Psalm 18 Part 4 David Learned To Walk In The Ways Of The LORD

Psalm 18:16-18  He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. 17  He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. 18  They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. 

So far in this Psalm, David spent much time showing us the glory of God, describing His majesty, awesome power, abundant mercy, unfailing love, perfect righteousness and His holy judgments.

The LORD is compared to a solid rock for believers to stand upon, a high tower to run into during troubles and afflictions, a place of refuge and comfort when we need Him.

The LORD is a fortress where we find safety and shelter. He shields us from our enemies and is our mighty defender.

After describing the LORD coming to the earth like a powerful thunderstorm, to protect His people and to judge the wicked, David is ready to tell us what God did in his life.

See these beautiful words: "He sent from above!"

The LORD is seated upon His throne of glory in heaven but He hears every single prayer of each believer in Christ and He stands ready to act on our behalf.

Thus, the LORD whose power, glory and majesty are resplendent in creation, sent help to David from heaven.

First, David said that his personal situation was like a man caught in raging floodwaters, in danger of drowning, but Jehovah rescued him.

Second, David tells us that his enemies were strong, many and too much for him to deal with. 

Thus, he cried out to the LORD who heard his prayers.

This reminds us that when we are crushed by some circumstance of life or affliction, we ought to immediately turn our attention to heaven.

Christ will hear and help all who call upon Him.

David's enemies prevented him from escape or from findling a right solution but Jehovah was his stay, his strong deliverer.

When it seems like calamity strikes and our days are filled with misery and woe, we must do as King David did, and appeal to the LORD in heaven, because He promises to hear and help us.

Psalm 18:19-20  He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. 20  The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 

David described the deliverance of the LORD as being released from a very confined place and put into a large room with space to move and breathe freely.

Why did the LORD deliver King David? 

Because He delighted in the sweet Psalmist of Israel, this warrior king whom God says was a man after His own heart.

It is the grace of God that brings salvation to each sinner who repents and trusts Christ to save him (or her).

It is the love of God that seeks to draw us close to the Father through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

It is the mercy of God that flows to us because of Christ's atoning, redeeming work on the cross.

David fully experienced all of this and his heart was fixed upon the LORD. He wanted nothing more than to spend time worshiping God, praying to the LORD and hearing His Word.

May this be our heart today, such that we seek the LORD with an intense longing to be in His presence and find that relief from the pressing cares and troubles of an evil world.

David raised a very important point for believers in Christ to remember.

David said that his hands were clean, which means he had confessed all his sins that he knew about to God, and received forgiveness and cleansing from the LORD (See 1 John 1:5-10).

Those who cover up their sins will face chastening from God, but all who confess and forsake their sins will find forgiveness (See Proverbs 28:13). 

Those who ignore their sins will suffer humiliation when their sin is exposed, because God said "Be sure your sins will find you out!" (See Numbers 32:23).

David's hands were clean and his sins were washed away by the LORD.

I pray that this is true of each one of us. Let us be swift to confess our sins to the LORD so that we can be cleansed and restored.

Psalm 18:21-22  For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 22  For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. 

David could say with a pure heart that he kept the ways of the LORD to the very best of his ability.

This compares with Jesus telling us to enter through the straight gate and to walk on the narrow path that leads to eternal life.

David knew that he must stand in the ways and ask for the old, God pleasing paths, for only then could he find rest for his soul, and strength for each day (See Jeremiah 6:16).

Many professed faith in God throughout history, but many also departed from walking with the LORD by faith, and walked in the wicked ways of the world instead.

How did King David learn to walk in the ways of God?

You probably already know the answer. 

David studied the scriptures and read from the law of God each day. 

He studied and meditated on the truths of God's Word and submitted to His direction.

2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

God gave us His Word so that He can communicate with us as we read it.

We are both blessed and obligated to study the scriptures, to grasp its meaning and application for our lives, and to live in accord with what we have learned.

This is how believers in Christ can stand approved before God, by reading His Word and living it out with our day to day choices.

There is still a lot of material to study in this Psalm and I pray that taking the time to go through it will be a blessing and benefit to each one who reads it.

May the LORD have His way in our hearts today.

May He conform us more and more into the image of His dear Son.

May He find us to be faithful and obedient children of the heavenly Father.

Bob