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Text -- Psalms 18:47-50 (NET)

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18:47 The one true God completely vindicates me; he makes nations submit to me. 18:48 He delivers me from my enemies; you snatch me away from those who attack me; you rescue me from violent men. 18:49 So I will give you thanks before the nations, O Lord! I will sing praises to you! 18:50 He gives his chosen king magnificent victories; he is faithful to his chosen ruler, to David and his descendants forever.”
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Names, People and Places:
 · David a son of Jesse of Judah; king of Israel,son of Jesse of Judah; king of Israel


Dictionary Themes and Topics: Thankfulness | Testimony | TEMPLE, B | Quotations and Allusions | Praise | PSALMS, BOOK OF | POETRY, HEBREW | Missions | Messiah | INSPIRATION, 1-7 | God | FORTIFICATION; FORT; FORTIFIED CITIES; FORTRESS | David | CHERUBIM (1) | BIBLE, THE, IV CANONICITY | Anointing | AVENGE; AVENGER | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , Defender , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: Psa 18:48 - -- From Saul: whom for honour's sake he forbears to mention.

From Saul: whom for honour's sake he forbears to mention.

Wesley: Psa 18:49 - -- David is here transported beyond himself, and speaks this in special relation to Christ who was to be his seed, and of whom he was an eminent type, an...

David is here transported beyond himself, and speaks this in special relation to Christ who was to be his seed, and of whom he was an eminent type, and by whom alone this was done. And therefore this is justly applied to him, and to his calling of the Gentiles, Rom 15:9.

Wesley: Psa 18:50 - -- To the king whom God himself chose and anointed, and to all his posterity; and especially to the Messiah, who is called David's seed, Act 13:23; Rom 1...

To the king whom God himself chose and anointed, and to all his posterity; and especially to the Messiah, who is called David's seed, Act 13:23; Rom 1:3.

JFB: Psa 18:47-48 - -- His cause is espoused by God as His own.

His cause is espoused by God as His own.

JFB: Psa 18:48 - -- To safety and honors.

To safety and honors.

JFB: Psa 18:49-50 - -- Paul (Rom 15:9) quotes from this doxology to show that under the Old Testament economy, others than the Jews were regarded as subjects of that spiritu...

Paul (Rom 15:9) quotes from this doxology to show that under the Old Testament economy, others than the Jews were regarded as subjects of that spiritual government of which David was head, and in which character his deliverances and victories were typical of the more illustrious triumphs of David's greater Son. The language of Psa 18:50 justifies this view in its distinct allusion to the great promise (compare 2Sa 7:12). In all David's successes he saw the pledges of a fulfilment of that promise, and he mourned in all his adversities, not only in view of his personal suffering, but because he saw in them evidences of danger to the great interests which were committed to his keeping. It is in these aspects of his character that we are led properly to appreciate the importance attached to his sorrows and sufferings, his joys and successes.

Clarke: Psa 18:47 - -- God that avengeth me - The way that I took was after his own heart; therefore he sustained me in it, and did me justice over my enemies

God that avengeth me - The way that I took was after his own heart; therefore he sustained me in it, and did me justice over my enemies

Clarke: Psa 18:47 - -- Subdueth the people under me - He keeps down the spirits of the disaffected, and weakens their hands. They are subdued, and they continue under me; ...

Subdueth the people under me - He keeps down the spirits of the disaffected, and weakens their hands. They are subdued, and they continue under me; and this is the Lord’ s doing.

Clarke: Psa 18:48 - -- He delivereth me - That is, he hath delivered me, and continues to deliver me, from all that rise up against me

He delivereth me - That is, he hath delivered me, and continues to deliver me, from all that rise up against me

Clarke: Psa 18:48 - -- The violent man - Saul; this applies particularly to him.

The violent man - Saul; this applies particularly to him.

Clarke: Psa 18:49 - -- WilI I give thanks unto thee - among the heathen - Quoted by St. Paul, Rom 15:9, to prove that the calling of the Gentiles was predicted, and that w...

WilI I give thanks unto thee - among the heathen - Quoted by St. Paul, Rom 15:9, to prove that the calling of the Gentiles was predicted, and that what then took place was the fulfillment of that prediction

But there is a sense in which it applies particularly to David, well observed by Theodoret: "We see,"says he, "evidently the fulfillment of this prophecy; for even to the present day David praises the Lord among the Gentiles by the mouth of true believers; seeing there is not a town, village, hamlet, country, nor even a desert, where Christians dwell, in which God is not praised by their singing the Psalms of David."

Clarke: Psa 18:50 - -- Great deliverance giveth he to his king - David was a king of God’ s appointment, and was peculiarly favored by him. Literally, He is magnifyin...

Great deliverance giveth he to his king - David was a king of God’ s appointment, and was peculiarly favored by him. Literally, He is magnifying the salvations of his king. He not only delivers, but follows up those deliverances with innumerable blessings

Clarke: Psa 18:50 - -- Showeth mercy - to David - I have no claim upon his bounty. I deserve nothing from him, but he continues to show mercy

Showeth mercy - to David - I have no claim upon his bounty. I deserve nothing from him, but he continues to show mercy

Clarke: Psa 18:50 - -- To his seed - His posterity. So the words זרע zera and σπερμα, in the Old and New Testament, should be universally translated. The comm...

To his seed - His posterity. So the words זרע zera and σπερμα, in the Old and New Testament, should be universally translated. The common translation is totally improper, and now more so than formerly, when anatomy was less understood

Clarke: Psa 18:50 - -- For evermore - עד עולם ad olam , for ever; through all duration of created worlds. And more - the eternity that is beyond time. This shows th...

For evermore - עד עולם ad olam , for ever; through all duration of created worlds. And more - the eternity that is beyond time. This shows that another David is meant, with another kind of posterity, and another sort of kingdom. From the family of David came the man Christ Jesus; his posterity are the genuine Christians; his kingdom, in which they are subjects, is spiritual. This government shall last through all time, for Christianity will continue to prevail till the end of the world: and it will be extended through eternity; for that is the kingdom of glory in which Jesus reigns on the throne of his Father, and in which his followers shall reign with him for ever and ever

It has already been remarked that this whole Psalm has been understood as relating to the passion and victories of Christ, and the success of the Gospel in the earth. In this way Bishop Horne has understood and paraphrased it; and in the same way it is considered by the ancient Psalter, so often mentioned. Many of the primitive fathers and modern interpreters have taken the same view of it. Those passages which I judged to have this meaning I have pointed out, and have only to add that, as David was a type of Christ, many things spoken of him primarily, refer to our Lord ultimately; but much judgment and caution are required in their application. To apply the whole Psalm in this way appears to me very injudicious, and often derogatory from the majesty of Christ. Let this be my excuse for not following the same track in which many of my predecessors have gone

Calvin: Psa 18:47 - -- 47.The God who giveth me vengeance The Psalmist again attributes to God the victories which he had obtained. As he could never have expected to obtai...

47.The God who giveth me vengeance The Psalmist again attributes to God the victories which he had obtained. As he could never have expected to obtain them unless he had been confident that he would receive the aid of God, so now he acknowledges God to be the sole author of them. That he may not seem carelessly to bestow upon him, as it were, in passing, only a small sprinkling of the praise of his victories, he repeats, in express terms, that he had nothing but what God had given him. In the first place, he acknowledges that power was given him from above, to enable him to inflict on his enemies the punishment which they deserved. It may seem at first sight strange that God should arm his own people to execute vengeance; but as I have previously shown you, we ought always to remember David’s vocation. He was not a private person, but being endued with royal power and authority, the judgment which he executed was enjoined upon him by God. If a man, upon receiving injury, breaks forth to avenge himself, he usurps the office of God; and, therefore, it is rash and impious for private individuals to retaliate the injuries which have been inflicted upon them. With respect to kings and magistrates, God, who declares that vengeance belongeth to him, in arming them with the sword, constitutes them the ministers and executioners of his vengeance. David, therefore, has put the word vengeance for the just punishments which it was lawful for him to inflict by the commandment of God, provided he was led under the influence of a zeal duly regulated by the Holy Spirit, and not under the influence of the impetuosity of the flesh. Unless this moderation is exemplified in performing the duties of their calling, it is in vain for kings to boast that God has committed to them the charge of taking vengeance; seeing it is not less unwarrantable for a man to abuse, according to his own fancy and the lust of the flesh, the sword which he is allowed to use, than to seize it without the command of God. The Church militant, which is under the standard of Christ, has no permission to execute vengeance, except against those who obstinately refuse to be reclaimed. We are commanded to endeavor to overcome our enemies by doing them good, and to pray for their salvation. It becomes us, therefore, at the same time, to desire that they may be brought to repentance, and to a right state of mind, until it appear beyond all doubt that they are irrecoverably and hopelessly depraved. In the meantime, in regard to vengeance, it must be left to God, that we may not be carried headlong to execute it before the time. David next concludes, from the perils and distresses in which he had been involved, that if he had not been preserved by the hand of God, he could not in any other way have escaped in safety: My deliverer from my enemies; yea, thou hast lifted me up from those who had risen up against me. The sense in which we are to understand the lifting up of which he speaks is, that he was wonderfully raised up above the power and malice of his enemies that he might not sink under their violence, and that they might not be victorious over him.

Calvin: Psa 18:49 - -- 49.Therefore will I praise thee, O Jehovah! In this verse he teaches us that the blessings God had conferred upon him, of which he had spoken, are wo...

49.Therefore will I praise thee, O Jehovah! In this verse he teaches us that the blessings God had conferred upon him, of which he had spoken, are worthy of being celebrated with extraordinary and unusual praises, that the fame of them might reach even the heathen. There is in the words an implied contrast between the ordinary worship of God which the faithful were then accustomed to perform in the temple, and this thanksgiving of which David speaks, which could not be confined within so narrow limits. The meaning, therefore, is, O Lord, I will not only give thee thanks in the assembly of thy people, according to the ritual which thou hast appointed in thy law, but thy praises shall extend to a greater distance, even as thy grace towards me is worthy of being recounted through the whole world. Moreover, from these words we conclude that this passage contains a prophecy concerning the kingdom of Christ, which was to come. Unless the heathen had been allured into the fellowship of the chosen people, and united into one body with them, to praise God among them would have been to sing his praises among the deaf, which would have been foolish work and lost labor. Accordingly, Paul very properly and suitably proves from this text, that the calling of the Gentiles was not a thing which happened by chance, or at a venture, (Rom 15:9.) We shall afterwards see in many places that the Church is appointed to be the sacred dwelling-place for showing forth the praises of God. And, therefore, the name of God could not have been rightly and profitably celebrated elsewhere than in Judea, until the ears of the Gentiles were opened, which was done when God adopted them, and called them to himself by the gospel.

Calvin: Psa 18:50 - -- 50.He worketh great deliverances, etc This concluding verse clearly shows why God had exercised such goodness and liberality towards David, namely, b...

50.He worketh great deliverances, etc This concluding verse clearly shows why God had exercised such goodness and liberality towards David, namely, because he had anointed him to be king. By calling himself God’s king, David testifies that he had not rashly rushed into that office, nor was thrust into it by conspiracies and wicked intrigues, but, on the contrary, reigned by lawful right, inasmuch as it was the will of God that he should be king. This he proves by the ceremony of anointing; for God, in anointing him by the hand of Samuel, had asserted his right to reign not less than if he had visibly stretched forth his hand from heaven to place and establish him on the royal throne. This election, he says, was confirmed by a continued series of great deliverances; and from this it follows, that all who enter on any course without having the call of God, are chargeable with avowedly making war against him. At the same time, he attributes these deliverances to the goodness of God as their cause, to teach us, that that kingdom was founded purely and simply upon the good pleasure of God. Farther, from the concluding sentence of the psalm, it appears, as I have said before, that David does not here so much recount by way of history the singular and varied instances of the grace of God which he had personally experienced, as predict the everlasting duration of his kingdom. And it is to be observed, that by the word seed we are not to understand all his descendants indiscriminately; but we are to consider it as particularly referring to that successor of David of whom God had spoken in 2Sa 7:12, promising that he would be a father to him. As it had been predicted that his kingdom would continue as long as the sun and the moon should shine in the heavens, the prophecy must necessarily be viewed as descending to him who was to be king not for a time, but for ever. David, therefore, commends his seed to us, as honored by that remarkable promise, which fully applies neither to Solomon nor to any other of his successors, but to the only begotten Son of God; as the apostle, in his Epistle to the Hebrews, (Heb 1:4,) teaches us, that this is a dignity in which he excels the angels. In conclusion, we shall then only duly profit in the study of this psalm, when we are led by the contemplation of the shadow and type to him who is the substance.

Defender: Psa 18:50 - -- 2 Samuel 22 is almost identical to Psalm 18, although "great deliverance" in this final verse is "a tower of salvation" in 2Sa 22:51. See notes on 2 S...

2 Samuel 22 is almost identical to Psalm 18, although "great deliverance" in this final verse is "a tower of salvation" in 2Sa 22:51. See notes on 2 Samuel 22 for further commentary on the application of Psa 18:7-16 to the great flood."

TSK: Psa 18:47 - -- avengeth : Heb. giveth avengements for me, Deu 32:35; 2Sa 22:48; Nah 1:2; Rom 12:19 subdueth : or, destroyeth, Psa 47:3

avengeth : Heb. giveth avengements for me, Deu 32:35; 2Sa 22:48; Nah 1:2; Rom 12:19

subdueth : or, destroyeth, Psa 47:3

TSK: Psa 18:48 - -- liftest : Psa 22:27-30, Psa 59:1, Psa 59:2, Psa 89:13; Phi 2:9 violent man : Heb. man of violence, Psa 7:16, Psa 86:14, Psa 140:1, Psa 140:4, Psa 140:...

liftest : Psa 22:27-30, Psa 59:1, Psa 59:2, Psa 89:13; Phi 2:9

violent man : Heb. man of violence, Psa 7:16, Psa 86:14, Psa 140:1, Psa 140:4, Psa 140:11

TSK: Psa 18:49 - -- will I give thanks : or, confess, Psa 14:7, Psa 30:12, Psa 72:18, Psa 72:19, Psa 138:4; 2Sa 22:50, 2Sa 22:51; Rom 15:9; 1Ti 6:13 sing : Psa 108:3; Mat...

TSK: Psa 18:50 - -- Great : Psa 2:6, Psa 78:71, Psa 78:72, Psa 89:3, Psa 89:4, Psa 144:10; 1Sa 2:10, 1Sa 16:1; Act 2:34-36; Phi 2:9-11 to his : Psa. 89:20-38, Psa 132:10;...

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Psa 18:47 - -- It is God that avengeth me - Margin, giveth avengements for me. The marginal reading is a literal translation of the Hebrew. The meaning is, th...

It is God that avengeth me - Margin, giveth avengements for me. The marginal reading is a literal translation of the Hebrew. The meaning is, that God had punished the enemies of the author of the psalm for all the wrongs which they had done to him. Compare Rom 12:19.

And subdueth the people under me - Margin, destroyeth. The idea is that he had subdued the nations so that they became obedient to him. The primary notion of the word used here - from דבר dâbar - is to set in a row; to range in order; to connect; to lead; to guide; - then, to reduce to order; to subdue. This God had done in respect to the nations. Instead of being rebellious and tumultuous, God had reduced them to obedience, and had thus set him over a kingdom where all were subject to order and to law.

Barnes: Psa 18:48 - -- He delivereth me from mine enemies - From all my foes. Yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me - So that I triumph ov...

He delivereth me from mine enemies - From all my foes.

Yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me - So that I triumph over them. Instead of being subdued by them, and trampled under their feet, I am exalted, and they are humbled.

Thou hast delivered me from the violent man - Margin, as in Hebrew, man of violence; the man characterized by injustice and wrong; the man who endeavored to overcome and subdue me by force and arms. There is probably a special allusion here by the psalmist to Saul as his great enemy, but perhaps he had also in his eye others of the same kind, and the meaning may be that he had been delivered from all of that class of people.

Barnes: Psa 18:49 - -- Therefore will I give thanks unto thee - Margin, confess. The Hebrew word - ידה yâdâh - in the form used here, means properly to ...

Therefore will I give thanks unto thee - Margin, confess. The Hebrew word - ידה yâdâh - in the form used here, means properly to profess, to confess, to acknowledge; then especially to acknowledge or recognize blessings and favors; in other words, to give thanks, to praise. The idea here is that he would make a public acknowledgment of those blessings which he had received; or that he would cause the remembrance of them to be celebrated among the nations.

Among the heathen - Among the nations. See the note at Psa 18:43. The meaning here is, that he would cause these blessings to be remembered by making a record of them in this song of praise; a song that would be used not only in his own age and in his own country, but also among other nations, and in other times. He would do all in his power to make the knowledge of these favors, and these proofs of the existence of the true God, known abroad and transmitted to other times. The apostle Paul uses this language Rom 15:9 as expressing properly the fact that the knowledge of God was to be communicated to the "Gentiles:""As it is written, For this cause will I confess to thee among the Gentiles."The word "heathen"or nations, in the passage before us, corresponds precisely with the meaning of the word Gentiles; and Paul has used the language of the psalm legitimately and properly as showing that it was a doctrine of the Old Testament that the truths of religion were not to be confined to the Jews, but were to be made known to other nations.

And sing praises unto thy name - Unto thee; the name often being used to denote the person. The meaning is, that he would cause the praises of God to be celebrated among foreign or pagan nations, as the result of what God had done for him. Far, probably, very far beyond what David anticipated when he penned this psalm, this has been done. The psalm itself has been chanted by million who were not in existence, and in lands of which the psalmist had no knowledge; and, connected as it has been with the other psalms in Christian worship, it has contributed in an eminent degree to extend the praises of God far in the earth, and to transmit the knowledge of him to generations as they succeeded one another. What David anticipated is, moreover, as yet only in the progress of fulfillment. Millions not yet born will make use of the psalm, as million have done before, as the medium of praise to God; and down to the most distant times this sacred song, in connection with the others in the Book of Psalms, will contribute to make God known in the earth, and to secure for him the praises of mankind.

Barnes: Psa 18:50 - -- Great deliverance giveth he to his king - To David, as king. The word in the original, which is rendered "deliverance,"means properly salvation...

Great deliverance giveth he to his king - To David, as king. The word in the original, which is rendered "deliverance,"means properly salvations, and is here in the plural number. It refers not to one act of divine interposition, but to the many acts (referred to in the psalm) in which God had interposed to save him from danger and from death. The phrase "to his king"refers to the fact that God had appointed him to reign, and to administer the government for him. He did not reign on his own account, but he reigned for God, and with a view to do his will.

And showeth mercy to his anointed - To him who had been set apart to the kingly office by a solemn act of anointing. Compare 1Sa 16:13; 2Sa 2:4-7; 2Sa 5:3, 2Sa 5:17; 2Sa 12:7; compare 2Ki 9:3, 2Ki 9:6,2Ki 9:12. It is in allusion to this custom that the Messiah is called the Anointed, or the Christ. See the note at Mat 1:1.

To David, and to his seed - To his descendants, or posterity. There is an undoubted reference here to the promises made to David in regard to his successors on the throne. See 2Sa 7:12-16, 2Sa 7:25-26, and Ps. 89:19-37.

Forevermore - This expresses the confident expectation of David that the government would remain in his family to the latest times. This expectation was founded on such promises as that in 2Sa 7:12-13 : "I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom; he shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever."Also 2Sa 7:16 : "And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee; thy throne shall be established forever."See also Psa 89:36 : "His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me."The perpetuity of this kingdom is found, in fact, in the reign of the Messiah, a descendant of David, in whose eternal reign these promises will receive an ample fulfillment. See Isa 9:7. Compare Luk 1:32-33. The temporal reign passed wholly away in the process of time from the descendants of David; the spiritual reign is perpetual in the Messiah. How far David understood this it is not important to inquire, and it would be impossible to determine. It is sufficient for the proper understanding of the place to remember

(a) that there will have been a strict fulfillment of the promise, according to the full import of the language, in the Messiah, the Son of David; and

(b) that, however this may have been understood by David who recorded the promise, the real author of the promise was the Holy Spirit, and that the real meaning of the promise, as thus recorded, was that it should be fulfilled as it has been.

In this, as in all other cases, the inquiry to be made in interpreting the language is not how the sacred penman understood it, but what was meant by the real author, the Spirit of God - and whether the prediction, according to that meaning, has been fulfilled. When a man employs an amanuensis, the inquiry in regard to what is written is not how the amanuensis understood it, but how he who dictated what was written intended it should be understood. Applying this principle, the prediction here and elsewhere, in regard to the perpetuity of the reign of David and his posterity, has been, and is, fulfilled in the most ample manner. "Great David’ s greater Son"shall reign forever and ever.

Poole: Psa 18:47 - -- That avengeth me that executed vengeance both by me against malicious enemies, and for me against Saul, of whom I would not avenge myself.

That avengeth me that executed vengeance both by me against malicious enemies, and for me against Saul, of whom I would not avenge myself.

Poole: Psa 18:48 - -- Above those that rise up against me above their malice and power. From the violent man from Saul, whom for honour’ s sake he forbears to menti...

Above those that rise up against me above their malice and power.

From the violent man from Saul, whom for honour’ s sake he forbears to mention.

Poole: Psa 18:49 - -- Among the heathen or, among the Gentiles or nations; i.e. either, 1. In the great congregations, consisting df the Israelites of all tribes; of whom...

Among the heathen or, among the Gentiles or nations; i.e. either,

1. In the great congregations, consisting df the Israelites of all tribes; of whom this very word is used, Jos 3:17 4:1 Eze 2:3 , and elsewhere, as hath been noted before. Or,

2. In the presence of those Gentiles, who resorted to Jerusalem in great numbers, or before others of them, who are either subject to me, or confederate with me, as I have occasion of speaking or writing to any of them. But this was but an uncertain and inconsiderable business. And therefore David is here transported beyond himself, even to his seed for ever, as it is expressed Psa 18:50 , and speaks this in special relation to Christ, who was to be his Seed, and of whom he was an eminent type, and by whom alone this was done to any purpose. And therefore this is justly applied to him, and to his preaching to and calling of the Gentiles, Rom 15:9 .

Poole: Psa 18:50 - -- To his king to the king whom God himself chose, and anointed, or constituted. To his seed to all his posterity, and especially to the Messias, who ...

To his king to the king whom God himself chose, and anointed, or constituted.

To his seed to all his posterity, and especially to the Messias, who is called David’ s Seed, Act 13:23 Rom 1:3 ; and his Son , Psa 89:27 90:1 , compared with Mat 22:42 ; and the Seed by way of eminency, Gal 3:16 ; and God’ s Anointed and King, Psa 2:2 .

Gill: Psa 18:47 - -- It is God that avengeth me,.... Or "gives vengeance unto me", or "for me" t: vengeance only belongs to God, and he repays it for and in behalf of his...

It is God that avengeth me,.... Or "gives vengeance unto me", or "for me" t: vengeance only belongs to God, and he repays it for and in behalf of his people. Private revenge is not to be exercised by any; public vengeance on delinquents may be exercised by the civil magistrate, to whom God gives power and authority to exercise it, Rom 13:4; as he did to David, as king of Israel; though the phrase rather seems to design the victories which he obtained over his enemies, which were punishments to them, vengeances inflicted on them; and owing to God; so the acceptable year of the Messiah's coming, and the time of his people redeemed by him, is called the day of vengeance of our God, both on his and their enemies, Isa 61:2;

and subdueth the people under me; the Edomites, Moabites, and others, as in 2Sa 8:1, or the Gentiles under Christ; See Gill on Psa 18:39;

Gill: Psa 18:48 - -- He delivereth me from mine enemies,.... From Saul and his men, from Ishbosheth and Abner, from Absalom, and the conspirators with him; so all believer...

He delivereth me from mine enemies,.... From Saul and his men, from Ishbosheth and Abner, from Absalom, and the conspirators with him; so all believers are delivered out of the hands of their enemies by Christ, as that they can serve the Lord without fear; and so Christ himself is delivered from all his enemies, being raised from the dead, and set at the right hand of God, where he must reign till all enemies are put under his feet;

yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me; David was lifted up from a low and mean estate, and placed on the throne of Israel, above all those that rose up against him, and sought to destroy him; and the saints are set upon their high places in Christ, where they are out of the reach of their enemies to do them any harm; and Christ, he is highly exalted at the right hand of God, above all principality and power, might and dominion, and every name that is named in this world;

thou hast delivered me from the violent man; either from Saul, from whom David was delivered; or from Satan the enemy, the son of wickedness, who shall no more exact upon and afflict the Messiah, Psa 89:21. The Chaldee paraphrase says, from Gog; as the saints will be delivered from antichrist, the man of sin, and son of perdition, who will be destroyed with the breath of Christ's mouth.

Gill: Psa 18:49 - -- Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the Heathen,.... These words are cited by the apostle, in Rom 15:9; and applied to the conversio...

Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the Heathen,.... These words are cited by the apostle, in Rom 15:9; and applied to the conversion of the Gentiles, which is manifestly prophesied of in some preceding verses of this psalm: there it is rendered, "I will confess to thee among the Gentiles"; and designs not confession of sin, nor profession of the truth, but an acknowledgment of unworthiness, joined with thankfulness for mercies received; done in the most public manner, not only in the congregation of the righteous, but before the Heathen conquered by him; owning before them all, that the victories he had obtained over them were not to be ascribed to his arm and sword, but to the power of the Lord;

and sing praises unto thy name; which is comely for the saints to do, and which Jesus Christ himself did, in the great congregation of his disciples, and among the Gentiles, by his apostles, and others, on the account of the conversion of them.

Gill: Psa 18:50 - -- Great deliverance giveth he to his king,.... Not that is king over him; for he is King of kings and Lord of lords; but that is made king by him, as Da...

Great deliverance giveth he to his king,.... Not that is king over him; for he is King of kings and Lord of lords; but that is made king by him, as David was; who did not usurp the throne, but was anointed king by the appointment of God, and was placed by him upon the throne; to whom he gave great deliverance from his enemies, or "magnified salvations" to him; which were great in kind, and many in number; and as Christ is, whom God has set as his King on his holy hill of Sion, against whom the Heathen raged, and kings and princes set themselves; but he is delivered from them all, and saved from the power of death and the grave, and ever lives to reign over, protect, and defend his people; in 2Sa 22:51, it is, he is "the tower of salvation for his king", with which compare Pro 18:10;

and showeth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore; which may be understood either of David literally, who was the Lord's anointed, and to whom God showed mercy in various instances; and then by his seed is meant the Messiah, who was of his seed according to the flesh; or of the Messiah, whose name signifies Anointed; and who is often called David, Eze 34:23, Hos 3:5; and so some of the Jewish doctors u from this verse prove that the name of the Messiah is David: and by his seed are meant his spiritual seed; all the elect of God, who are given him as his children, to whom he stands in the relation of the everlasting Father: and as mercy is kept with him for evermore, Psa 89:28; so it is shown to them in regeneration, in the forgiveness of their sins, and in their everlasting salvation.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Psa 18:47 Heb “he subdues nations beneath me.” On the meaning of the verb דָּבַר (davar, “subdue,” a...

NET Notes: Psa 18:48 Heb “from those who rise against me.”

NET Notes: Psa 18:49 Heb “to your name.” God’s “name” refers metonymically to his divine characteristics as suggested by his name, in this ca...

NET Notes: Psa 18:50 If David is the author of the psalm (see the superscription), then he here anticipates that God will continue to demonstrate loyalty to his descendant...

Geneva Bible: Psa 18:48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the ( l ) violent man. (...

Geneva Bible: Psa 18:49 Therefore will ( m ) I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. ( m ) This prophecy belongs to the kingdom o...

Geneva Bible: Psa 18:50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his ( n ) seed for evermore. ( n ) This did not properly...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Psa 18:1-50 - --1 David praises God for his manifold and marvellous blessings.

MHCC: Psa 18:29-50 - --When we praise for one mercy, we must observe the many more, with which we have been compassed all our days. Many things had contributed to David's ad...

Matthew Henry: Psa 18:29-50 - -- In these verses, I. David looks back, with thankfulness, upon the great things which God had done for him. He had not only wrought deliverance for h...

Keil-Delitzsch: Psa 18:46-48 - -- (Heb.: 18:47-49) The hymn now draws towards the end with praise and thanksgiving for the multitude of God's mighty deeds, which have just been disp...

Keil-Delitzsch: Psa 18:49-50 - -- (Heb.: 18:50-51) The praise of so blessed a God, who acts towards David as He has promised him, shall not be confined within the narrow limits of I...

Constable: Psa 18:1-50 - --Psalm 18 As the title indicates, David wrote this psalm after he had subdued his political enemies and h...

Constable: Psa 18:29-49 - --3. God's blessings 18:30-50 The psalmist rejoiced over God's character and His blessings to him (vv. 30-45), and he vowed to continue to praise Him fo...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Psalms (Book Introduction) The Hebrew title of this book is Tehilim ("praises" or "hymns"), for a leading feature in its contents is praise, though the word occurs in the title ...

JFB: Psalms (Outline) ALEPH. (Psa 119:1-8). This celebrated Psalm has several peculiarities. It is divided into twenty-two parts or stanzas, denoted by the twenty-two let...

TSK: Psalms (Book Introduction) The Psalms have been the general song of the universal Church; and in their praise, all the Fathers have been unanimously eloquent. Men of all nation...

TSK: Psalms 18 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Psa 18:1, David praises God for his manifold and marvellous blessings. Psa 36:1 *title Psa 116:16; 2Sam. 22:1-51; Act 13:36; Heb 3:5

Poole: Psalms (Book Introduction) OF PSALMS THE ARGUMENT The divine authority of this Book of PSALMS is so certain and evident, that it was never questioned in the church; which b...

Poole: Psalms 18 (Chapter Introduction) THE ARGUMENT This Psalm, with some few and small variations, is written 2Sa 22 . It was composed by David towards the end of his reign and life upo...

MHCC: Psalms (Book Introduction) David was the penman of most of the psalms, but some evidently were composed by other writers, and the writers of some are doubtful. But all were writ...

MHCC: Psalms 18 (Chapter Introduction) (v. 1-19) David rejoices in the deliverances God wrought for him. (Psa 18:20-28) He takes the comfort of his integrity, which God had cleared up. (v...

Matthew Henry: Psalms (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Book of Psalms We have now before us one of the choicest and most excellent parts of all the Old Te...

Matthew Henry: Psalms 18 (Chapter Introduction) This psalm we met with before, in the history of David's life, 2 Sa. 22. That was the first edition of it; here we have it revived, altered a littl...

Constable: Psalms (Book Introduction) Introduction Title The title of this book in the Hebrew Bible is Tehillim, which means...

Constable: Psalms (Outline) Outline I. Book 1: chs. 1-41 II. Book 2: chs. 42-72 III. Book 3: chs. 73...

Constable: Psalms Psalms Bibliography Allen, Ronald B. "Evidence from Psalm 89." In A Case for Premillennialism: A New Consensus,...

Haydock: Psalms (Book Introduction) THE BOOK OF PSALMS. INTRODUCTION. The Psalms are called by the Hebrew, Tehillim; that is, hymns of praise. The author, of a great part of ...

Gill: Psalms (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO PSALMS The title of this book may be rendered "the Book of Praises", or "Hymns"; the psalm which our Lord sung at the passover is c...

Gill: Psalms 18 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 18 To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David. This is the same with that in 2Sa 22:1, with some variations, omissions, and alte...

Advanced Commentary (Dictionaries, Hymns, Arts, Sermon Illustration, Question and Answers, etc)


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