Psalms 18:1-50 - Exposition

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 "flood of ungodly men" ( Psalms 18:4 ), from the near approach of death ( Psalms 18:4 , Psalms 18:5 ), and from a host of foreign enemies ( Psalms 18:29-43 )—there is no allusion in it to domestic foes, and no indication of remorse for any special sin. The exact time cannot be fixed; but it was probably soon after the series of victories described in 2 Samuel 10:1-19 ; and before the events recorded in 2 Samuel 11:1-27 . and 12.

It is thought, with some reason, that the psalm was composed for a great occasion of public thanksgiving. Most likely it was processional, and therefore not broken into strophes, but continuous. Still, we may trace in it,