"I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. 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. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. 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. Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire. The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. 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. 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 hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down 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 those that trust in him. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. 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. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip. I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet. For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets. 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. As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places. The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. 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. Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore. (Psalm 18:1-50)

          Psalm 18 is one of the longer Psalms, though not the longest. It is an interesting note to observe that this same Psalm is found in 2 Samuel 22. That chapter begins, "And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul." (2 Samuel 22:1) Even though we are not pursued physically like Saul did David the Devil finds ways to dog our steps. The main lesson in all of this is that God helps the righteous in their battles. God will help you if you will love and serve Him faithfully! 

          God is strong to deliver -- Psalm 18:1-6: Many books have been written and numberless discussions have taken place about how to be successful in life. David recognized that the secret for success in both life and death was to be a faithful servant of God. He knew that in order to have God's help and protection that he must surrender to Him. David loved God and his love involved much more than just talk! David expressed his love for God both in words and actions. David lived his life with total confidence in God. He said, "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." He knew the Lord was worthy of his praise and he was confident that the Lord would deliver him from his enemies.

          God intervenes on behalf of the righteous -- Psalm 18:7-15: David's confidence was that God would intervene on behalf of the righteous. This account centers around two main characters. There was Saul, a powerful but ungodly king. Then there was David, a humble servant of God. Which man was better off? Who could expect God's help and blessings? God can use His great powers to help you if you will only walk with Him.

          Several views of victory -- Psalm 18:16-42:  David first pictured his deliverance from a heavenly perspective. He saw God reaching down from heaven and rescuing him from his powerful enemy. God intervenes on behalf of His faithful servant. David said, "It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect." God blessed and protected David because he was a righteous man. "The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has rewarded me." David boldly said to God, "To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, to the blameless You show Yourself blameless, To the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd. You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty." God strengthened David and prepared him for battle. David also viewed his deliverance from an earthly perspective. He said, "You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light." David knew that God had given him victory.

          The result of trusting in God -- Psalm 18:43-50: This great psalm ends with David giving praise to God. He said, "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." He also said, "The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted." David listed many ways that God had blessed him. We too, would do well to count our blessing. In summary David said, "Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore."