Psalm Chapter 18. I love you Lord.
King David has just been delivered from the hands of Saul who had many men seeking to kill him. The layout of this psalm goes as such:
1. KING DAVID IDENTIFIES GOD WITH MIGHTY NAMES! Some of the almost 20 names he mentions God as are a Rock, stronghold, shield, deliver, strength, etc.
2. KING DAVID DESCRIBES WHAT GREAT TURMOIL IT WAS THAT GOD DELIVERED HIM FROM. The cords of death and destruction.
3. KING DAVID CALLED ON THE LORD AND GOD HEARD HIM. King David was blameless before God and therefore God heard his cries and responded with anger to the enemies of King David. God will protect his children.
4. King David speaks of God's intervention. When God intervenes he does great things but he also enables us to do great things. King David mentions the things he was able to do because of God's intervention. He says I pursued my enemies vs no longer retreating. I overtook them. I crushed them. I beat them down. I trampled them. Yet he gives God all the glory. He says God delivered me. God exalted me. God made Nations respect me. God trained me.
5. KING DAVID PRAISES GOD. When God intervenes and does a great thing for us we need to praise him and I mean praise him a lot.
So if I can re-emphasize these five sections:
1. Know who God is, his greatness.
2. Conflicts and misfortunes will come to us.
3. Always call out to God for all things.
4. And with confidence believe he will intervene in his time.
5. And never ever ever ever forget to praise our mighty God.
I like the fact the King David starts the psalm with the words I love you Lord.
As I read this chapter today and thought about the victory that David received from God, I was also reminded of a few passages from the New Testament.
1 Corinthians 15:57-58
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Matthew 5:43-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I (Jesus) say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Romans 12:18-21
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.