{"collection":"Bible & Christianity","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/bib/cmt/jfb/psa018.htm","path":"bib/cmt/jfb/psa018.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/bib/cmt/jfb/psa018.htm","text":"A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]\nI will love thee--with most tender affection.\nThe various terms used describe God as an object of the most implicit and reliable trust.\nrock--literally, \"a cleft rock,\" for concealment.\nstrength--a firm, immovable rock.\nhorn of my salvation--The horn, as the means of attack or defense of some of the strongest animals, is a frequent emblem of power or strength efficiently exercised (compare Deu 33:17; Luk 1:69).\ntower--literally, \"high place,\" beyond reach of danger.\nto be praised--for past favors, and worthy of confidence.\nsorrows--literally, \"bands as of a net\" (Psa 116:3).\nfloods--denotes \"multitude.\"\ndeath--and hell (compare Psa 16:10) are personified as man's great enemies (compare Rev 20:13-14).\nprevented--encountered me, crossed my path, and endangered my safety. He does not mean he was in their power.\nHe relates his methods to procure relief when distressed, and his success.\ntemple--(Compare Psa 11:4).\nGod's coming described in figures drawn from His appearance on Sinai (compare Deu 32:22).\nsmoke out . . . his nostrils--bitter in His wrath (compare Psa 74:1).\nby it--that is, the fire (Exo 19:18).\ndarkness--or, a dense cloud (Exo 19:16; Deu 5:22).\ncherub--angelic agents (compare Gen 3:24), the figures of which were placed over the ark (Sa1 4:4), representing God's dwelling; used here to enhance the majesty of the divine advent. Angels and winds may represent all rational and irrational agencies of God's providence (compare Psa 104:3-4).\ndid fly--Rapidity of motion adds to the grandeur of the scene.\ndark waters--or, clouds heavy with vapor.\nOut of this obscurity, which impresses the beholder with awe and dread, He reveals Himself by sudden light and the means of His terrible wrath (Jos 10:11; Psa 78:47).\nThe storm breaks forth--thunder follows lightning, and hail with repeated lightning, as often seen, like balls or coals of fire, succeed (Exo 9:23).\nThe fiery brightness of lightning, in shape like burning arrows rapidly shot through the air, well represents the most terrible part of an awful storm. Before the terrors of such a scene the enemies are confounded and overthrown in dismay.\nThe tempest of the air is attended by appropriate results on earth. The language, though not expressive of any special physical changes, represents the utter subversion of the order of nature. Before such a God none can stand.\nfrom above--As seated on a throne, directing these terrible scenes, God--\nsent--His hand (Psa 144:7), reached down to His humble worshipper, and delivered him.\nmany waters--calamities (Job 30:14; Psa 124:4-5).\nprevented-- (Psa 18:3).\na large place--denotes safety or relief, as contrasted with the straits of distress (Psa 4:1). All his deliverance is ascribed to God, and this sublime poetical representation is given to inspire the pious with confidence and the wicked with dread.\nThe statements of innocence, righteousness, &c., refer, doubtless, to his personal and official conduct and his purposes, during all the trials to which he was subjected in Saul's persecutions and Absalom's rebellions, as well as the various wars in which he had been engaged as the head and defender of God's Church and people.\nupright before him--In my relation to God I have been perfect as to all parts of His law. The perfection does not relate to degree.\nmine iniquity--perhaps the thought of his heart to kill Saul (Sa1 24:6). That David does not allude to all his conduct, in all relations, is evident from Psa 51:1, &c.\nGod renders to men according to their deeds in a penal, not vindictive, sense (Lev 26:23-24).\nmerciful--or, \"kind\" (Psa 4:3).\nfroward--contrary to.\nthe afflicted people--that is, the humbly pious.\nhigh looks--pride (Psa 101:5; Psa 131:1).\nTo give one light is to make prosperous (Job 18:5-6; Job 21:17).\nthou--is emphatic, as if to say, I can fully confide in Thee for help.\nAnd this on past experience in his military life, set forth by these figures.\nGod's perfection is the source of his own, which has resulted from his trust on the one hand, and God's promised help on the other.\ntried--\"as metals are tried by fire and proved genuine\" (Psa 12:6). Shield (Psa 3:3). Girding was essential to free motion on account of the looseness of Oriental dresses; hence it is an expressive figure for describing the gift of strength.\nGod's help farther described. He gives swiftness to pursue or elude his enemies (Hab 3:19), strength, protection, and a firm footing.\nthy gentleness--as applied to God--condescension--or that which He gives, in the sense of humility (compare Pro 22:4).\nenlarged my steps--made ample room (compare Pro 4:12).\nIn actual conflict, with God's aid, the defeat of his enemies is certain. A present and continued success is expressed.\nthat rose up against me--literally, \"insurgents\" (Psa 3:1; Psa 44:5).\ngiven me the necks--literally, \"backs of the necks\"; made them retreat (Exo 23:27; Jos 7:8).\nThis conquest was complete.\nNot only does He conquer civil foes, but foreigners, who are driven from their places of refuge.\nsubmit, &c.--(compare Margin)--that is, show a forced subjection.\nThe Lord liveth--contrasts Him with idols (Co1 8:4).\navengeth me--His cause is espoused by God as His own.\nliftest me up--to safety and honors.\nPaul (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 Sa2 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.","title":"A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments: Psalms: Psalms Chapter 18","type":"page"}