The Psalmist here declared he would not speak wrong things, but would only speak that which was right in the sight of God.

It is good to remember that every word from our mouths is heard by our Master.

4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. 5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not. 6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. 7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them. 8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, 9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

The "destroyer" (verse 4) is sin. Sin destroys a life. Obviously David was not totally free from sin, for we read of his life and his sins. But David's desire was to follow God's Word in acts of righteousness as much as he could. This is the desire of the Christian.

Since we cannot do this on our own, we must call upon God to help (verse 5).

Only God can keep us from the ways of evil; and only God can protect us from those who would oppress us with evil (verse 9).

10 They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly. 11 They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth; 12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places. 13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword: 14 From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

People who do not believe in God have their own purposes in life. They desire to get all they can in any way that they can. Therefore, they become like "lions" seeking ways to devour the prey.

David prays here that God would "disappoint" the wicked, and deliver the righteous from him.

15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

The reward for those who do not seek God, but seek things is: to NEVER be filled! Someone once asked a very rich man, "How much money is ENOUGH?" He answered, "A little MORE!"

And when the final day has come, those who have lived life trying to fill themselves with things rather than God, shall be placed in the bottomless pit that burns for eternity. And they will have NOTHING!

But those who try to fill their lives with God, shall have Him! What a great realization! David says his satisfaction will be totally fulfilled. His body will one day awaken and he will live in the "likeness" of God.

Living in faith of God and trying to fill our lives with Him has GREAT REWARDS!

CHAPTER 18

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord, who spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said, I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. 3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

Notice that this song of David was written when he was finally saved from the relentless pursuit of king Saul. 2Samuel 5:4 tells us that David was 30 years old when he began his reign as king. And he reigned 40 years as king (1Kings 2:11).

David was only a "lad" (young man of 18 or 20) when he first met Saul and killed Goliath. Then, after a few years, David was well known and Saul began to hate him because he knew that David would be king after him. Saul probably chased David and tried to kill him for about 7 or 8 years. What an awful thing! Little wonder that David was very glad indeed when God "delivered" him out of the hands of the enemy!

From this experience of his life, David realized a spiritual truth. When he placed his faith in God, he would ultimately be "delivered" from ALL his enemies (verse 3) -- even sin!

4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. 5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. 6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. 7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. 8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. 9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. 10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. 12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire. 13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. 14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. 15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils. 16 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.

Running from Saul for those many years was akin to the "sorrows of hell" (verse 5). The place of the burning pit is a place where people will run but never find relief!

David's call unto God for salvation from Saul was heard by the Lord, and God answered by saving David's life and making him king (verses 6-7).

God showed His mighty power in many instances when David was running from Saul. And God's presence was visibly displayed to David during those years (verses 8-10).

God spoke and the worlds became. The "foundations" of the world came as the result of God speaking (verse 15).

It was God, Who "sent from above" (verse 16) His decree that David should be king after Saul. Samuel brought that "word" from God and anointed David to be the next king after Saul. And God was true to His promise (verse 17).

While David was running from Saul and his army, it was God Who was his STRENGTH ("stay - verse 18).

Even though life sometimes seems as though we are constantly running from the enemy, God gives us STRENGTH to stand. And one day, God will totally deliver us from this world.

19 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. 21 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. 23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

God not only "delivered" David, but He also put him in a "large place!" David became king of Israel, and Israel under his leadership grew to become THE world power of that time.

Though saints of God will not all become kings, all can certainly say that it is a "large place" when we are saved! Realizing the joy of God's forgiveness and the blessings of His love is "room enough" for anyone!

Thought the saint of God can claim no righteousness on his own, he certainly must have a determination to do that which is right in the sight of God (verses 20-23). God created us with a "free will." It was our selfish use of that "free will" that brought sin into the world and into our own being. When God saves us, He also changes our "free will." He makes it NEW. You might say He RECREATES us and causes us to have a tremendous desire to be obedient to Him (2Corinthians 5:17).

And God DOES reward us when we use our free will to be obedient to Him (Hebrews 11:6).

24 Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. 25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; 26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. 27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks. 28 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

God is merciful to us. He extends greater mercy when we are merciful to others.

God is pure, and desires that we live pure lives.

God determines to save those who trust Him and are obedient to Him. But God determines to "bring down" proud people who refuse Him (verse 27).

God is LIGHT - revelation, and illumination. He is the One Who "lights our candle" of life. He is also the One Who lights our candle of understanding. He puts realization into the "darkness" of sin. The realization is that we need salvation. And the realization progresses causing us to realize we can do NOTHING without Him that is of lasting value.

29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. 30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. 31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? 32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. 33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. 34 He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

Without God we have only strength to endure life and die. But with God we have greater strength to endure life because we have no fear of death (verses 29 & 32-34).

Following God is the PERFECT way to live (verse 30). His Word of instruction is ALWAYS right! For God, one might say, is "ROCK SOLID!" (verse 31).

35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. 36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip. 37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. 38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet. 39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. 40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. 41 They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. 42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets. 43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me. 44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. 45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.

The salvation of God is a "shield" to protect us from evil, and strength to hold us up in our daily lives (verse 35).

God makes His paths for His children "straight," or narrow because He doesn't want us veering off into unrighteousness.

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)

The knowledge of and the reassuring presence of God in David's life were the two things that allowed him the power to do what he did for God (verse 39). He had subdued all of Israel first, and then became the "world leader" (verse 43) because of this strength within him that was from God.

46 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. 47 It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. 48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. 49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. 50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

YES!!! God is ALIVE and WELL, thank you! And His presence in my life TELLS me so! That is David's statement here. And it should be the statement in every Christians life.

It is the power of God within the Christian that enables him to live a moral life and to withstand every onslaught of the devil.

And even if Christians are beaten down by enemies, God will one day "AVENGE!" (verse 47)

Therefore, let us give THANKS and PRAISE to God Who saves our souls from hell and all enemies (verse 49).

God is MERCIFUL to us! Let us PRAISE Him! He is merciful FOREVER; let us PRAISE Him FOREVER! (verse 50)

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