I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised . Not so much a simple future, "I will call upon the Lord at some particular time," as a future of continuance, "I call, and will ever call, upon the Lord, worthy to be praised;" and so— i.e; so long as I call—shall I be saved from mine enemies (comp. Psalms 5:10 , Psalms 5:12 ; Psalms 6:8-10 ; Psalms 10:15 , Psalms 10:16 , etc.). read more
The sorrows of death compassed me . Here begins the narrative of David's sufferings in the past. "'The sorrows'—or rather, 'the cords'—of death," he says, "encompassed me," or "coiled around me" (Kay). Death is represented as a hunter, who goes out with nets and cords, encompassing his victims and driving them into the toils. David's recollection is probably of the time when he was "hunted upon the mountains" by Saul ( 1 Samuel 26:20 ), and expected continually to be caught and put to... read more
The sorrows of hell compassed me about ; literally, the cords of Sheol , or Hades. Death and Hell are, both of them, personified, and made to join in the chase. The ensnaring nets are drawn nearer and nearer; at last the toils close in, the last cast is made, and the prey is taken. The snares of death prevented me ; or, came upon me (Revised Version)—"took me by surprise" (Kay). read more
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
The Lord is my rock - The idea in this expression, and in the subsequent parts of the description, is that he owed his safety entirely to God. He had been unto him as a rock, a tower, a buckler, etc. - that is, he had derived from God the protection which a rock, a tower, a citadel, a buckler furnished to those who depended on them, or which they were designed to secure. The word “rock” here has reference to the fact that in times of danger a lofty rock would be sought as a place of safety, or... read more
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
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
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
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
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:2
The Lord is my Rock ; or, my Cliff— my Sela' —an expression used commonly of Petra. And my Fortress (comp. Psalms 144:2 ). Not only a natural stronghold, but one made additionally strong by art. And my Deliverer . A living Protector, not a mere inanimate defence. My God, my Strength ; rather, my Rock , as the same word ( tsur ) is translated in Exodus 17:6 ; Exodus 33:21 , Exodus 33:22 ; Deuteronomy 32:4 , Deuteronomy 32:15 , Deuteronomy 32:18 , ... read more