Learning About Trust in Psalm 18

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The introduction to Psalm 18 tells us it’s written by David in the day that the LORD Delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.

The very first line says, I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. There’s a lot of substance in those words. David loves God with his will, with his might. Then, he credits God for his strength. In fact, he says that God is his strength.

Do we love God? Do we depend on Him and credit Him for doing everything?

The next verse is one of my personal favorites. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Look at the layers of protection:

• Rock—cliff, strong rock
• Fortress—castle hold
• Deliverer—helps me escape
• Buckler—shield
• Horn—horn (musical), or hill
• High tower—lookout tower

The Lord is our rock, fortress, deliverer, strength, buckler, hill or horn, and lookout tower. David trusted in God for all of this. Do we?

I think sometimes—many times—our trust is in our own selves, in our abilities, brains, methods, etc. We forget that God is and can be all we need to help us and to protect us.

There’s a woman in our church who, every time I ask her what I can pray about with her, responds, “protection.”

We can depend on God for our protection. He has many layers of protection at our disposal.

Verse 3 says, I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

First, we see that David called upon the Lord. He called out to God. He prayed. Do we pray? When we have troubles, is our first reaction to pray?

The next phrase seems out of place at first glance: who is worthy to be praised. David is mindful of the greatness of God, even as he’s calling to God for deliverance.

The Lord’s Prayer, the model prayer that Jesus gave his disciples, begins with the greeting, Our Father which art in heaven. The next thought is praise for God’s holiness and His Name, Hallowed be thy name (from Matthew 6:9). This is very similar to the structure of prayer expressed by David in Psalm 18. He addresses the Lord and then praises Him.

I wonder if we remember to whom we’re praying? Do we stand before God in awe and wonder? Do we recognize Him as completely holy? Do we remember His greatness? Do we remember that we are only dust, and He is everything? Do we remember He’s the Creator of all?

The Lord is worthy to be praised. That reminds me of verses in Revelation about God:

• Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created (4:11).
• And they sung a new song, saying, Thou (Jesus) art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation . . . Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing (5:9, 12).

I would love to trust God as David did—wholly, trusting, praising.

How about you?