Psalm 18:3
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.
I will call upon the LORD
This phrase begins with a personal declaration of intent, "I will call," which signifies a deliberate and conscious decision to seek divine intervention. The Hebrew root for "call" is קָרָא (qara), which implies not just a vocal cry but an invocation or proclamation. In the historical context of ancient Israel, calling upon the LORD was an act of faith and reliance on God's covenant promises. It reflects a deep trust in God's character and His willingness to respond to His people. The use of "LORD" in all caps indicates the Hebrew name YHWH, the personal and covenantal name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature.

who is worthy to be praised
This phrase acknowledges the LORD's inherent worthiness of praise. The Hebrew word for "worthy" is הָלַל (halal), which means to boast or to shine. It suggests that God's attributes and deeds are so magnificent that they naturally elicit praise. In the scriptural context, praising God is not just a ritualistic act but a response to His holiness, power, and love. Historically, the Israelites praised God for His mighty acts of deliverance, such as the Exodus, and His ongoing faithfulness. This phrase encourages believers to recognize and declare God's glory in their lives.

so shall I be saved from my enemies
The phrase "so shall I be saved" is a confident assertion of deliverance. The Hebrew root for "saved" is יָשַׁע (yasha), which means to rescue or deliver. This reflects a trust in God's ability to provide salvation and protection. The historical context of David, the psalmist, often involved literal battles and threats from enemies, making this a personal testimony of God's deliverance. For contemporary believers, this phrase can be understood as assurance of spiritual salvation and protection from spiritual adversaries. It underscores the belief that calling upon God and praising Him leads to divine intervention and victory over life's challenges.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The author of Psalm 18, David is expressing his trust and reliance on God. This psalm is a song of deliverance, reflecting on how God has saved him from his enemies.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The central figure in this verse, Yahweh is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal presence and faithfulness to His people.

3. Enemies
The adversaries from whom David seeks deliverance. These can be understood as literal enemies in David's life or symbolic of spiritual battles believers face.

4. Praise
The act of worship and adoration directed towards God, acknowledging His worthiness and power.

5. Salvation
The deliverance and protection that God provides, both in physical and spiritual contexts.
Teaching Points
The Power of Calling on God
Calling upon the Lord is an act of faith and dependence. It acknowledges our need for His intervention and His ability to save.

The Worthiness of God
God is worthy of our praise not only for what He does but for who He is. Our worship should be rooted in His character and faithfulness.

Deliverance from Enemies
While David faced physical enemies, believers today can apply this to spiritual battles. Trusting in God for deliverance is crucial in overcoming sin and temptation.

Praise as a Weapon
Praise is not just an expression of gratitude but a powerful tool in spiritual warfare. It shifts our focus from our problems to God's power.

Living in Assurance of Salvation
Confidence in God's salvation allows us to live boldly, knowing that He is our protector and deliverer.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does David's example of calling upon the Lord challenge your current approach to prayer and dependence on God?

2. In what ways can you incorporate more praise into your daily life, acknowledging God's worthiness?

3. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's deliverance. How can this testimony encourage others facing similar battles?

4. How does understanding the original Hebrew context of "salvation" deepen your appreciation for God's deliverance in both physical and spiritual realms?

5. What are some practical steps you can take to rely more on God's power rather than your own strength when facing "enemies" in your life?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Samuel 22
This chapter is a parallel account of Psalm 18, where David sings a song of deliverance after being saved from his enemies and Saul.

Romans 10:13
This verse echoes the theme of calling upon the Lord for salvation, emphasizing the universality of God's saving power.

Psalm 50:15
This verse reinforces the idea of calling upon God in times of trouble and His promise to deliver.
The Object, Nature, and Effect of PrayerSketches of Four Hundred SermonsPsalm 18:3
A Song of Thanksgiving in Review of a Troublous LifeHomilistPsalm 18:1-3
A Text that Looks Two WaysJ. Dolben, D. D.Psalm 18:1-3
David's Thanksgiving for His DeliveranceG. Lawson.Psalm 18:1-3
Have We Permission to Love GodN. Adams, D. D.Psalm 18:1-3
Jesus is My LovePsalm 18:1-3
Love to God PossiblePsalm 18:1-3
Shutting the Gates of DerryM. B. Hogg, B. A.Psalm 18:1-3
The Horn of My SalvationJohn Brown.Psalm 18:1-3
The Tale of a LifeJ. J. Stewart Perowne, B. D.Psalm 18:1-3
A Retrospect of LifeW. Forsyth Psalm 18:1-50
The Conqueror's Song of Praise and HopeC. Clemance Psalm 18:1-50
The Retrospect of a Life: a Sermon for the Close of the YearC. Short Psalm 18:1-50
People
David, Psalmist, Saul
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Cry, Enemies, Praise, Praised, Safe, Saved, Worthy
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 18:3

     8369   worthiness
     8640   calling upon God

Psalm 18:1-3

     5214   attack
     8618   prayerfulness

Psalm 18:1-50

     8609   prayer, as praise and thanksgiving

Psalm 18:2-3

     5292   defence, divine
     8031   trust, importance

Psalm 18:2-6

     8021   faith, nature of

Library
August 2. "Thy Gentleness Hath Made Me Great" (Ps. xviii. 35).
"Thy gentleness hath made me great" (Ps. xviii. 35). The blessed Comforter is gentle, tender, and full of patience and love. How gentle are God's dealings even with sinners! How patient His forbearance! How tender His discipline, with His own erring children! How He led Jacob, Joseph, Israel, David, Elijah, and all His ancient servants, until they could truly say, "Thy gentleness hath made me great." The heart in which the Holy Spirit dwells will always be characterized by gentleness, lowliness,
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

November the Eighteenth Exhilarant Spirits
"He maketh my feet like hinds' feet." --PSALM xviii. 31-39. I think of Wordsworth's lines, in which he describes a natural lady, made by Nature herself: "She shall be sportive as the fawn That wild with glee across the lawn Or up the mountain springs." And it is this buoyancy, this elasticity, this springiness that the Lord is waiting to impart to the souls of His children, so that they may move along the ways of life with the light steps of the fawn. Some of us move with very heavy feet. There
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Conviction of Weakness.
The soul in the state of abandonment can abstain from justifying itself by word or deed. The divine action justifies it. This order of the divine will is the solid and firm rock on which the submissive soul reposes, sheltered from change and tempest. It is continually present under the veil of crosses, and of the most ordinary actions. Behind this veil the hand of God is hidden to sustain and to support those who abandon themselves entirely to Him. From the time that a soul becomes firmly established
Jean-Pierre de Caussade—Abandonment to Divine Providence

Division of Actual Grace
Actual grace may be divided according to: (1) the difference existing between the faculties of the human soul, and (2) in reference to the freedom of the will. Considered in its relation to the different faculties of the soul, actual grace is either of the intellect, or of the will, or of the sensitive faculties. With regard to the free consent of the will, it is either (1) prevenient, also called cooeperating, or (2) efficacious or merely sufficient. 1. THE ILLUMINATING GRACE OF THE INTELLECT.--Actual
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual

He Explains and Refutes the Dogmas of Abaelard Respecting the Trinity.
He explains and refutes the dogmas of Abaelard respecting the Trinity. 1. We have in France an old teacher turned into a new theologian, who in his early days amused himself with dialectics, and now gives utterance to wild imaginations upon the Holy Scriptures. He is endeavouring again to quicken false opinions, long ago condemned and put to rest, not only his own, but those of others; and is adding fresh ones as well. I know not what there is in heaven above and in the earth beneath which he deigns
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

The King --Continued.
In our last chapter we have seen that the key-note of "The Songs of the King" may be said to be struck in Psalm xviii. Its complete analysis would carry us far beyond our limits. We can but glance at some of the more prominent points of the psalm. The first clause strikes the key-note. "I love Thee, O Jehovah, my strength." That personal attachment to God, which is so characteristic of David's religion, can no longer be pent up in silence, but gushes forth like some imprisoned stream, broad and full
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of David

Psalm 18:4. First Part. C. M. victory and Triumph Over Temporal Enemies.
1 We love thee, Lord, and we adore, Now is thine arm reveal'd; Thou art our strength, our heavenly tower, Our bulwark and our shield. 2 We fly to our eternal rock, And find a sure defence; His holy name our lips invoke, And draw salvation thence. 3 When God, our leader, shines in arms, What mortal heart can bear The thunder of his loud alarms? The lightning of his spear? 4 He rides upon the winged wind, And angels in array In millions wait to know his mind, And swift as flames obey. 5 He speaks,
Isaac Watts—The Psalms of David

Where to Carry Troubles
And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord.'--ISAIAH xxxvii. 14. When Hezekiah heard the threatenings of Sennacherib's servants, he rent his clothes and went into the house of the Lord, and sent to Isaiah entreating his prayers. When he received the menacing letter, his faith was greater, having been heartened by Isaiah's assurances. So he then himself appealed to Jehovah, spreading
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The victory of Unarmed Faith
'And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. 33. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. 34. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock; 35. And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

David's Hymn of victory
'For Thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that, rose up against me hast Thou subdued under me. 41. Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me. 42. They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the Lord, but He answered them not. 43. Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad. 44. Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, Thou hast
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Prayer Out of the Deep.
Hear my prayer, O God; and hide not Thyself from my petition. Take heed unto me and hear me; how I mourn in my prayer and am vexed.--Psalm iv. 1, 2. In my trouble I will call upon the Lord, and complain unto my God; so shall He hear my voice out of His holy temple, and my complaint shall come before Him; it shall enter even into His ears.--Ps. xviii. 5, 6. The Lord is nigh unto them that call upon Him; He also will hear their cry, and will help them.--Psalm cxlv. 18, 19. In the day when I cried
Charles Kingsley—Out of the Deep

The Ark among the Flags
'And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. 2. And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. 3. And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink. 4. And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. 5. And the daughter of Pharaoh came
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

This State of Prayer not one of Idleness, but of Noble Action, Wrought by the Spirit of God, and in Dependence Upon Him --The Communication Of
Some people, hearing of the prayer of silence, have wrongly imagined that the soul remains inactive, lifeless, and without movement. But the truth is, that its action is more noble and more extensive than it ever was before it entered this degree, since it is moved by God Himself, and acted upon by His Spirit. St Paul desires that we should be led by the Spirit of God (Rom. viii. 14). I do not say that there must be no action, but that we must act in dependence upon the divine movement. This
Jeanne Marie Bouvières—A Short Method Of Prayer And Spiritual Torrents

There are Some Things of this Sort Even of Our Saviour in the Gospel...
27. There are some things of this sort even of our Saviour in the Gospel, because the Lord of the Prophets deigned to be Himself also a Prophet. Such are those where, concerning the woman which had an issue of blood, He said, "Who touched Me?" [2431] and of Lazarus. "Where have ye laid him?" [2432] He asked, namely, as if not knowing that which in any wise He knew. And He did on this account feign that He knew not, that He might signify somewhat else by that His seeming ignorance: and since this
St. Augustine—Against Lying

Table of the Books of Holy Scripture According to Date.
HISTORICAL BOOKS. PROPHETIC AND POETICAL BOOKS. B.C. 4004 1689 Genesis 1529 Job Psalm lxxxviii. by Heman, the Ezrahite, (See 1 Chron. ii. 6) 1491 Exodus 1491 Leviticus 1451 Numbers Psalm xc. and (perhaps) xci 1450 Deuteronomy 1451 1427 Joshua 1312 Ruth 1120 Judges 1171 1056 1 Samuel Psalms, certainly vii, xi, xvi, xvii, xxii, xxxi, xxxiv, lvi, liv, lii, cix, xxxv, lvii, lviii, cxliii, cxl, cxli, and many more 1056 1 Chronicles Psalms, certainly ii, vi, ix, xx, 1023 Psalms
Charlotte Mary Yonge—The Chosen People

In the Present Crusade against the Bible and the Faith of Christian Men...
IN the present crusade against the Bible and the Faith of Christian men, the task of destroying confidence in the first chapter of Genesis has been undertaken by Mr. C. W. Goodwin, M.A. He requires us to "regard it as the speculation of some Hebrew Descartes or Newton, promulgated in all good faith as the best and most probable account that could be then given of God's Universe." (p. 252.) Mr. Goodwin remarks with scorn, that "we are asked to believe that a vision of Creation was presented to him
John William Burgon—Inspiration and Interpretation

Twenty-Third Lesson Bear Fruit, that the Father May Give what Ye Ask;'
Bear fruit, that the Father may give what ye ask;' Or, Obedience the Path to Power in Prayer. Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide: that whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He may give it you.'--John xv. 16. The fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much.'--James. v. 16. THE promise of the Father's giving whatsoever we ask is here once again renewed, in such a connection as
Andrew Murray—With Christ in the School of Prayer

Saved by Grace;
OR, A DISCOURSE OF THE GRACE OF GOD: SHOWING-- I. WHAT IT IS TO BE SAVED. II. WHAT IT IS TO BE SAVED BY GRACE. III. WHO THEY AEE THAT ABE SAVED BY GRACE. IV. HOW IT APPEARS THAT THEY ARE SAVED BY GRACE. V. WHAT SHOULD BE THE REASON THAT GOD SHOULD CHOOSE TO SAVE SINNERS BY GRACE RATHER THAN BY ANY OTHER MEANS. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. THIS admirable Treatise upon the most important of all subjects, that of the soul's salvation, was first published in a pocket volume, in the year 1675. This has
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Third Sunday after Epiphany
Text: Romans 12, 16-21. 16 Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men. 19 Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord. 20 But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Concerning the Sacrament of Penance
In this third part I shall speak of the sacrament of penance. By the tracts and disputations which I have published on this subject I have given offence to very many, and have amply expressed my own opinions. I must now briefly repeat these statements, in order to unveil the tyranny which attacks us on this point as unsparingly as in the sacrament of the bread. In these two sacraments gain and lucre find a place, and therefore the avarice of the shepherds has raged to an incredible extent against
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation

The King.
We have now to turn and see the sudden change of fortune which lifted the exile to a throne. The heavy cloud which had brooded so long over the doomed king broke in lightning crash on the disastrous field of Gilboa. Where is there a sadder and more solemn story of the fate of a soul which makes shipwreck "of faith and of a good conscience," than that awful page which tells how, godless, wretched, mad with despair and measureless pride, he flung himself on his bloody sword, and died a suicide's death,
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of David

Covenant Duties.
It is here proposed to show, that every incumbent duty ought, in suitable circumstances, to be engaged to in the exercise of Covenanting. The law and covenant of God are co-extensive; and what is enjoined in the one is confirmed in the other. The proposals of that Covenant include its promises and its duties. The former are made and fulfilled by its glorious Originator; the latter are enjoined and obligatory on man. The duties of that Covenant are God's law; and the demands of the law are all made
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

The Theology of St. Hilary of Poitiers.
This Chapter offers no more than a tentative and imperfect outline of the theology of St. Hilary; it is an essay, not a monograph. Little attempt will be made to estimate the value of his opinions from the point of view of modern thought; little will be said about his relation to earlier and contemporary thought, a subject on which he is habitually silent, and nothing about the after fate of his speculations. Yet the task, thus narrowed, is not without its difficulties. Much more attention, it is
St. Hilary of Poitiers—The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers

How is Christ, as the Life, to be Applied by a Soul that Misseth God's Favour and Countenance.
The sixth case, that we shall speak a little to, is a deadness, occasioned by the Lord's hiding of himself, who is their life, and "the fountain of life," Ps. xxxvi. 9, and "whose loving-kindness is better than life," Ps. lxiii. 3, and "in whose favour is their life," Ps. xxx. 5. A case, which the frequent complaints of the saints manifest to be rife enough, concerning which we shall, 1. Shew some of the consequences of the Lord's hiding his face, whereby the soul's case will appear. 2. Shew the
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

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