Psalm 18:31-34

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 18:29-50

In these verses, I. David looks back, with thankfulness, upon the great things which God had done for him. He had not only wrought deliverance for him, but had given him victory and success, and made him triumph over those who thought to triumph over him. When we set ourselves to praise God for one mercy we must be led by that to observe the many more with which we have been compassed about, and followed, all our days. Many things had contributed to David's advancement, and he owns the hand of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 18:31

For who is God save the Lord ?.... Or Jehovah: there is but one God, and Jehovah is he; there is none besides him, nor any like him: there are many that are called gods, nominal deities, who are not by nature gods; fictitious ones, the idols of the Gentiles, made of gold, silver, brass, wood, and stone; but there is but one true God: there are gods, in an improper sense, as civil magistrates; but there is none really and truly so but the Lord; which is to be understood, not of Jehovah the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 18:32

It is God that girdeth me with strength ,.... For battle, as in Psalm 18:39 ; with strength of body and fortitude of mind; both which are from the Lord, and were in David; and were acknowledged by him as bestowed on him by the Lord; and which confirms what he had before said of him: or with spiritual strength, with strength in his soul, against sin, Satan, and the world; and to do the will and work of God: saints are girt by the Lord with the whole armour of God, and among the rest with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 18:33

He maketh my feet like hind's feet ,.... As light and swift as theirs, as the Targum; that is, either to flee, when there was a necessity for it, as Kimchi observes; or rather to pursue after the enemy, to run through a troop, and leap over a wall, as before; see 1 Chronicles 12:8 ; the same phrase is used in Habakkuk 3:19 ; and may be understood in a spiritual sense of that readiness and cheerfulness with which the saints run the ways of God's commandments, when their hearts are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 18:34

He teacheth my hands to war ,.... From whence it appears, that war, in some cases, is lawful; and that all the skilfulness and art in training men for war, in the use of armour, in marshalling of armies, in forming sieges, &c.; is all from God; see Psalm 144:1 ; and so is all that spiritual skill, in making use of the whole armour of God against every enemy, sin, Satan, and the world; and even the wisdom and skill, counsel and instruction, which Christ as man and Mediator had, when it... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:31

For who is God save the Lord? - " For who is Eloah, except Jehovah?" None is worthy of adoration but the self-existent, eternal, infinitely perfect, and all-merciful Being. Or who is a rock - A fountain emitting continual supplies of grace and goodness. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:32

God - girdeth me with strength - The girdle was a necessary part of the Eastern dress; it strengthened and supported the loins; served to confine the garments close to the body; and in it they tucked them up when journeying. The strength of God was to his soul what the girdle was to the body. I need not add, that the girdle was also an ornamental part of the dress, and from it the sword was suspended. And maketh my way perfect - He directs me so that I do not go astray; he blesses me in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:33

My feet like hinds' feet - Swiftness, or speed of foot, was a necessary qualification of an ancient hero. This was of great advantage in pursuing, combating, or escaping from a fallen foe. Ποδας ωκυς Αχιλλευς , "the swiftfooted Achilles," is frequently given by Homer as a most honorable qualification of his hero. Upon my high places - In allusion to the hinds, antelopes, mountain goats, etc., which frequented such places, and in which they found both food and safety. God frequently... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:34

He teacheth my hands to war - The success which I have had in my military exercises I owe to the Divine help. How few of the conquerors of mankind can say so! And how few among those who call themselves Christian warriors dare to say so! War is as contrary to the spirit of Christianity as murder. Nothing can justify Christian nations in shedding each other's blood! All men should live in peace; all men might live in peace; and the nation that is first to break it is under a heavy curse. A... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:31

Verse 31 31.For who is God besides Jehovah? David here, deriding the foolish inventions of men, who, according to their own fancy, make for themselves tutelary gods, (426) confirms what I have said before, that he never undertook any thing but by the authority and command of God. If he had passed beyond the limits of his calling, he could not with such confidence have said that God was on his side. Besides, although in these words he opposes to the true God all the false gods invented by men,... read more

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