Day 35: Psalms 18:40-50
Psalm 18:40 You have also given me the necks of my enemies, So that I destroyed those who hated me.
You have given Jesus the necks of His and Your enemies, and so You destroyed those who hated You. One day, King Jesus, every knee will bow and tongue will confess that You are Lord (Romans 14:11).
Psalm 18:41 They cried out but there was none to save, even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
There comes a time when there is no more help, no more deliverance. There is a powerful section in Ezekiel 14 which warns that even if three of the most righteous prayer warriors were to pray for stubborn Israel in its persistently unfaithful state, they would only deliver themselves and no one else (Ezekiel 14:12-23).
We sometimes have said, “They haven’t got a prayer,” to describe the last desperate situation of those who have repeatedly turned their back on the Lord. O Lord, keep us from such a state and deliver us before we get so far from You! Use us to deliver as many as You will allow!
Psalm 18:42 Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind. I cast them out like dirt in the street.
It will be over, O Lord. The day of judgment will come and justice will be served. The wicked will no longer rule over the righteous.
Psalm 18:43 You have delivered me from the stirrings of the people. You have made me the head of the nations. A people I have not known shall serve me.
O Lord, who is this, but Your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Though the nations rise against You and rebel, yet their stirrings are as nothing to You. Lord, one day all stirrings will cease. On that day Your command, “Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10)” will finally be kept.
You, Jesus are head of the nations – King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16). Some from every tribe and tongue and people and nation shall serve You, worship You and follow You (Revelation 5). You have elsewhere said to Jesus, “Ask of me and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance” (Psalm 2:8). You have given the nations to Jesus as an inheritance, and through Jesus You have brought the nations to our churches. They are Yours, O Lord, bring us all together, please, O Lord, for Your glory.
Psalm 18:44 As soon as they hear of me they obey me. The foreigners submit to me.
O Lord, You bring people from every nation to serve You, to follow You. They do Your will.
Psalm 18:45 The foreigners fade away and come frightened from their hideouts.
Lord, You are bringing them to their knees.
Psalm 18:46 The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
Oh, Lord, we have come to worship You, to honor You, to praise You. Help us to exalt Your name above the heavens.
You are our strong support and our shelter against the enemy. You are alive! Lord, exalt Your name in me, in us, in my family, my church, my neighborhood and beyond. In Jesus name, Amen.
Psalm 18:47 It is God who avenges me and subdues the people under me.
You have said, O Lord, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” Lord, let me leave these matters of vengeance in Your hand. O Lord, You know hearts, minds, goals and the sins of each person. You know the deceitfulness of our hearts, how we can be doing evil and think that we are doing good. O Father, this psalm must first and foremost mean Thy kingdom come — let us be subdued under Christ.
Psalm 18:48 He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me. You have delivered me from the violent man.
Lord, above all You delivered Your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus, from sin, death, and the grave. In Him is our victory. In Jesus, we win. Help us not fear what men may do to us.
Lord, in Your victory, help us cast down evil imaginations, vain thoughts, idle words, all that stands against You.
Lord, You have delivered us. To God be the glory. Lord, even if I die, my deliverance will come through Jesus – either You will take me home and my cause will be vindicated at judgment day, or You will deliver me in the land of the living so that others may see and honor You for Your glorious deliverance. My life is in Your hands, O Lord. Be it done to me according to Your will.
Psalm 18:49 Therefore, I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name.
Lord, You have delivered me and will deliver me and all Your people from around the world. You know how to hide and protect Your children from harm while preserving the wicked for judgment.
Psalm 18:50 Great deliverance He gives to His king and shows mercy to His anointed, to David and his descendents forevermore.
O Lord, how the lines have fallen unto Your servant in precious and pleasant places (Psalm 16:6). Enable us to praise You, to serve You, to love You as we should.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Growing in Prayer 