--- title: "Psalms 18 - Study King James Bible with clarkes commentary" description: "Read Psalms 18 with clarkes commentary commentary. 1 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," image: "/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg" url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/clarkes-commentary/psalms/18" --- [ Read](/kjv/psalms/18)[ Commentary](/study/psalms/18)[ Interlinear](/interlinear/psalms/18) Audio 1 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. 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. 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.* 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.* 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. 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.* 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. [Psalms 17](/study/psalms/17) [Psalms 19](/study/psalms/19) ## Commentary To verse 1 The title: "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." Except the first clause, this title is taken from [2 Samuel 22:1](/kjv/2-samuel/22/1). The reader is requested to turn to the notes on [2 Samuel 22:1](/kjv/2-samuel/22/1), for some curious information on this Psalm, particularly what is extracted from Dr. *Kennicott*. This learned writer supposes the whole to be a song of the Messiah, and divides it into *five parts*, which he thus introduces: - "The Messiah's sublime thanksgivings, composed by David when his wars were at an end, towards the conclusion of his life. And in this sacred song the goodness of God is celebrated, 1. For Messiah's resurrection from the dead, with the wonders attending that awful event, and soon following it. 2. For the punishment inflicted on the Jews; particularly by the destruction of Jerusalem. And, 3. For the obedience of the Gentile nations. See [Romans 15:9](/kjv/romans/15/9); [Hebrews 2:13](/kjv/hebrews/2/13); and [Matthew 28:2-4](/kjv/matthew/28/2-4); with [Matthew 24:7](/kjv/matthew/24/7); [Matthew 24:29](/kjv/matthew/24/29)." And that the title now prefixed to this hymn here and in [2 Samuel 22:1](/kjv/2-samuel/22/1), describes only the *time* of its composition, seems evident; for who can ascribe to David *himself* as the subject, [2 Samuel 22:5-6](/kjv/2-samuel/22/5-6); [2 Samuel 22:8-17](/kjv/2-samuel/22/8-17); [2 Samuel 22:21-26](/kjv/2-samuel/22/21-26); [2 Samuel 22:30](/kjv/2-samuel/22/30); [2 Samuel 22:42](/kjv/2-samuel/22/42); [2 Samuel 22:44](/kjv/2-samuel/22/44), c.? In Dr. *Kennicott's* remarks there is a new translation of the whole Psalm, p. 178, c. The strong current of commentators and critics apply this Psalm to Christ and to oppose a whole host of both ancients and moderns would argue great self-confidence. In the *main* I am of the same mind and on this principle chiefly I shall proceed to its illustration; still however considering that there are many things in it which concern David, and him only. Drs. *Chandler* and *Delaney* have been very successful in their illustration of various passages in it; all the best critics have brought their strongest powers to bear on it; and most of the commentators have laboured it with great success; and Bishop *Horne* has applied the whole of it to Christ. My old Psalter speaks highly in its praise: "This Psalme contenes the sacrement of al chosyn men, the qwilk doand the law of God thurgh the seven fald grace of the Haly Gast fra al temptaciouns, and the pouste of dede and of the devel lesid: this sang thai syng til God; and thankes him and says, *I sal luf the* *Lord*, noght a day or twa, bot ever mare: *my strength*, thurgh quam I am stalworth in thoght." Verse [Psalms 18:1](/kjv/psalms/18/1). ***I will love thee*** — Love always subsists on motive and reason. The verb רחם *racham* signifies to *love with all the tender* *feelings of nature*. "From my inmost bowels will I love thee, O Lord!" Why should he love Jehovah? Not merely because he was infinitely great and good, possessed of all possible perfections, but because he was *good to him*: and he here enumerates some of the many blessings he received from him. ***My strength.*** — 1. Thou who hast given me *power* over my adversaries, and hast enabled me to avoid evil and do good. ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com","name":"Real Bible Believers","description":"RBB","publisher":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/search?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/clarkes-commentary/psalms/18#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg","width":672,"height":448,"caption":"Real Bible Believers"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/clarkes-commentary/psalms/18#webpage","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/clarkes-commentary/psalms/18","name":"Psalms 18 - Study King James Bible with clarkes commentary","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/clarkes-commentary/psalms/18#primaryimage"},"author":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"description":"Read Psalms 18 with clarkes commentary commentary. 1 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,","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/clarkes-commentary/psalms/18#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/clarkes-commentary/psalms/18"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/clarkes-commentary/psalms/18#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study","name":"Study Bible"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/clarkes-commentary","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/clarkes-commentary","name":"clarkes commentary"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/clarkes-commentary/psalms","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/clarkes-commentary/psalms","name":"Psalms"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/clarkes-commentary/psalms/18","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/clarkes-commentary/psalms/18","name":"18"}}]},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","width":512,"height":512},"logo":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo"},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/RBiblebeliever","https://www.facebook.com/RBibleBelievers"]}]} ```