Psalms: David’s Testimony
Psalm 18
May 19, 2024
Jay Haugh
Psalm 18 is a summary of God’s interventions in David’s life.
Psalm 18 shows who God is.
I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. —Psalm 18:1-2 ESV
David lets us know that he is weak but God is strong.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. —Psalm 18:3 ESV
The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me. —Psalm 18:4 ESV
The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. —Psalm 18:5 ESV
(1) Our God hears.
In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. —Psalm 18:6 ESV
God gives us struggles and hardships to remind us of who we are AND [more importantly] who God is.
(2) Our God responds with passion.
Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry. —Psalm 18:7 ESV
This imagery is not only showing His awesome power but how God wants to intervene on behalf of His people.
Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. —Psalm 18:8-9 ESV
God is angry for us, not at us.
(3) Our God responds with power.
He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind. Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds. The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire. And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils. —Psalm 18:10-15 ESV
The God who was faithful at the Red Sea will be faithful with me.
(4) Our God responds with rewards.
The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. —Psalm 18:20-21 ESV
Our confidence is not our perceived control, but God’s character.
I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from my guilt. So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. —Psalm 18:23-24 ESV
With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. —Psalm 18:25-26 ESV
When you sin against God, you reap the results.
Why can I trust Him?
(1) Our God provides guidance.
For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. —Psalm 18:27 ESV
(2) Our God provides safety.
For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God – his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. —Psalm 18:29-30 ESV
God delights to save those who know they can’t save themselves!
For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? – the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. —Psalm 18:31-33 ESV
(3) Our God provides strength.
I beat them fine as dust before the wind; I cast them out like the mire of the streets. —Psalm 18:42 ESV
You delivered me from strife with the people; you made me the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me. —Psalm 18:43 ESV
God is faithful to supply what is needed, when it’s needed.
(4) Our God provides freedom.
The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation – the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me, who rescued me from my enemies; yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me; you delivered me from the man of violence. —Psalm 18:46-48 ESV
For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing to your name. —Psalm 18:49 ESV
Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever. —Psalm 18:50 ESV
Big Idea:
In times of stress and distress, relinquish control because God’s provisions are best.
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Memory Verse: Psalm 23:4 NIV
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
The goal of these questions is to foster meaningful discussion and to encourage participants to reflect on God’s Word to lead to heart transformation. Feel free to modify or expand upon these questions based on the dynamics and needs of your Small Group.
Read Psalm 18:1-6
David recounts the goodness of the Lord and describes Him as a rock, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield, horn, and stronghold. What do these symbols convey about the character of God? Which of these would you most like to experience from God today? What symbolism would you use to describe your experience with God?
This Psalm mentions various forms of distress that David was experiencing. What are some of the “snares” you have encountered or are encountering now? How did David respond to these challenges? How do you respond when you are being stressed?
When David cries out to the Lord, we see that God hears. Do you ever struggle with believing that God hears your prayers? If so, why? What does it look like for you to grow in this area and view God as someone who hears your prayers?
Read Psalm 18:7-19
Just as parents protect their children, God is passionate about caring for His children. Have you ever struggled to believe in God’s good care for His children? When we talk about God wanting what is good for us, what are the good things He wants for us? What is the best good: material blessing or being made more into His likeness?
David writes, “but the Lord was my support”. Have you ever felt like God was your only source of strength? If so, describe that experience. In addition to God, who provides support for you in difficult times? Are you able to ask for help when you need it? If not, what keeps you from reaching out, or what prevents you from accepting help when others reach out?
Read Psalm 18:20-27
All humanity struggles with sin, and David had sins of his own. But what David did consistently was turn back to God. Each of us has the choice to pursue God or pursue sin. When do you find the choice to obey God more difficult than the choice to follow sin? Have you had to make any difficult choices recently between pursuing God or pursuing sin?
Some non-believers adhere to a sense of karma. As Christians, we believe in the concept of sowing and reaping. How are these two things different? How have you seen the principle of sowing and reaping played out in your life spiritually?
Read Psalm 18:28-50
David speaks a lot about experiencing victory over his enemies through God’s strength. When you experience victory, how do you give God the credit? Have you ever become prideful and looked to yourself to solve life’s obstacles? How do you respond in seasons where you do not feel like you are experiencing victory?