FRIDAY, JULY 20
Psalm 18:1-50
2 Samuel 22:1-51

“The LORD is on my side …”

THE LORD-PROTECTOR OF ALL MY LIFE

Psalm 18 is found also in 2 Samuel 22 with certain variations. It is suggested it was sung by David at different times when he reviewed his own deep experiences. Hence the variations. The spirit of this Psalm is reflected in the well known hymn “Now Thank We All Our God” by Martin Rinkart (1586-1649) when God brought peace at the end of the Thirty Years’ War (1618-48). David was a man of war throughout his life (1 Chron 22:8). How many a time he would have been swallowed in death at the hand of his enemies. Three times Saul’s javelin was thrown at him, “but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he (Saul) smote the javelin into the wall” (1 Sam 19:10). The story of how David fought Goliath is most well known, but there were numerous other battles that he fought, and the Lord delivered him out of them all.

As David looked back through almost seventy years of his life, from the day of his youth to the rebellion of Absalom his own son, etc., he overflowed with gratefulness to the Lord-Protector of his life. Hence Spurgeon has titled this Psalm “The Grateful Retrospect.” From his exploits, going even through the valley of the shadow death, he reminisces how the Lord had saved him, time after time. He gives glory to the God of His salvation. What a Psalm to remind us not to forget His saving acts in our lives, through many a storm and tempest, through many a path narrow.

The title of this Psalm significantly mentions David, not king of Israel, but a “servant of the LORD.” Yet, when David says, “Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets,” he is not taking private vengeance, but rather executing justice in his capacity as the anointed king of Israel. The enemies he mentions throughout this Psalm are not private ones either, but are public pests, bitter enemies against the cause of God.

THOUGHT: “Fight the good fight with all thy might, Christ is thy strength and Christ thy right; Lay hold on life and it shall be thy joy and crown eternally.”
PRAYER: May I never fear to stand for Thee and with Thee, O Lord.