Year One, September 15

This God—His Way is Perfect1

We will now return to Psalm 18 and read from verse 30 to the end.

  

Psalm 18:30-50

30 This God--his way is perfect;

The experience of all his people bears witness to this. Perfect wisdom, perfect truth, and perfect love, are to be seen in all that he does. Blessed be his name.

the word of the LORD proves true;

The word of the Lord has been tried, proven and tested, but it has never failed. Our soul knows this is true.

he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

This is true for us too, even though our faith has often been weak.

31 For who is God, but the LORD?

And who is a rock, except our God?--

32 the God who equipped me with strength

and made my way blameless.

Believers have been equipped with complete armor, of which the belt of truth is a most important part.

33 He made my feet like the feet of a deer

and set me secure on the heights.

The apostle Paul refers to a believer’s spiritual shoes as “given by the gospel of peace.”2 They are from God, permitting the believer to walk safely where others fall.

34 He trains my hands for war,

so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

In spiritual conflict, the believer’s hands are made strong so they can break the enemy’s weapons by the power of truth.

35 You have given me the shield of your salvation,

and your right hand supported me,

and your gentleness made me great.

Above all, we are to take the shield of faith, which is made in heaven, and extinguishes all the enemy’s flaming darts.3

36 You gave a wide place for my steps under me,

and my feet did not slip.

Never let us forget that unless the Lord protected us, we would have fallen as others have done, to our shame and ruin.

37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them,

and did not turn back till they were consumed.

38 I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise;

they fell under my feet.

39 For you equipped me with strength for the battle;

you made those who rise against me sink under me.

40 You made my enemies turn their backs to me,

and those who hated me I destroyed.

41 They cried for help, but there was none to save;

they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them.

42 I beat them fine as dust before the wind;

I cast them out like the mire of the streets.

David gives God the credit for all his victories. Notice how often he repeats the word “you.” “You have given.” “You equipped.” “You made.” You, oh Lord, have done it all.

43 You delivered me from strife with the people;

you made me the head of the nations;

people whom I had not known served me.

The neighboring nations submitted to David’s authority. When God is with us, “he makes even his enemies to be at peace with” us,4 or else they are powerless to harm us.

44 As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me;

foreigners came cringing to me.

45 Foreigners lost heart

and came trembling out of their fortresses.

46 The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock,

and exalted be the God of my salvation--

47 the God who gave me vengeance

and subdued peoples under me,

48 who rescued me from my enemies;

yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me;

you delivered me from the man of violence.

49 For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations,

and sing to your name.

50 Great salvation he brings to his king,

and shows steadfast love to his anointed

to David and his offspring forever.

As we read this psalm we should try to apply these expressions of praise to ourselves and personally bless the Lord for all the benefits that our own lives have witnessed. Has not the Lord done great things for us also? Shall we not also give thanks to his name? Yes, certainly. We will!

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¹ Psalm 18:30

² Ephesians 6:15

³ An allusion to Ephesians 6:16

⁴ Proverbs 16:7