Psalm 18: For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
David sang, “I love You, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my mountain where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I was saved from my enemies.” [Ps 18:1-3 HCSB]
This song has another one of those superscriptions. It is thought it was written and then sung on various occasions as David looked at God’s deliverance in grateful retrospect. Although David is king, he identifies himself as “David, the servant of Jehovah.”
In his opening stanza, David speaks of the personal nature of God’s work in his life. Look at how he identifies Jehovah by using that little word “my.” To David, Jehovah is: my strength, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my shield, my salvation, and my stronghold. No wonder David is praising Him.
David then goes on and recounts what God has done for Him. In grateful poetic beauty, David reminds his listeners of his great debt and thanksgiving to His God. David is what he is because throughout his life, God has been all in all to him. Through the best of times and in the worst of times, God was always David’s rock.
The song climaxes in verse 46: “The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!”
As David remembered all the troubles he had suffered at the hands of his enemies and the former king, Saul, there is only one conclusion – The LORD lives!
Beloved, our God is the Living God. Our Rock. Our Savior. Blessed be His Holy Name.
