Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb19960303.htm

PSALMS: DIARIES OF GODLY OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS
Psalm Eighteen: A Testimony To The Value Of DAILY Bible Reading
(Psalm 18:1-50)
  1. Introduction
    1. At a Bible teaching church like Nepaug, there is a continual emphasis on one's getting into the Bible and reading and applying it as a habit in life.
    2. How valuable is one's daily exposure to Bible reading? Is it a truly Biblical emphasis?
    3. Psalm 18:1-50 is king David's testimonial on the credibility of daily Bible reading:
  2. A Testimony To The Value Of DAILY Bible Reading, Psalm 18:1-50.
    1. David authored Psalm 18 as a testimonial when the Lord had finally removed all of his enemies, including Saul en route to gaining the throne of Israel (see introductory notes before ver. 1 in the English Bible).
    2. Verses 1-19 and verses 32-50 extol the greatness, grace and goodness of God who delivered David from his enemies and elevated him to leadership over Israel and even Gentile nations:
      1. Revealing that God was his Protective Cliff, Deliverer (Escape Route), Look-out Rock, Small Hand-held Shield and Strength of his Salvation (v.2), David detailed his being delivered from his enemies as an "underdog" in verses 1-19.
      2. Once delivered, David's enabling by God so as to reverse his former lot and pursue to dominate his foes is detailed in verses 32-50.
    3. Just WHY and HOW this turn of events in David's lot came to be is detailed in verses 21-31 as follows:
      1. David's Jahweh ("I Am"), or "LORD" as the English Bible translates it dealt requital and deliverance for David because he was righteous in his lifestyle, Ps. 18:21.
      2. The reason David was upright was because David had kept the ways of Jahweh so as to preserve the pathway of his life from perversion and avoid God's discipline, Ps. 18:22a with 23a where both "kept" and "preserve" are from the same Hebrew roots.
      3. The reason why David had kept Jahweh's ways was that God's judgments were "in front of me", v. 22a
      4. Thus, Jahweh blessed David as he was righteous "in front of" God's "eyes," or viewpoint, Ps. 18:24b!
      5. To understand the unique expression "in front of", we turn to Deut. 17:18-20 for an explanation:
        1. God gave instructions regarding the establishment and duties of a king in Israel in the Mosaic Covenant as recorded in Deuteronomy 17:18-20.
        2. In that passage, Moses dictated that Israel's kings to come were to write for themselves a personal copy of the Scriptures so that it would be with him so he could "READ IT ALL THE DAYS OF HIS LIFE FOR THE INTENT THAT HE MIGHT LEARN TO FEAR HIS JAHWEH ELOHIM (Lord God) TO HEED ALL OF THE WORDS OF THIS LAW AND THESE DECREES TO DO THEM . . , " (a literal translation of Deut. 17:19b,c).
        3. As a result of doing the law, the king would be humble, he would stick right on target with the will of God in his reign, and the end result would be a prolonged rule for him and his lineage, Dt. 17:20!
        4. Thus, by the expression "in front of" in Ps. 18:22a, David admitted to his obeying Deuteronomy 17:19 to the end that God had fulfilled His promises in Deuteronomy 17:20 to bless him!
    4. Aware of the implications of the Deuteronomy 17:20 promises of God, David closed Psalm 18 with his expectation that God will perform "loyal love to His anointed one, to David and his descendants forever."
Lesson: Psalm 18 is David's testimonial that God keeps His Word in Deuteronomy 17:18-20! As Israel's kings were to study Scripture DAILY to benefit thereby in thinking and hence action to do God's will, God's blessing flowing thereupon to the king and his lineage, so David, in keeping the Word DAILY before his eyes had seen God fulfill Deuteronomy 17:18-20 even over Saul's pressures!

Application: Since Romans 15:4 informs us that the Old Testament was written for our benefit, we would do well to practice DAILY reading of Scripture as David did as the means of learning to respect and obey God in order to see His blessing upon us and our CHILDREN as well! If we would want for us an d our children a weakening of oppressors, an establishment of meaningful personal influence with others and victory over afflicting relations with others, we will promote DAILY Bible reading!