Psalms 18 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Bible Comments
  • Psalms 18:2 open_in_new

    Rock — To which I flee for refuge, as the Israelites did to their rocks. Horn — It is a metaphor from those beasts whose strength lies in their horns.

  • Psalms 18:4 open_in_new

    Death — Dangerous and deadly troubles. Floods — Their multitude, and strength, and violent assaults, breaking in upon me like a flood.

  • Psalms 18:5 open_in_new

    Sorrows — Which brought me to the brink of the grave. Death — Had almost taken hold of me, before I was aware.

  • Psalms 18:7 open_in_new

    Then — Then God appeared on my behalf in a glorious manner, to the terror and confusion of all mine enemies, which is here compared to an earthquake.

  • Psalms 18:8 open_in_new

    There went, &c. — All these seem to be figurative expressions, denoting the greatness of his anger.

  • Psalms 18:9 open_in_new

    Bowed — By producing thick and dark clouds, whereby the heavens seem to come down to the earth. Came — Not by change of place, but by the manifestation of his presence and power on my behalf.

  • Psalms 18:10 open_in_new

    Cherub — Or, upon the cherubim, upon the angels, who are also called God's chariots, Psalms 68:17, upon which he is said to sit and ride. All which is not to be understood grossly, but only to denote God's using the ministry of angels, in raising such storms and tempests. Fly — As swiftly as the wind.

  • Psalms 18:12 open_in_new

    At — His glorious and powerful appearance. Passed — Or, passed away, vanished, being dissolved into showers.

  • Psalms 18:19 open_in_new

    Brought — Out of my straits and difficulties, into a state of freedom and comfort. So he ascribes all his mercies to God's good pleasure, as the first spring of them.

  • Psalms 18:20 open_in_new

    Righteousness — Just cause. The innocency of my actions towards Saul, from whose blood I kept my hands pure.

  • Psalms 18:25 open_in_new

    Upright — Thou metest to every one the same measure, which he meteth out to others; and therefore thou wilt perform mercy and truth, to those who are merciful and true to others.

  • Psalms 18:26 open_in_new

    Pure — Free from the least mixture or appearance of unrighteousness, or unfaithfulness. Froward — Thou wilt cross him and walk contrary to him.

  • Psalms 18:29 open_in_new

    Troop — Broken through the armed troops of mine enemies. Wall — I have scaled the walls of their strongest cites.

  • Psalms 18:30 open_in_new

    Perfect — His providence, though it may sometimes be dark, yet is always wise and just, and unblameable. Tried — The truth of God's promises is approved by innumerable experiences.

  • Psalms 18:31 open_in_new

    Who — Our Lord is the only God, and therefore there is none, that can hinder him from accomplishing his own work.

  • Psalms 18:35 open_in_new

    Salvation — Thy protection, which hath been to me like a shield. Held — Kept me from, falling into those mischiefs, which mine enemies designed. Gentleness — Thy clemency, whereby thou hast pardoned my sins; thy grace and benignity.

  • Psalms 18:43 open_in_new

    People — From contentions, and seditions, under Saul, and Ishbosheth, and Absalom. Heathens — Of the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, Syrians, and others. Not known — Even barbarous and remote nations.

  • Psalms 18:49 open_in_new

    Heathen — David is here transported beyond himself, and speaks this in special relation to Christ who was to be his seed, and of whom he was an eminent type, and by whom alone this was done. And therefore this is justly applied to him, and to his calling of the Gentiles, Romans 15:9.