"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. Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name."
Psalm 18:48-49
Part 2
Yesterday:
“He delivereth me from mine enemies:”
Our sovereign God protects His child.
“Yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me:”
God gives honor and safety to His servant.
“Thou hast delivered me from the violent man.” (a)
Even King Saul couldn’t destroy God’s servant David.
Today:
“Thou hast delivered me from the violent man.” (b)
The LORD Jehovah protected His anointed servant[1], David. During all this, David did not lay low and cower in hiding. In spite of the attacks of his enemies, he chose to stand and fight. He knew that God protected him, he was on the LORD’s side.
“Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore” (Psalm 18:50).
“Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD,”
David’s conclusion was this, because of God’s protection and deliverance from the violent man, “I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD.”
“Among the heathen,”
“Among the nations.”
Israel’s mission all along was to point the heathen (Gentiles) to Jehovah. God was calling the Gentiles to salvation, along with the Jewish people.
“Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people” (Psalm 96:3).
“Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously” (Psalm 96:10).
Did they do what God said to evangelize the Gentiles? Paul quotes this verse.
“And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name” (Romans 15:9).
“O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people” (Psalm 117:1).
“And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious” (Isaiah 11:10).
We who are Gentile believers ought to thank God daily for His glorious salvation He has made available, not just to the Hebrew people, but to us as well.
“And sing praises unto thy name.”
Therefore, I will give thanks… And sing praises unto thy name.”
“Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God” (Psalm 50:23).
Dear Lord, I thank you for my salvation! And thank you for your protection and deliverance, for as long as you want me serving on this earth.
[1] Although we haven’t looked at this psalm in this devotion as being Messianic, I encourage each serious Bible student to consider it as a “Messianic Psalm” and to do a study of it in this light.