Psalms 18

I have seen the afflictions of my people. God is in Heaven, and he can thunder out of Heaven upon his enemies (Psalm 18:13). The Lord thundered in the heavens; indeed, he sent out arrows and scattered them, and he shot out lightnings and discomfited them.

2. To love God. Mercy should be the attractive of love; (Psalm 18:1). I will love you, O Lord my strength. The Hebrew word for love, ercameca, signifies love out of the inward bowels.

9. If you would not come short of the kingdom of heaven, take heed of indulging any sin; one millstone will drown as well as more; and one sin lived in will damn as well as more: Vbi regnat peccatum non potest regnare Dei regnum, Hierom. If any one sin reign, it will keep you fr…

I saw two Women and the wind was in their wings: Wings are swift, but wind in the wings great swiftness; such readiness should be in our obedience; as Peter as soon as ever Christ commanded him to let down his net, at Christ's Word he presently let down the net, and you know wha…

This exposition has its warrant in God's word, where hell often signifies the sorrows and pains of hell, as Hannah in her song to the Lord says (1 Samuel 2:6), The Lord kills and makes alive, he brings down to hell and raises up, that is, he makes men feel woe and misery in thei…

1. By their constant communion with God, for their always beholding his face, must needs beget the more holy awe and reverence: Michael durst not, &c. 'Tis a great advantage to holiness, to set God before our eyes, and to foresee him in all our ways (Psalm 18:23). I was upright…

He does not fly upon the mercy and suck out the sweetness of it, looking no further than his own comfort — no, he cares for no mercy except God be magnified in it. So in Psalm 18:2, when God had delivered him from all his enemies: 'The Lord,' said he, 'is my strength and my rock…

It is as easy for the Lord to revive as to remove your comforts in relations. There is a sweet expression to this purpose in Psalm 18:28: For you, Lord, will light my candle; the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. Every comfortable enjoyment — whether in relations, estates,…

Upon the sight of their distressed condition, he watches only for the fittest opportunity to show himself strong for them. And when that opportunity comes, he is speedy in the deliverance of them (Psalm 18:10): He rode upon a cherub and did fly, indeed, he did fly upon the wings…

Fourthly, the comforts of this life are pure comforts. I walk purely with those that walk purely (Psalm 18:26). This is not only to be understood of the consolations of grace, but also of common blessings, being the fruits of this life: there is no sorrow with them, there is a p…

But observe here more particularly, 1. That all the elect people of God are lying under iniquity even as others; this we spoke to the last day, and shall not repeat what was then said; it's with respect to iniquity in the elect that all the business of redemption is transacted,…

But the coals of the furnace cast upon reprobates are dipped in the curse of God; so that in a small affliction, even in the miscarrying of a basket of bread, and the loss of one poor ox, there is a great law-curse, and intolerable vengeance (Deuteronomy 27:26; Deuteronomy 28:17…

4. And by faith I live not, Christ lives in me, and I am crucified and mortified; that is, by faith I know that I did live the life of God, and was crucified to the world; whereas I was dead in sins, before I believed. 5. And because believing is somewhat more than a naked act o…

So we are bidden (Malachi 3:10): Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now therewith, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough t…

I answer, Answer. we must always observe to whom the Prophet speaks. For the Prophets were accustomed to describe God in various sorts, according to the diversity of the hearers: as David also testifies where he says; that he is merciful and favorable to the good, severe and rig…

Surely because we are not capable of his goodness. For this cause he is compelled to show himself perverse with such as are perverse; and pure with the pure, as David shows (Psalm 18:26). For he manifests himself in such a way to us, as we give him occasion.

All the faithful by his example are taught what to do when God for their sakes manifests his power miraculously, or by extraordinary means: it ought not to suffice them that those of their own times should be made acquainted with it, but as much as in them is they are so to prov…

I have appareled, or girded you. This appareling answers to the nakedness of which he spoke before, saying: The loins of kings shall be ungirt: for he is said to apparel such as he furnishes with strength to the battle: (Psalm 18:32) to make them conquerors. From where we may ga…

For when the Prophets mean to extol God's works, it is their custom (as we have often shown) to mention this first deliverance. And thus David setting forth the victories he obtained, says, that the mountains trembled and shook, the air cleft in two, and the Lord appeared from h…

With such minds he has no sympathy. He examines the Scriptures with the humility of one who inquires at the oracle of God, (2 Samuel 16:23,) and proclaims the reply with the faith of one who knows that the word of the Lord is tried, (Psalm 18:30.) Intimately connected with this…

9. Make to yourselves friends. As in the words which were last considered Christ did not enjoin us to offer sacrifices to God out of the fruits of extortion, so now he does not mean that we ought to search for defenders or advocates, who will throw around us the shield of their…

God declares that his dealings with men shall be suitable to their disposition and practice. Psalm 18:25-26: 'With the merciful man you will show yourself merciful; with an upright man you will show yourself upright; with the pure you will show yourself pure; and with the perver…

Crying unto God is an expression that does not only denote prayer, but intense and fervent prayer. To cry is to pray in a holy passion; and such are usually effective prayers (Psalm 18:6 and Hebrews 5:7). The encouragements to this resolution are twofold.

Cant. 2. 3, 4, 5. Why, so does the observation of his Providences also. Never did any man convers with Gods works of Providenc aright, but fnd his heart at some times melted into love to the God of his mercies, Psalm 18:1 compared with the Title. When God had delivered him from…

Sanctified mercies are commonly turned into Cautions against sin, Ezra 9:13 they are so many bands of restraint upon the soul that has them, to make them shun sin. They will engage a mans heart in love to the God of his mercies, Psalm 18:1 compared with the Title. They never sat…

I hope the poor town wherein I live, is more enriched with a store mercy of a few months, than with a full trade of many years. The snares of death compassed us, and the floods of ungodly men made us afraid (Psalm 18:4) but the Lord thundered from heaven, the highest gave his vo…

But this is contrary to the use of that prefix throughout the whole Book of Psalms; and if this observation might be allowed, all Psalms with this title, [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩], le David, which are the greatest part of those composed by him, must be adjudged from him, contr…

Others of the Jews, as Kimchi, think the word to be compounded of [in non-Latin alphabet] caph, a note of similitude, and [in non-Latin alphabet] a child, to signify, like a child, being so called from their form and shape. But this answers not to the description given afterward…

The LXX. [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩]. Ver. 13. [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩]: I will put my trust in him; from Psalm 18:3. LXX. [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩], I will hope in him; but [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩] is rightly rendered by the Apostle, I will trust in him.

Vindicated. Psalm 18. v. 32. Psalm 21.3, 4.

It is said God made this hedge, Have you not made a hedge about him? First, There is a hedge which is made immediately by the hand of God: sometimes God makes the hedge immediately, yea sometimes God expresses himself to be the hedge or wall, as (Zechariah 2:5); so (Psalm 18, ve…

3. The same might be objected against public prayers also, seeing there may be many petitions that are not suitable to all joiners; yet the Lord has commanded both public praying and praising. 4. When the matter which is sung is above us, being a thing we have not yet reached, a…

The eighth particular is, the nose (it was not mentioned in her commendation, Chapter 4.). It is not to be taken here for the whole countenance, but for a part thereof: Therefore it is distinguished from the eyes, and is described as being eminent (like a tower) beyond the rest…

It's called hers, because she must make a special account for her own soul, and the talent that is given to her, according to the trust that is put on her. We have almost the same phrase, Chapter 1:6, where the Bride calls it, mine own vineyard: this vineyard is said to be befor…

Prayer is the soul's private converse and intercourse with God. Prayer whispers in God's ears (Psalm 18:6). My prayer came before him, even into his ears.

And then it is added in the second verse, And thou shalt swear, the Lord liveth, in Truth etc., that is, Then your profession of religion will be worth regarding, you will be indeed what you pretend to be, you will be Israelites indeed, in whose profession is no guile. They who…

True grace tolerates no lust (Galatians 5:17). No, not the bosom darling-corruption (Psalm 18:23). Thirdly, Does that which I call my grace, humble, empty and abase my soul?

Therefore 1. He speaks (Psalm 88) of God after the manner of men, as if Heman, in a manner, were more early up in the morning to pray than the Lord were ready to hear; the contrary whereof is true; as if Heman's early praying wakened God (Psalm 44:23), Awake, why sleepest you? 2…

That prayer is heard, and the result is an heavenly disposition to part with wicked men, 6. Depart from me you workers of iniquity, and a new disposition of assurance, The Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. And assurance that God heard the man, is a new seed of praying to h…

The legion of devils in the possessed man (Matthew 8) spoke words, and made a suit to Christ, but they prayed not. David's enemies cry, even to the Lord (Psalm 18:41), but pray not. The damned in hell speak words to God, but they blaspheme and quarrel with holy justice, but pray…

2. Sometimes he hears the dumb man's signs, and his breathing, instead of his praying (Isaiah 38:14, 20; Lamentations 3:56; Psalm 6:8; Psalm 102:19, 20). 3. Sometimes the Lord hears, and sends the message of deliverance, but we hear not, nor do we know or feel that he hears (Psa…

Shall we thus requite Christ for his free grace. 6. Though there be no merit in diligent seeking and hearing the preached Gospel, it is good to lie near the fountain for all that; as motion begets and augments vital heat and activity to move, frequent seeking brings home influen…

Fire casts heat, the Sun light and influences, the Sea ebbs and flows by nature; yet there must also be a free new commission sealed from eternity, to every acting of nature; he commands the Sun, and it rises not; forbids the fire to cast out heat, and it obeys (Job 9:7; Hebrews…

Strengthen you me according to your word. It appears to be spiritual sorrow that breaks out in prayer (Matthew 26:38, 39; Psalm 18:4, 5, 6; Psalm 61:2; Psalm 102). 4. There are in the fourth class two affections, hope and audacity, or fool-hardiness, which would be taken heed to.

God smites me, and I love God (Psalms 42:7): All your waves and your billows are gone over me; yet this sea and all the waves of this hell cannot quench heavenly love and the fire of thirsting after God (v. 1): As the hart pants after the water brooks, so pants my soul after you…

Indeed things are not denominated from their externals; a vessel of copper washed over with silver, or a cup of brass over-gilded and lustered with gold, is not, nor is named a vessel of silver or a cup of gold. Though we name things by their skin and out-side, yet when the hypo…

Answ. 1. Get and entertain large apprehension of God. Who is a rock save our God? (Psalm 18:30, 31). Be principled in the broad apprehensions of Christ, he is altogether lovely, all loves (Canticles 5:16).

If God were dead (if I may speak so, with reverence of him who lives forever and ever) and Christ buried and rotten among the worms, we might have cause to look like dead people. But the Lord lives, and blessed be the rock of our salvation (Psalm 18:46). None have right to joy b…

I take this for the manner and course of heaven, to work one contrary out of another, by the greatest distractions to make way for unity and order. It is said (Psalm 18:11), He has made darkness his secret place. God's counsels are always carried under the covert of darkness; us…

Let conscience keep up a grand inquest in the soul, under a charge from the judge of heaven and earth, to enquire, and due presentment make of all riots, routs, and breaches of the peace, and let nothing be left unpresented for favor, affection or self-love; nor let anything pre…