psalm-18:3-6-esv

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:4

Verse 4 4.The cords (394) of death had compassed me about. David now begins to recount the undoubted and illustrious proofs by which he had experienced that the hand of God is sufficiently strong and powerful to repel all the dangers and calamities with which he may be assailed. And we need not wonder that those things which might have been described more simply, and in an unadorned style, are clothed in poetical forms of expression, and set forth with all the elegancies and ornaments of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:5

Verse 5 We shall now make a few observations with respect to the words. The Hebrew word חבלי, chebley, means cords or sorrows, or any deadly evil, (395) which consumes a man’s health and strength, and which tends to his destruction. That the psalm may correspond with the song recorded in 2nd Samuel, formerly referred to, I do not disapprove of this word being here taken for contrition, because the phrase there employed is משברי מות,mishberey maveth, (396) and the noun משברי, mishberey, is... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:6

Verse 6 6.In my distress, etc. It was a very evident proof of uncommon faith in David, when, being almost plunged into the gulf of death, he lifted up his heart to heaven by prayer. Let us therefore learn, that such an example is set before our eyes, that no calamities, however great and oppressive, may hinder us from praying, or create an aversion to it. It was prayer which brought to David the fruits or wonderful effects of which he speaks a little after, and from this it appears still more... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:1-50

The authorship of David is generally allowed, and indeed has been questioned only by three recent critics—Olshausen, Von Lengerke, and Professor Cheyne. The period at which it was written is declared in the title to be "when the Lord had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul"—a date which is quite in accord with the contents of the poem. For while it celebrates his deliverance from perils of various kinds—from a "strong enemy" ( Psalms 18:17 ), from a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:1-50

The conqueror's song of praise and hope. It is not our purpose, nor is it our province, in this section of the 'Pulpit Commentary,' to write homilies on specific texts; but rather to deal with this psalm (as we have done with others) as a whole —for it is a unity—and to show how grand a basis it presents for the pulpit exposition of the provisions of "the everlasting covenant" to which allusion is made in the last verse of the psalm. The student and expositor might with advantage refer... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:1-50

A retrospect of life. The sailor tells of the perils of the sea; the traveller recounts the varied incidents of his career; and the soldier who has passed through battles and sieges can speak of hairbreadth escapes and moving accidents by flood and field. So it is with human life. We have the power of looking back; we can in imagination revive the past, and as scene after scene rises before us, our heart is thrilled with various emotions. And what we have experienced and recalled, we can... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:1-50

The retrospect of a life: a sermon for the close of the year. "In this magnificent hymn the royal poet sketches in a few grand outlines the history of his life. By God's help he had subdued every enemy, and now, in middle life, looking back with devout thankfulness on the past, he sings this great song of praise to the God of his life." Divisions of the psalm: 1 . The introduction, setting forth all that Jehovah is to David ( Psalms 18:1-3 ). 2 . The record of David's sufferings... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:3

I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised . Not so much a simple future, "I will call upon the Lord at some particular time," as a future of continuance, "I call, and will ever call, upon the Lord, worthy to be praised;" and so— i.e; so long as I call—shall I be saved from mine enemies (comp. Psalms 5:10 , Psalms 5:12 ; Psalms 6:8-10 ; Psalms 10:15 , Psalms 10:16 , etc.). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:4

The sorrows of death compassed me . Here begins the narrative of David's sufferings in the past. "'The sorrows'—or rather, 'the cords'—of death," he says, "encompassed me," or "coiled around me" (Kay). Death is represented as a hunter, who goes out with nets and cords, encompassing his victims and driving them into the toils. David's recollection is probably of the time when he was "hunted upon the mountains" by Saul ( 1 Samuel 26:20 ), and expected continually to be caught and put to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:5

The sorrows of hell compassed me about ; literally, the cords of Sheol , or Hades. Death and Hell are, both of them, personified, and made to join in the chase. The ensnaring nets are drawn nearer and nearer; at last the toils close in, the last cast is made, and the prey is taken. The snares of death prevented me ; or, came upon me (Revised Version)—"took me by surprise" (Kay). read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:1-50

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:1-50

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:1-50

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:1-50

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:5

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