernatural power. The ultimate message is that God rescues the faithful king. |
| Samuel Rolles Driver – Supplemental Psalm Notes | Driver views the psalm as a composite royal thanksgiving. The imagery of divine descent reveals God’s sovereignty over both nature and nations. The king’s triumph is grounded in divine justice. |
| Bernhard Duhm – Die Psalmen (1899) | Duhm interprets the psalm as a poetic retelling of decisive military victories. The theophany symbolizes God’s active defense of His anointed. The universal praise that ends the psalm points toward Israel’s mission. |
| F. Delitzsch Jr. – Early Psalm Commentary Notes | Delitzsch Jr. sees this psalm as a majestic tribute to God’s saving power. The vivid storm imagery underscores divine nearness. The psalm closes with a recognition of God’s kingship over all nations. |
is a very powerful from Scriptures, because, in this , King David illustrates to us the goodness of God and particularly the of God, even in the face of great adversity.
Have you ever been in trouble?
Have you ever experienced great setbacks?
Have you ever been in a place of needing ?
God Brings Great Deliverance
Well, this illustrates to us that God is even more powerful than the and that in the midst of , or the need for great , security, and against a , we can rest assured in knowing that our comes from the Lord.
God is a very present help in the times of struggle. And when you are in need of and against a , or against your , and those who wish you harm or evil, know that no can take you out.
God is your deliverer.
God is your strong tower, He is mighty and He will give you the .
The also illustrates that difficulties may arise.
We see the Psalmist talk about the sorrows of hell encompassing him.
But later on in 17, we see the of the against a .
And again in 18, he says, "The Lord is his stay".
The Lord was his shield and buckler.
God Will Not Allow You To Be Destroyed
The wouldn't allow him to be destroyed.
This also talks about the righteousness of God. No, the Lord won't allow things to happen. Just so the Lord will remember what you've done for him and the kind of person that you are and reward you according to the righteousness that you have demonstrated through the Lord , and by the power of the . So we see this in 20. We also see this in 24; you're surrendering to God has an impact on the delivering power of God, in your life.
It is our prayer that as you read each bible verse, that no will dissuade you, and that you will receive in your life by the power of the Holy Ghost in Jesus' mighty and precious Name.
Amen, and amen.
