Psalm 18

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:41

Verse 41 41.They shall cry, etc. The change of the tense in the verb from the past to the future does not break the continuity of the narration; and, therefore, the words should be explained thus: Although they cried to God, yet their prayers were rejected by him. He pursues the same subject which it was his object to illustrate before, namely, that it was at length manifest from the issue that his enemies falsely boasted of having the support and countenance of God, who showed that he had... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:43

Verse 43 43.Thou shalt deliver me from the contentions of the people. David states, in a few words, that he had experienced the assistance of God in all variety of ways. He was in great danger from the tumults which sometimes arose among his own subjects, if God had not wonderfully allayed them, and subdued the fierceness of the people. It also happened, contrary to the general expectation, that David, as is stated in the second clause of the verse, was victorious far and wide, and overthrew... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:44

Verse 44 44.At the simple fame of my name they shall obey me. This is of the same import with the last clause of the preceding verse. Although David, by his victories, had acquired such reputation and renown, that many laid down their arms and came voluntarily to surrender themselves to him; yet, as they also had been subdued through the dread of the power of his arms, which they saw their neighbors had experienced to their smart, it cannot be said, properly speaking, that at the simple fame of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:45

Verse 45 What is added immediately after, (verse 45,) the children of strangers shall fade away; they shall tremble (438) from within their places of concealment, serves to place, in a still more striking light, the great fame and formidable name which we have said David had acquired. It is no ordinary sign of reverence when those who are protected in hiding-places, and shut up within steep fortifications, are so stricken with terror as to come forth of their own accord and surrender... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:46

Verse 46 46.Let Jehovah live. If it is thought proper to adopt this reading, which is in the optative mood expressing a wish that God might live, the manner of expression may seem somewhat strange; but it may be alleged in defense of it, that it is a metaphor borrowed from the custom of men, who not only use this manner of speaking when they wish well to any one, but likewise utter it with loud and applauding acclamation, when they intend to receive their princes with due honor. According to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:47

Verse 47 47.The God who giveth me vengeance. The Psalmist again attributes to God the victories which he had obtained. As he could never have expected to obtain them unless he had been confident that he would receive the aid of God, so now he acknowledges God to be the sole author of them. That he may not seem carelessly to bestow upon him, as it were, in passing, only a small sprinkling of the praise of his victories, he repeats, in express terms, that he had nothing but what God had given... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:49

Verse 49 49.Therefore will I praise thee, O Jehovah! In this verse he teaches us that the blessings God had conferred upon him, of which he had spoken, are worthy of being celebrated with extraordinary and unusual praises, that the fame of them might reach even the heathen. There is in the words an implied contrast between the ordinary worship of God which the faithful were then accustomed to perform in the temple, and this thanksgiving of which David speaks, which could not be confined within... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:50

Verse 50 50.He worketh great deliverances, etc This concluding verse clearly shows why God had exercised such goodness and liberality towards David, namely, because he had anointed him to be king. By calling himself God’s king, David testifies that he had not rashly rushed into that office, nor was thrust into it by conspiracies and wicked intrigues, but, on the contrary, reigned by lawful right, inasmuch as it was the will of God that he should be king. This he proves by the ceremony of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:1

I will love thee, O Lord, my Strength. This opening is very remarkable. The verb translated "I will love" expresses the very tenderest affection, and is elsewhere never used to denote the love of man towards God, but only that of God towards man. The entire verse, moreover, is withdrawn from the "second edition" of the psalm ( 2 Samuel 22:1-51 .)—which was perhaps prepared for liturgical use—as too sacred and too private to suit a public occasion. 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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:41

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:43

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:44

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:45

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:46

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:47

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:49

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:50

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:1-50

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