Day 32: Psalms 18: 16-24
Psalm 18:16 He sent from above. He took me. He drew me out of many waters.
Lord, this is first and foremost true of Jesus, but in and through Jesus, You have also repeatedly saved Your people from many troubles. You raised Jesus from the dead, as He overcame all evil including Satan, sin, death, and the grave which are the greatest enemies of all. But You also delivered Him from the earthly leaders who thought that they were in charge. Rome, the Pharisees, and even the mobs that mocked Christ could not overcome Your eternal plan to save Your people from their sin! It is in Jesus’ victory that all who trust in Him have eternal victory, in spite of suffering, struggle, and death. Lord, You have delivered all Your people again and again. Not only have you saved them, Lord, You have delivered me from my attackers, from my own sin and fear again and again. Lord, all praise be to Your name.
Psalm 18:17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.
Lord, nothing is too hard for You, but Joab was too harsh for David (See II Samuel 3:39); other enemies, too, were too strong for him to handle alone. There are people and forces that are too strong for us alone, but in Jesus’ victory we find the strength to face our trials! Thank You, O Lord, that You can handle any opposition we face.
Psalm 18:18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity but the Lord was my support.
Lord, the forces and people who oppose me seemed too much for me, but You helped me. You sustained me; You helped my family through. Yet, Lord, we sustained wounds from the battle even as did my friend and his loved ones. Lord, heal our wounds. Forgive our weak and inconsistent faith and our sin of unbelief. Heal us and strengthen us for the battle before us.
Psalm 18:19 He also brought me into a broad place. He delivered me because He delighted in me.
Lord, You have brought us to a place of healing and progress. You have caused good things to happen. But there is more to do. Help us use the resources You have given and press forward with the work of the Kingdom of Christ.
But Lord, let me especially relish Your love to me. You have said in Your Word that our greatest rejoicing should be because we know You and because our names are found in the Lamb’s book of life (Luke 10:17-20). O Lord, let this be our greatest and truest joy. You have delighted in us. You love us. You love to spend time with us. You are never too busy for us. Lord, as Peter learned, so we are trying to learn: We only love You because You have first loved us. Lord, our love is a response to Your greater, most perfect, most powerful love.
Psalm 18:20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
Lord, we know that only Christ is totally righteous. Our righteousness is a transferred righteousness that comes from Him, a legal righteousness. We are declared righteous. Like Abraham, we believed and it has been counted to us as righteousness (Romans 4:3).
Lord, did David refer to this transferred righteousness or was he speaking of his living by faith before You – his practical righteousness which was greater than his enemies?
He was following You by faith and by God’s law whereas they (his enemies) were not.
We walk in holiness, in righteousness because You set Your love on us. Day by day, You help us put off our sinful ways and put on the new self through Christ (See Ephesians 4: 19 – 24).
Psalm 18:21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God.
Lord, You have caused the outworking of a measure of Your righteousness in me to help me walk even closer to You. You have helped me lay some of my sin aside. Although I need to walk ever more closely to You (Hebrews 12:1-2), yet You have brought me far nearer than ever before.
Psalm 18:22 For all his judgments were before me and I did not put his statutes from me.
Lord, by Your grace, I followed You and Your ways according to Your Word. You helped me seek You and walk with You according to Your Word.
Psalm 18:23 I was also blameless before Him and I kept myself from iniquity.
Lord, You alone make me blameless. You help me walk in holiness.
Psalm 18:24 Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.
Lord, You have weighed by Your scales and understanding, and by Your grace You have granted me kindness and mercy.
Growing in Prayer 