Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Psalms 18:32

Clarke's Commentary

Verse Psalms 18:32. God - girdeth me with strength — The girdle was a necessary part of the Eastern dress; it strengthened and supported the loins; served to confine the garments close to the body; and in it they tucked them up when journeying. The strength of God was to his soul what the girdle was to the body. I need not add, that the girdle was also an ornamental part of the dress, and from it the sword was suspended.

And maketh my way perfect. — He directs me so that I do not go astray; he blesses me in my undertakings; and by him the issue of my labours is crowned with prosperity.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Psalms 18:0 David’s song of victory

The outpouring of praise recorded in Psalms 18:0 is applicable to many of David’s experiences. It was probably put into its present form after David reached the height of his power as king. He had conquered all his enemies and now controlled all the country from Egypt to the Euphrates (2 Samuel 8:1-18). The psalm is also recorded in 2 Samuel 22:0.

David opens by declaring his love for God (1) and thanking God for hearing his prayers and saving him from death at the hands of his enemies (2-6). God revealed himself in dramatic exhibitions of his mighty power, using earthquakes and storms (7-9), wind and rain (10-11), lightning and thunder (12-15) to deliver his servant (16-19).
The reason God answered David’s prayers was that David walked in God’s ways and kept himself pure and humble (20-24). God’s attitude to people, whether he helped them or opposed them, depended on whether they were devoted to him or rebelled against him (25-27). That is why David was always confident of God’s help (28-30).
God had blessed David with good health, physical strength, natural ability, and the desire to train and practise till he was skilled in the abilities God had given him (31-34). Above all, God gave David his saving power (35-36). As a result David was able to go on to certain victory, conquering his foes (37-42), expanding his kingdom (43-45) and bringing glory to God (46-48). As he looks back on what God did for him in the past, he offers further praise for God’s unfailing kindness (49-50).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

“As for God, his way is perfect: The word of Jehovah is tried; He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in him. For who is God save Jehovah? And who is a rock besides our God, The God that girdeth me with strength, And maketh my way perfect? He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet: And setteth me upon high places.”

“Who is God save Jehovah?” This is the Hebrew equivalent of “There is no God besides Jehovah.” This strong monotheistic thrust of the psalm was one of the grounds upon which Addis rejected Davidic authorship of it, as cited above.

“And maketh my way perfect.” When one considers that David was an humble keeper of his father’s sheep, that he was merely the youngest in a large family, that his father’s house was of no particular significance in Israel, and that from this humble and obscure person God led to the kingship of the Chosen People, making of him a mighty world-renowned monarch, whose name would live for centuries, and even allowing him to be a significant Type of the Blessed Messiah himself when all that is considered, we must allow the absolute truth of what is said here.

“My feet like hinds’ feet.” The meaning of “hind” here is the “doe,” the female deer, a marvelous example of sure-footedness and swiftness even in the steepest, ruggedest, and rockiest terrain. “It is not swiftness in flight, but in attack, that is meant.”F. Delitzsch. The Old Testament, Vol. 5 (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company), p. 264.

We remember the report of how an old Holiness preacher interpreted this verse. He read it as follows: “He setting my feet like hen’s feet.”

“Now,” he said, “We all know that a hen has four toes, three in front and one behind; so that when she is going up a steep, slippery hill, that toe on the back side keeps her from slipping back! This, of course, illustrates the fact that we cannot fall from God’s grace. God has given us feet like a hen’s feet, so we can’t slip backwards!”

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

It is God that girdeth me with strength - Who gives me strength. The word girdeth contains an allusion to the mode of dress among the orientals, the long flowing robe, which was girded up when they ran or labored, that it might not impede them; and, probably, with the additional idea that girding the loins contributed to strength. It is a common custom now for men who run a race, or leap, or engage in a strife of pugilism, to gird or bind up their loins. See Job 40:7, note; and Matthew 5:38-41, notes.

And maketh my way perfect - Gives me complete success in my undertakings; or, enables me so to carry them out that none of them fail.

Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

32.It is God who hath girded. This is a metaphor taken either from the belt or girdle of a warrior, or from the reins, in which the Scripture sometimes places a man’s vigor or strength. It is, therefore, as if he had said, I, who would otherwise have been feeble and effeminate, have been made strong and courageous by the power of God. He afterwards speaks of the success itself with which God had favored him; for it would not be enough for persons to have prompt and active courage, nor even to excel in strength, if their undertakings were not at the same time crowned with a prosperous issue. Irreligious men imagine that this proceeds from their own prudence, or from fortune; but David ascribes it to God alone: It is God who hath made my way perfect. The word way is here to be understood of the course of our actions, and the language implies, that whatever David undertook, God, by his blessing, directed it to a successful issue.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Psalms 18:1-50

The eighteenth psalm has a long title to it. It is to chief musician. It is a psalm of David, the servant of Jehovah, who spake unto Jehovah the words of this song in the day that Jehovah delivered him from the hand of all of his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said,

I will love thee, O LORD, my strength ( Psalms 18:1 ).

So that is all an introduction to the psalm, which is written in the Hebrew, just the introduction to the psalm. This evidently is the time when he was pursued and he escaped the hand of Saul and went down to Achish, because he speaks about dwelling, in the latter part, of dwelling among the heathen and all, and no doubt it was as he had fled from Saul to the Philistines so that Saul would not pursue him any more. And so now safe from the pursuit of Saul, having been delivered by the hand of God from Saul.

"I will love thee, O Lord my strength."

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress ( Psalms 18:2 ),

He had been actually been running in that rocky wilderness area around the Dead Sea, Engedi, and those rocky cliffs, hiding in those caves and using the rocks as a place of defense and as a fortress. "The Lord is my rock and my fortress,"

and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; he is my buckler, the horn of my salvation, and my high tower ( Psalms 18:2 ).

All of these are defensive weapons of war. God is all of it. He is my defender. He keeps me. He is my high tower. He is my buckler. He is my strength.

I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: and so shall I be saved from my enemies. For the sorrows of death encircled me, the floods of ungodly men ( Psalms 18:3-4 )

All of the troops of Saul, he came out with several thousand men pursuing David. And David looked over there and saw all these guys and he knew they were after my hide. And they had encircled David. He was trapped. "The sorrows of death encircled me."

The sorrows of hell encircled me about: the snares of death prevented to me. And in my distress I called upon the LORD, I cried unto my God: and he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even unto his ears ( Psalms 18:5-6 ).

Now, out of His temple. The temple was not yet built in Jerusalem, but he is talking about God's temple in heaven.

Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also the hills moved and were shaken, because of his anger. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: and coals were kindled by it. And he bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub [one of those angelic beings], and did fly: and he did fly upon the wings of the wind ( Psalms 18:7-10 ).

And all of this is very beautiful poetic and picturesque speech. Of course, this was a song written in Hebrew type of poetry. Very descriptive and very beautiful indeed.

In verse Psalms 18:16 he said,

He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has recompensed me ( Psalms 18:16-20 ).

Verse Psalms 18:25 ,

With the merciful you will show yourself merciful; with the upright man, you will show yourself upright; with the pure you will show yourself pure; with the forward you will show yourself forward. For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but will bring down the high looks. For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all of those that trust in him. For who is God save Jehovah? And who is a rock save our God? It is God that girded me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. He teaches my hands to war, so that the bow of steel is broken by my arms. Thou hast also given me the shield of my salvation: and thy right hand hath held me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great ( Psalms 18:25-35 ).

Interesting phrase, "Thy gentleness hath made me great." And he goes on and tells how the Lord had subdued his enemies that were rising up against him. And then he, in verse Psalms 18:43 ,

Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; you have made me the head of the heathen ( Psalms 18:43 ):

He had actually gone been down in Ziklag, in the area of the Philistines, and he was the head of the city of Ziklag,

and of people whom I have not known shall serve me ( Psalms 18:43 ).

Now this, of course, David was speaking of himself, but it became prophetic of Jesus and the gospel going unto the Gentiles.

The LORD liveth; blessed be my Rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted ( Psalms 18:46 ). "

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

Psalms 18

As the title indicates, David wrote this psalm after he had subdued his political enemies and had established the kingdom of Israel firmly under his control. In this poem, David expressed his delight in the Lord and thanked Him for giving him the victories he enjoyed. This royal thanksgiving psalm also appears in 2 Samuel 22. The slight variations may be due to changes that Israel’s leaders made, under divine inspiration, when they adapted this poem for use in Israel’s public worship. Other individual psalms of thanksgiving are 30-32, 40, 66, 92, 116, 118, and 120.

"The two components essential to the [individual thanksgiving] genre are: (1) the psalmist’s report about his crisis, and (2) the statement or declaration that the crisis has passed and his deliverance is an accomplished fact. The latter element is that which distinguishes these psalms from the lament." [Note: Bullock, p. 152.]

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

3. God’s blessings 18:30-50

The psalmist rejoiced over God’s character and His blessings to him (Psalms 18:30-45), and he vowed to continue to praise Him forever (Psalms 18:46-50). The purpose of the psalm is praise, not boasting.

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

We should probably read Psalms 18:32 with Psalms 18:33 rather than with Psalms 18:31. David gave the Lord credit for enabling him to be a strong and effective warrior. God was responsible for David’s successes in battle.

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

[It is] God that girdeth me with strength,.... For battle, as in Psalms 18:39; with strength of body and fortitude of mind; both which are from the Lord, and were in David; and were acknowledged by him as bestowed on him by the Lord; and which confirms what he had before said of him: or with spiritual strength, with strength in his soul, against sin, Satan, and the world; and to do the will and work of God: saints are girt by the Lord with the whole armour of God, and among the rest with the girdle of truth; and are prepared and ready to every good work; see 1 Samuel 2:4. Hannah's song is again referred to: in

2 Samuel 22:33, the words are, "God is my strength [and] power"; they are true of Christ, the man of God's right hand, whom he promised to strengthen, and whom he has made strong for himself, Psalms 80:17;

and maketh my way perfect; or safe, or prosperous. God removed every impediment and obstacle out of his way, and made it plain and easy, as Jarchi observes; and succeeded him, and gave him victory over his enemies; this has been verified in Christ, who has conquered sin, Satan, the world, death, and the grave: for this is not to be understood of the way and course of David's life and conversation, which was not perfect and unspotted, but had many blemishes and imperfections in it, which he often owns, confesses, and bewails.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      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 showeth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

      In these verses,

      I. David looks back, with thankfulness, upon the great things which God had done for him. He had not only wrought deliverance for him, but had given him victory and success, and made him triumph over those who thought to triumph over him. When we set ourselves to praise God for one mercy we must be led by that to observe the many more with which we have been compassed about, and followed, all our days. Many things had contributed to David's advancement, and he owns the hand of God in them all, to teach us to do likewise, in reviewing the several steps by which we have risen to our prosperity. 1. God had given him all his skill and understanding in military affairs, which he was not bred up to nor designed for, his genius leading him more to music, and poetry, and a contemplative life: He teaches my hands to war,Psalms 18:34; Psalms 18:34. 2. God had given him bodily strength to go through the business and fatigue of war: God girded him with strength (Psalms 18:32; Psalms 18:39), to such a degree that he could break even a bow of steel, Psalms 18:34; Psalms 18:34. What service God designs men for he will be sure to fit them for. 3. God had likewise given him great swiftness, not to flee from the enemies but to fly upon them (Psalms 18:33; Psalms 18:33): He makes my feet like hinds' feet,Psalms 18:36; Psalms 18:36. "Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; but" (whereas those that take large steps are apt to tread awry) "my feet did not slip." He was so swift that he pursued his enemies and overtook them, Psalms 18:37; Psalms 18:37. 4. God had made him very bold and daring in his enterprises, and given him spirit proportionable to his strength. If a troop stood in his way, he made nothing of running through them; if a wall, he made nothing of leaping over it (Psalms 18:29; Psalms 18:29); if ramparts and bulwarks, he soon mounted them, and by divine assistance set his feet upon the high places of the enemy, Psalms 18:33; Psalms 18:33. 5. God had protected him, and kept him safe, in the midst of the greatest perils. Many a time he put his life in his hand, and yet it was wonderfully preserved: "Thou hast given me the shield of thy salvation (Psalms 18:35; Psalms 18:35), and that has compassed me on every side. By that I have been delivered from the strivings of the people who aimed at my destruction (Psalms 18:43; Psalms 18:43), particularly from the violent man" (Psalms 18:48; Psalms 18:48), that is, Saul, who more than once threw a javelin at him. 6. God had prospered him in his designs; he it was that made his way perfect (Psalms 18:32; Psalms 18:32) and it was his right hand that held him up, Psalms 18:35; Psalms 18:35. 7. God had given him victory over his enemies, the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, and all that fought against Israel: those especially he means, yet not excluding the house of Saul, which opposed his coming to the crown, and the partisans of Absalom and Sheba, who would have deposed him. He enlarges much upon the goodness of God to him in defeating his enemies, attributing his victories, not to his own sword or bow, nor to the valour of his mighty men, but to the favour of God: I pursued them (Psalms 18:37; Psalms 18:37), I wounded them (Psalms 18:38; Psalms 18:38); for thou hast girded me with strength (Psalms 18:39; Psalms 18:39), else I could not have done it. All the praise is ascribed to God: Thou hast subdued them under me,Psalms 18:39; Psalms 18:39. Thou hast given me their necks (Psalms 18:40; Psalms 18:40), not only to trample upon them (as Joshua 10:24), but to cut them off. Even those who hated David whom God loved, and were enemies to the Israel of God, in their distress cried unto the Lord: but in vain; he answered them not. How could they expect he should when it was he whom they fought against? And, when he disowned them (as he will all those that act against his people), no other succours could stand them in stead: There was none to save them,Psalms 18:41; Psalms 18:41. Those whom God has abandoned are easily vanquished: Then did I beat them small as the dust,Psalms 18:42; Psalms 18:42. But those whose cause is just he avenges (Psalms 18:47; Psalms 18:47), and those whom he favours will certainly be lifted up above those that rise up against them,Psalms 18:48; Psalms 18:48. 8. God had raised him to the throne, and not only delivered him and kept him alive, but dignified him and made him great (Psalms 18:35; Psalms 18:35): Thy gentleness has increased me--thy discipline and instruction; so some. The good lessons David learned in his affliction prepared him for the dignity and power that were intended him; and the lessening of him helped very much to increase his greatness. God made him not only a great conqueror, but a great ruler: Thou hast made me the head of the heathen (Psalms 18:43; Psalms 18:43); all the neighbouring nations were tributaries to him. See 2 Samuel 8:6; 2 Samuel 8:11. In all this David was a type of Christ, whom the Father brought safely through his conflicts with the powers of darkness, and made victorious over them, and gave to be head over all things to his church, which is his body.

      II. David looks up with humble and reverent adorations of the divine glory and perfection. When God had, by his providence, magnified him, he endeavours, with his praises, to magnify God, to bless him and exalt him, Psalms 18:46; Psalms 18:46. He gives honour to him, 1. As a living God: The Lord liveth,Psalms 18:46; Psalms 18:46. We had our lives at first from, and we owe the continuance of them to, that God who has life in himself and is therefore fitly called the living God. The gods of the heathen were dead gods. The best friends we have among men are dying friends. But God lives, lives for ever, and will not fail those that trust in him, but, because he lives, they shall live also; for he is their life. 2. As a finishing God: As for God, he is not only perfect himself, but his way is perfect,Psalms 18:30; Psalms 18:30. He is known by his name Jehovah (Exodus 6:3), a God performing and perfecting what he begins in providence as well as creation, Genesis 2:1. If it was God that made David's way perfect (Psalms 18:32; Psalms 18:32), much more is his own way so. There is no flaw in God's works, nor any fault to be found with what he does, Ecclesiastes 3:14. And what he undertakes he will go through with, whatever difficulties lie in the way; what God begins to build he is able to finish. 3. As a faithful God: The word of the Lord is tried. "I have tried it" (says David), "and it has not failed me." All the saints, in all ages, have tried it, and it never failed any that trusted in it. It is tried as silver is tried, refined from all such mixture and alloy as lessen the value of men's words. David, in God's providences concerning him, takes notice of the performance of his promises to him, which, as it puts sweetness into the providence, so it puts honour upon the promise. 4. As the protector and defender of his people. David had found him so to him: "He is the God of my salvation (Psalms 18:46; Psalms 18:46), by whose power and grace I am and hope to be saved; but not of mine only: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him (Psalms 18:30; Psalms 18:30); he shelters and protects them all, is both able and ready to do so." 5. As a non-such in all this, Psalms 18:31; Psalms 18:31. There is a God, and who is God save Jehovah? That God is a rock, for the support and shelter of his faithful worshippers; and who is a rock save our God? Thus he not only gives glory to God, but encourages his own faith in him. Note, (1.) Whoever pretends to be deities, it is certain that there is no God, save the Lord; all others are counterfeits, Isaiah 44:8; Jeremiah 10:10. (2.) Whoever pretends to be our felicities, there is no rock, save our God; none that we can depend upon to make us happy.

      III. David looks forward, with a believing hope that God would still do him good. He promises himself, 1. That his enemies should be completely subdued, and that those of them that yet remained should be made his footstool,--that his government should be extensive, so that even a people whom he had not known should serve him (Psalms 18:43; Psalms 18:43), --that his conquests, and, consequently, his acquests, should be easy (As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me,Psalms 18:44; Psalms 18:44), --and that his enemies should be convinced that it was to no purpose to oppose him; even those that had retired to their fastnesses should not trust to them, but be afraid out of their close places, having seen so much of David's wisdom, courage, and success. Thus the Son of David, though he sees not yet all things put under him, yet knows he shall reign till all opposing rule, principality, and power shall be quite put down. 2. That his seed should be forever continued in the Messiah, who, he foresaw, should come from his loins, Psalms 18:50; Psalms 18:50. He shows mercy to his anointed, his Messiah, to David himself, the anointed of the God of Jacob in the type, and to his seed for evermore. He saith not unto seeds, as of many, but to his seed, as of one, that is Christ,Galatians 3:16. It is he only that shall reign for ever, and of the increase of whose government and peace there shall be no end. Christ is called David,Hosea 3:5. God has called him his king,Psalms 2:6. Great deliverance God does give, and will give to him, and to his church and people, here called his seed, for evermore.

      In singing Psalms 18:29-50 we must give God the glory of the victories of Christ and his church hitherto and of all the deliverances and advancements of the gospel kingdom, and encourage ourselves and one another with an assurance that the church militant will be shortly triumphant, will be eternally so.