Psalms 18:34

"He teacheth my hand to war;

So that my arms do bend a bow of brass.

Thou hast given me the shield of thy salvation;

And thy right hand hath holden me up,

And thy gentleness hath made me great.

Thou hast enlarged my steps under me,

And my feet have not slipped.

I will pursue mine enemies, and overtake them;

Neither will I turn again till they are consumed.

I will smite them through, so that they shall not be able to rise:

They shall fall under my feet.

For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle:

Thou has subdued under me them that rose up against me."

"He teacheth my hand to war." The meaning here is clearer if we use "to make war" instead of "to war."

"My arms bend a bow of brass." Brass was not usually used in the making of bows; but the idea is a very strong and powerful bow. We note that one commentator thought that bows were bent with the feet; but that happens only when the bow is being strung. The actual shooting of an arrow required the bow to be bent by "the arms," as indicated here.

Psalms 18:35 states that not only has God taught David the skills and abilities to wage war, as in the previous verses, but that God has saved him, upheld him, and made him great.

The same thought continues into Psalms 18:36, revealing that God has enlarged his steps and prevented him from falling.

"I will pursue mine enemies" (Psalms 18:37). In the God-given strength and ability with which the Lord has endowed him, David here pledged to pursue, overtake, smite through, and consume all of those enemies who had risen up against him.