psalm-18:3-6-esv

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:6

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God. At this supreme moment, when he is entangled in the snares, and on the point of being slain, the psalmist represents himself as invoking the aid of the Almighty. As Hengstenberg notes, "While the manifold distresses are united in the beginning of the verse into one great 'distress,' so the manifold Divine hearings and helps are united into a single grand hearing and help"—and, we may add, the manifold cries into one great cry. ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 18:3

I will call upon the Lord - The idea here is, that he would constantly call upon the Lord. In all times of trouble and danger he would go to him, and invoke his aid. The experience of the past had been such as to lead him to put confidence in him in all time to come. He had learned to flee to him in danger, and he had never put his trust in him in vain. The idea is, that a proper view of God’s dealings with us in the past should lead us to feel that we may put confidence in him in the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 18:4

The sorrows of death compassed me - Surrounded me. That is, he was in imminent danger of death, or in the midst of such pangs and sorrows as are supposed commonly to attend on death. He refers probably to some period in his past life - perhaps in the persecutions of Saul - when he was so beset with troubles and difficulties that it seemed to him that he must die. The word rendered “sorrows” - חבל chebel - means, according to Gesenius, “a cord, a rope,” and hence, “a snare, gin, noose;” and the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 18:5

The sorrows of hell - Margin, “cords.” The word used here is the same which occurs in the previous verse, and which is there rendered “sorrows.” It is correctly translated here, as in that verse, “sorrows,” though the parallelism would seem to favor the interpretation in the margin - cords. If it means “sorrows,” the idea is, that such sufferings encompassed him, or seized upon him, as we associate in idea with the descent to the under-world, or the going down to the dead. If it means “cords,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 18:6

In my distress - This refers, most probably, not to any particular case, but rather indicates his general habit of mind, that when he was in deep distress and danger he had uniformly called upon the Lord, and had found him ready to help.I called upon the Lord - I prayed. That is, he invoked God to help him in his trouble. He relied not on his own strength; he looked not for human aid; he looked to God alone.And cried unto my God - The word used here denotes an earnest cry for help. Compare Job... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 18:1-3

Psalms 18:1-3. I will love thee Hebrew, ארחמךְ , erchamecha, I will love thee most affectionately, and with my whole soul. I can make thee no better return for all thy favours than my love, which I pray thee to accept. By loving the Lord, however, here and elsewhere, we are not only to understand giving him the inward affection of the soul, but also all the proper outward expressions and testimonies of it, in praising, glorifying, and serving him. O Lord, my strength From whom alone I... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 18:4-5

Psalms 18:4-5. The sorrows of death compassed me That is, dangerous and deadly troubles. Or, the bands, or cords, of death, as חבלי , cheblee, may be rendered, quæ hominem quasi fune arctissime constringunt, which binds a man most closely, as with a cord, whence the word is used concerning the pains of women in labour. And the floods of ungodly men Literally, of Belial, as in the margin. Their great multitudes, strength, and violence, broke in upon me like an irresistible flood,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 18:6-7

Psalms 18:6-7. He heard out of his temple Either, 1st, Out of his sanctuary, where he was represented as dwelling between the cherubim, in the most holy place, and where he promised to hear and answer the prayers of his people, which were either made in or directed to it. Or, 2d, Out of his heavenly habitation, which is often called his temple. Then the earth shook and trembled Then God appeared on my behalf in a miraculous and glorious manner, and to the great terror and confusion of all... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 18:1-50

Psalms 18:0 David’s song of victoryThe outpouring of praise recorded in Psalms 18:0 is applicable to many of David’s experiences. It was probably put into its present form after David reached the height of his power as king. He had conquered all his enemies and now controlled all the country from Egypt to the Euphrates (2 Samuel 8:1-18). The psalm is also recorded in 2 Samuel 22:0.David opens by declaring his love for God (1) and thanking God for hearing his prayers and saving him from death at... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 18:3

worthy to be praised. Figure of speech Antimereia. App-6 , Pass. Part, put for Adjective. Hebrew the praised One. So shall I, &c. Quoted in Luke 1:71 . saved = delivered (in the widest sense). Hebrew. yasha'. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 18:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 18:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 18:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 18:6

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 18:1-3

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 18:4-5

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 18:6-7

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 18:1-50

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 18:3

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