PSALM 18

Psalm 18 How I Love You Lord You Are My Defender the Lord is my protector he is my strong Fortress my God is my protection and with him I am safe he protects me like a shield he defends me and keeps me safe I call to the Lord and he saves me from my enemies praise the Lord the danger of death was all around me the waves of Destruction rolled over me the danger of death was around me and the grave set its trap for me in my trouble I called to the Lord I called

to my God for help in his Temple he heard my voice he listened to My Cry for Help then the Earth trembled and shook the foundations of the mountains rocked and quivered because God was angry smoke poured out of his nostrils a consuming flame and burning coals from his mouth he tore the sky open and came down with a dark cloud under his feet he flew swiftly on his winged creature he traveled on the wings of the wind he covered himself with Darkness thick clouds full of water surrounded him hailstones and flashes of fire came

from the lightning before him and broke through the dark clouds then the Lord thundered from the sky and the voice of the most high was heard he shot his arrows and Scattered his enemies with flashes of lightning he sent them running the floor of the ocean was laid bare and the foundations of the earth were uncovered when you rebuked your enemies Lord and roared at them in Anger the Lord reached down from above and took hold of me he pulled me out of the deep Waters he rescued me from my powerful enemies and from all

those who hate me they were too strong for me when I was in trouble they attacked me but the Lord protected me he helped me out of danger he saved me because he was pleased with me the Lord rewards me because I do what is right He blesses me because I am innocent I have obeyed the law of the Lord I have not turned turned away from my God I have observed all his laws I have not disobeyed his commands he knows that I am faultless that I have kept myself from doing wrong and so

he rewards me because I do what is right because he knows that I am innocent oh Lord you are faithful to those who are faithful to you completely good to those who are perfect you are pure to those who are pure but hostile to those who are wicked you save those who are humble but you humble those who are proud oh Lord you give me light you dispel my darkness you give me strength to attack my enemies and power to overcome their defenses this God how perfect are his deeds how Dependable his words he is

like a shield for all who seek his protection the Lord alone is God God Alone is our defense he is the god who makes me strong who makes my pathway safe he makes me surefooted as a deer he keeps me safe on the mountains he trains me for battle so that I can use the strongest bow oh Lord you protect me and save me your care has made me great and your power has kept me safe you have kept me from being captured and I have never fallen I pursue my enemies and catch them I

do not stop until I destroy them I strike them down and they cannot rise they lie defeated before me you give me strength for the battle and victory over my enemies you make my enemies run from me I destroy those who hate me they cry for help but no one saves them they call to the Lord but he does not answer I crush them so that they become like dust which the wind blows away I I trample on them like mud in the streets you saved me from a rebellious people and made me ruler over

the Nations people I did not know have now become my subjects foreigners bow before me when they hear me they obey they lose their courage and come trembling from their fortresses the Lord lives Praise My Defender proclaim the greatness of the God who saves me he gives me victory over my my enemies he subdues the Nations under me and saves me from my enemies oh Lord you give me victory over my enemies and protect me from violent people and so I Praise You among the Nations I sing praises to you God gives great victories to

his King he shows constant love to the one he has chosen to David and his descendants forever Psalm 18 is is a song of Thanksgiving and praise written by David in this Psalm David celebrates God's protection and deliverance from his enemies he describes how God rescued him from danger and gave him strength David Praises God for his faithfulness power and righteousness and acknowledges that all his victories and successes are due to God's help King David expresses his deep gratitude to God for his unwavering support and salvation he concludes by acknowledging that God's help makes him

strong and Victorious this Psalm reminds us of God's steadfast love and faithfulness encouraging us to trust in his power and to give thanks for his constant presence in our lives