Do you remember how I told you that I read Psalm 18 as a young woman so much that it disintegrated? It’s true! It’s missing from my old Bible, worn away from highlights, notes, tears, and coffee stains. In my new Bible, I’m always so delighted when I arrive at Psalm 18 as part of my “5 Psalms a Day” reading. Here are the parts that just make me love God so much. Consider the verbs of God (of course!) as He reaches down, draws us out, rescues, supports, and delights in us.
He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.
He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
I also love these verbs from a few verses later:
You, Lord, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.
I ask myself what feels “dark” that needs light. I ask myself where I need to advance against an obstruction in any way.
And finally–I just love this part of Psalm 18:
As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he causes me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You make your saving help my shield,
and your right hand sustains me;
your help has made me great.
You provide a broad path for my feet,
so that my ankles do not give way.
Consider the loving ways of the Lord and all He does for us.