Psalm 18:20 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 18:20-28

Here, I. David reflects with comfort upon his own integrity, and rejoices in the testimony of his conscience that he had had his conversation in godly sincerity and not with fleshly wisdom, 2 Cor. 1:12. His deliverances were an evidence of this, and this was the great comfort of his deliverances. His enemies had misrepresented him, and perhaps, when his troubles continued long, he began to suspect himself; but, when God visibly took his part, he had both the credit and the comfort of his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 18:20

The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness ,.... Which, if applied to David, cannot be understood of his own personal righteousness, or of works of righteousness done by him, for these merit nothing at the hand of God; no reward, in strict justice, is due to them, or given to them: a man's own righteousness is imperfect, and by the law of God is not accounted a righteousness; and it is unprofitable to God, is no gain to him, and so not rewardable by him; and were it perfect, it is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:20

The Lord rewarded me - David proceeds to give the reasons why God had so marvellously interposed in his behalf. According to my righteousness - Instead of being an enemy to Saul, I was his friend. I dealt righteously with him while he dealt unrighteously with me. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:20

Verse 20 20.Jehovah rewarded me. David might seem at first sight to contradict himself; for, while a little before he declared that all the blessings which he possessed were to be traced to the good pleasure of God, he now boasts that God rendered to him a just recompense. But if we remember for what purpose he connects these commendations of his own integrity with the good pleasure of God, it will be easy to reconcile these apparently conflicting statements. He has before declared that God was... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:1-50

The conqueror's song of praise and hope. It is not our purpose, nor is it our province, in this section of the 'Pulpit Commentary,' to write homilies on specific texts; but rather to deal with this psalm (as we have done with others) as a whole —for it is a unity—and to show how grand a basis it presents for the pulpit exposition of the provisions of "the everlasting covenant" to which allusion is made in the last verse of the psalm. The student and expositor might with advantage refer... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:1-50

A retrospect of life. The sailor tells of the perils of the sea; the traveller recounts the varied incidents of his career; and the soldier who has passed through battles and sieges can speak of hairbreadth escapes and moving accidents by flood and field. So it is with human life. We have the power of looking back; we can in imagination revive the past, and as scene after scene rises before us, our heart is thrilled with various emotions. And what we have experienced and recalled, we can... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:1-50

The retrospect of a life: a sermon for the close of the year. "In this magnificent hymn the royal poet sketches in a few grand outlines the history of his life. By God's help he had subdued every enemy, and now, in middle life, looking back with devout thankfulness on the past, he sings this great song of praise to the God of his life." Divisions of the psalm: 1 . The introduction, setting forth all that Jehovah is to David ( Psalms 18:1-3 ). 2 . The record of David's sufferings... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:20

The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness . David has spoken of his "righteousness" already in Psalms 7:8 . We must not suppose him to mean absolute blamelessness, any more than Job means such blamelessness by his "integrity" ( Job 27:5 ; Job 31:6 ). He means honesty of purpose, the sincere endeavour to do right, such conduct as brings about "the answer of a good conscience before God" ( 1 Peter 3:21 ). According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me (comp.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 18:20

The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness - That is, he saw that I did not deserve the treatment which I received from my enemies, and therefore he interposed to save me. Compare the note at Psalms 17:3.According to the cleanness of my hands - So far as my fellow-men are concerned. I have done them no wrong.Hath he recompensed me - By rescuing me from the power of my enemies. It is not inconsistent with proper views of piety - with true humility before God - to feel and to say, that so... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 18:20-28

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 18:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:20

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:1-50

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:1-50

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:1-50

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:1-50

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 18:20

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 18:20

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