God’s Renewing Word of Promise
Introduction
Psalm 18:25-50: Today’s reading is the conclusion of the psalm, and David praises God’s faithfulness. In these verses, he acknowledges the many ways God has defended, protected, and saved him.
Scripture Reading
25O Lord, you are faithful to those who are faithful to you;
completely good to those who are perfect.
26You are pure to those who are pure,
but hostile to those who are wicked.
27You save those who are humble,
but you humble those who are proud.
28O Lord, you give me light;
you dispel my darkness.
29You give me strength to attack my enemies
and power to overcome their defenses.
30This God—how perfect are his deeds!
How dependable his words!
He is like a shield
for all who seek his protection.
31The Lord alone is God;
God alone is our defense.
32He is the God who makes me strong,
who makes my pathway safe.
33 He makes me sure-footed as a deer;
he keeps me safe on the mountains.
34He trains me for battle,
so that I can use the strongest bow.
35O Lord, you protect me and save me;
your care has made me great,
and your power has kept me safe.
36You have kept me from being captured,
and I have never fallen.
37I pursue my enemies and catch them;
I do not stop until I destroy them.
38I strike them down, and they cannot rise;
they lie defeated before me.
39You give me strength for the battle
and victory over my enemies.
40You make my enemies run from me;
I destroy those who hate me.
41They cry for help, but no one saves them;
they call to the Lord, but he does not answer.
42I crush them, so that they become like dust
which the wind blows away.
I trample on them like mud in the streets.
43You saved me from a rebellious people
and made me ruler over the nations;
people I did not know have now become my subjects.
44Foreigners bow before me;
when they hear me, they obey.
45They lose their courage
and come trembling from their fortresses.
46The Lord lives! Praise my defender!
Proclaim the greatness of the God who saves me.
47He gives me victory over my enemies;
he subdues the nations under me
48and saves me from my foes.
O Lord, you give me victory over my enemies
and protect me from violent people.
49 And so I praise you among the nations;
I sing praises to you.
50God gives great victories to his king;
he shows constant love to the one he has chosen,
to David and his descendants forever.
Today’s Key Verse: Psalm 18:31
The LORD alone is God; God alone is our defense.
Reflect
Verses 25-27 read like a proverb and utilize a structure known as parallelism. In what ways does the second half of each verse amplify the first half? In verse 28, the word “light” represents wisdom and truth that come from God. How does this verse set the tone for the remainder of the psalm? In these concluding verses, what does David say are some of the ways that God has protected and saved him?
Pray
Sovereign God, I thank and praise you for your faithfulness. You alone are God, and you make me strong and make my pathway safe. I thank and praise you for your constant love. Amen.
And now, join us in praying for Daily Bible Reading, American Bible Society’s free digital resource that offers encouragement to spend time in God’s Word daily. Loving God, through your Word you renew our spirits; and, through prayer, you strengthen us to intercede for others. Whenever we may feel physically and emotionally depleted, we thank you that we can turn to this resource of daily Bible readings for spiritual renewal, hope, encouragement, and strength. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
1 Samuel 1:1-18: Eli, the priest at Shiloh, hears Hannah’s prayer.