God’s Renewing Word of Promise
Introduction
Psalm 18:1-24: Today we begin reading the first half of Psalm 18. It is the third longest psalm (after 119 and 78) and employs a warrior-deity image for God. The psalm is attributed to David who sang this song to the LORD after the LORD had rescued him from his enemies. This victory song also appears in 2 Samuel 22. Centuries after the time of David, this psalm was used to express the hope that God would rescue the people of Israel from their enemies.
Scripture Reading
David’s Song of Victory
(2 Samuel 22.1-51)
1How I love you, Lord!
You are my defender.
2The Lord is my protector;
he is my strong fortress.
My God is my protection,
and with him I am safe.
He protects me like a shield;
he defends me and keeps me safe.
3I call to the Lord,
and he saves me from my enemies.
Praise the Lord!
4The danger of death was all around me;
the waves of destruction rolled over me.
5The danger of death was around me,
and the grave set its trap for me.
6In my trouble I called to the Lord;
I called to my God for help.
In his temple he heard my voice;
he listened to my cry for help.
7Then the earth trembled and shook;
the foundations of the mountains rocked and quivered,
because God was angry.
8Smoke poured out of his nostrils,
a consuming flame and burning coals from his mouth.
9He tore the sky open and came down
with a dark cloud under his feet.
10He flew swiftly on his winged creature;
he traveled on the wings of the wind.
11He covered himself with darkness;
thick clouds, full of water, surrounded him.
12Hailstones and flashes of fire
came from the lightning before him
and broke through the dark clouds.
13Then the Lord thundered from the sky;
and the voice of the Most High was heard.
14He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies;
with flashes of lightning he sent them running.
15The floor of the ocean was laid bare,
and the foundations of the earth were uncovered,
when you rebuked your enemies, Lord,
and roared at them in anger.
16The Lord reached down from above and took hold of me;
he pulled me out of the deep waters.
17He rescued me from my powerful enemies
and from all those who hate me—
they were too strong for me.
18When I was in trouble, they attacked me,
but the Lord protected me.
19He helped me out of danger;
he saved me because he was pleased with me.
20The Lord rewards me because I do what is right;
he blesses me because I am innocent.
21I have obeyed the law of the Lord;
I have not turned away from my God.
22I have observed all his laws;
I have not disobeyed his commands.
23He knows that I am faultless,
that I have kept myself from doing wrong.
24And so he rewards me because I do what is right,
because he knows that I am innocent.
Today’s Key Verse: Psalm 18:1
How I love you, LORD! You are my defender.
Reflect
How is God described in verses 1 and 2? How does David express being rescued by God (verses 4-19)? In these verses, what images are used to describe God’s power? According to verses 20-24, David claims to be rewarded for doing what is right. What reasons does he give for saying this? Have you ever felt you were rewarded for doing what is right?
Pray
How I love you, LORD! You are my strong fortress and place of safety. You hear my cries when I am troubled, and I know I can turn to you for help. In your care I feel safe and secure. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Psalm 18:25-50: The psalm concludes by celebrating God’s victory.