Psalms 18:1 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

PSALM 18 THE ARGUMENT This Psalm, with some few and small variations, is written 2Sa 22. It was composed by David towards the end of his reign and life upon the occasion here mentioned. The servant of the Lord; who esteemeth it a greater honour to be thy servant, than to be king of Israel, and who doth entirely devote himself to thy service and glory. In the day that the Lord delivered him, i.e. after the death of Saul, and the conquest of all his succeeding enemies, and his own firm establishment in his kingdom. David professeth his love to God, Psalms 18:1, and his confidence in his attributes, Psalms 18:2. He praises God for deliverance out of trouble, Psalms 18:3-5. His experience of God's hearing him in an awful manner, Psalms 18:6-31. He acknowledgeth God's help against his enemies, Psalms 18:32-50. Most affectionately and with my whole soul; as the Hebrew word signifies. I can return thee no better thing for all thy favours than my love and heart, which I pray thee to accept. By loving him he understands not only his inward affection, but also all the outward expressions and testimonies of it, praising, and glorifying, and serving of him. O Lord, my strength; from whom alone I have received all my strength, and success, and settlement, and in whom alone I trust, as it follows, Psalms 18:2.