Psalm 18
Psalm 18 is the longest Psalm of David we will have studied thus far (it is 50 verses long). We know exactly when this Psalm was written. It was in response to David’s victories over King Saul, as well as other enemies he faced.
This same text is also in 2 Samuel 22 where it is nearly identical with only a few minor variations. Psalm 18 is quoted in Proverbs: “Every word of God is flawless;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (Proverbs 30:5) which comes from Psalm 18:30: “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.”
This psalm was also quoted by the prophet Habakkuk: “The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” (Habakkuk 3:19) That comes from Psalm 18:33: “He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.”
In the New Testament, the apostle Paul quotes from Psalm 18:49 as prophecy of the inclusion of the Gentiles (“nations”) into the Gospel. (Romans 15:9-12)
Psalms 18:1-2 I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
In these opening verses in Psalm 18, David describes God with 9 different personal titles: My strength, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my rock, my shield, my salvation, my stronghold.
In 2 Samuel 22, this song opens very similarly…
2 Samuel 22:2-3 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior.
Here there are 10 titles David uses for God: My rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my rock, my shield, my salvation, my stronghold, my refuge, my savior.
The opening phrase of Psalm 18, “I love you, O Lord…” is not found in 2 Samuel 22. The commandment to love God was first made to Israel in Deuteronomy 6:5: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” This commandment came out of the context of God’s love for Israel (Deuteronomy 7:7-11), which makes the order realistic – it is much easier to love a God who loves us.
While Deuteronomy uses the verb “love”, David uses from the vocabulary of motherly love here. The echo we hear from this verb is that of the mother’s love for her child. This relationship is unique in the human family. It is one of the most intimate terms of covenant language. The fact that this term is take from covenant vocabulary, involving the covenant stipulations and promises, affirms the thought that the moral commandments of the Torah are summed up by David. Loving God and keeping his commandments are complementary. One cannot exist without the other. (1 John 2:3-5)
PRAY
Father, help me to truly love you with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your commands just as vigorously.