Psalm 18

¹⁷        He rescued me from my strong enemy

 from those who hated me,

 they were too mighty for me.

¹⁸        They confronted me in the day of my disaster.

But the Lord was my support.

¹⁹        Also:    He brought me out into a broad place;

He rescued me,

He delighted in me.

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He Will Rescue

For the Lord’s Day:  the 25^th of April 2004

Introduction:  There is an interesting theory that two species are particularly dependent upon the regular care and nurture of mankind.  In the animal world, the domestic sheep is so described with an apt application of weakness. In the plant realm, the lowly crop of wheat is considered too weak to survive without the ongoing labors of mankind.  It has been a long time since I read the article that summarized the theory of weakness, but having worked with the animal in question – I am quite ready to admit the real frailty of the sheep, and knowing my father’s trouble in getting a good crop of wheat in any given year, could be persuaded of the latter crop’s dependence as well.

 

There are other species as well that seem to die out all too easily, with or without mankind’s assistance or negligence.  The Dodo bird comes to mind and then there is the story of a particularly sweet cultivar of Cantaloupe which was only served in the Waldorf-Astoria until the year when a colony of rats consumed the one and only seed cache!

 

Of course – given the ongoing frailty of the Old and New Covenant Church’s ability to remain true to the required covenantal framework – we should also add to this endangered species list:  the frailty of redeemed mankind were they left to the exigencies of the natural order alone and without any means of grace or kind administration from the Lord of Life Himself.

 

Here in the short verses of our Psalm selection for today, David claims on our behalf the really truly dangerous extent of the ordinary human habitation in the suburbs and precincts of Mount Zion itself.  I am reminded of Peter’s application of an ancient proverb when he observes:  “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”  Again, I remember a notation on the origins of the Great Welsh Revival in the 1850’s, that a minister was convinced to preach for revival after hearing another pastor’s sermon on the text:  “Woe to them who are at ease in Zion.”

 

Development:  We may certainly appreciate that there were few years in David’s life when there was much chance for any ease: spiritual or physical.  And we may note that this great hymn of David: in Psalm 18 is one that not only transcends time and place, but also personages as diverse as the original king, the King above all Kings and any obedient servants in our own time as well.  One of the interesting things about my retirement in the fall of 2001, is the fact that even as time became available to catch up with many years neglect for some papers and records, the necessary work of both Presbytery and congregation have multiplied somewhat.  And now with the potential of a small building project later this year – time seems a particularly valuable commodity: just when the economy is making the use of that time more difficult.  The recent retreat and seminar of last week were filled with ministrations of encouragement to fellow Presbyters and in turn receiving advice and counsel for future use.

 

But let us return to our chosen text that illuminates the unease in the heart of Zion’s greatest human king:  “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

 

Can we hear in David’s words the vivid description of total dependence upon the word and will of the Almighty Creator?  Verses seventeen through twenty must vividly demonstrate the totality of every saint’s dependence upon the goodness and kindness of God’s mercy if only in gaining our attention.  “Scarcely saved,” as David must realize it – because in the working out of his personal salvation David realizes the host of things that could have gone awry if he had been personally responsible.  Well does David understand the Apostle Paul’s admonition in Philippians 2: 12b-13 “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

 

Do we realize as David obviously does: how near a thing it was that we might have remained lost in sin and sadness for all of eternity?  Today, in the history books, World War Two was supposedly won with the invasion of the continent of Europe – and yet there followed the bloody battles of Normandy in the fall and then the vicious battles on the frontier of Germany before and after the greatest battle ever engaged by the American military:  The Battle of the Bulge.  Like the Great War of a generation earlier – both were near run things, even as every war remains.  Today’s temporary despair over Iraq is the opposite of the great elation and confidence of only a year ago.  It seems like no one remembers that at the end of World War Two – dozens and dozens of American military units were transformed to Constabulary organizations to govern and stabilize the German territories. An ongoing work of several years before all of the Nazi thugs and sympathizers were finally suppressed. Even now, the 3^rd Mechanized Division is being reorganized and transformed before being returned for further duty in another year.  Reconfiguration they are calling it.

 

Rebirth is by contrast the process that we know and love for the transforming work of the Holy Spirit being worked out in us day by day down through the years.  And yet, how seldom do we realize the great work that is necessary to be done?  At least David realizes what has been accomplished even if we are dull, dim and stupid in this respect.  Look at the high pitched emotion through which David is reminded of the great work of salvation being accomplished.

 

One advantage that David has over us is the fact that he understands the continual nature of being born again and for a purpose:  to give God the glory because of the great things He has done!  With the previous verse, the sixteenth:  Delitzsch observes “the hymn [had] reached the climax of epic description, from which it now descends in a tone that becomes more and more lyrical.” 

 

So we may understand that the verses before us bridge these early sections of the Eighteenth Psalm.  Here in these revelation is the transition to a sweetness of God’s kind and tender mercy little realized in human history.  From the despair in verse seventeen we transcend the ordinary history to discover the reason for God’s interest in us:  because “He delighted in me!”  It is this revelation with which we leave this section and move on to an elaboration of that great theme being developed in another week.

 

But, we have a ways to go to get there, so let us look at the original despair in verse seventeen:  “He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, they were too mighty for me.”  In that three fold description of spiritual despair David acknowledges the satanic strength of all those who opposed him because he was a servant of the Lord God.  It was only because of the superior power of the One who loved us, that David understands his salvation.  The enemy was so strong, even their hatred of God’s servants is highlighted – and finally, were it not for the help of David’s God, the enemies would have been too much for him. 

 

Calvin notes:  “The more to exalt and magnify the power of God, he directs our attention to this circumstance, that no strength or power of men had been able to prevent God from saving him, even when he was reduced to the greatest extremity of distress.”

 

Spurgeon advises us likewise “when we have been rescued, we must take care to ascribe all the glory to God by confessing our own weakness, and remembering the powers of the conquered enemy.”

 

These enemies are all of those, who like buzzards flock around the weak and the perishing even before death takes their soul to safety.  “They confronted me in the day of my disaster,”  David tells us, “But the Lord was my support.”  Within the last month or so, the neighborhood flock of buzzards has returned to their ordinary clean up duties.  It seemed to me that there were more than the ordinary  number carcasses of road kill along the neighborhood hills and vales, so there will be lots of overtime for nature’s clean up crew.  But David’s vision here is higher than the ordinary forces of nature because he senses the powers and principalities who advocate and advance the cause of evil.

 

In the production of our own political soap operas, we have known the devilish kin who flock abundantly to peck at any conservatives who provided ample witness to the fall of man, but these political buzzards are brazenly selective in their palate – leaving their liberal friends unaffected in their similar travail.  Old King Saul, David’s greatest adversary never knew the hazards of David’s heart, partly because he was not so grieved and more particularly because his wicked minions were more interested in making hay from David’s foibles and accidents.

 

The “day of my disaster” here we are not certain of, but David remembers the time well – when he was at his lowest level.  And his enemy took special note and we may suppose even glee in the desperate situation.  Yet, even as God protected Job from the worst tempests of any devilish brew – so too was David hedged in so well - that on several occasions the king could sing and testify: “A mighty fortress is our God.”

 

Application:  But the often revealed fact of God’s kind and constant support is not the end of the salvation story.  Before we get to three addendum to that wonderful proposition being worked out in some detail here, we must note a slight peculiarity in the text.  All of the ancient translations indicate the use of the word “also” in this twentieth verse.  Unfortunately, the translator’s place this in a most awkward manner.  So, therefore to give this word it’s proper emphasis, I have cast this verse much as I have the introductory verses of the last two weeks studies.  I have highlighted the emphasis: and let the three aspects of revelation in this verse stand in opposition to the definitive nature of the word in question.

 

 

 

“Also:      He brought me out into a broad place;

He rescued me,

He delighted in me.”

 

The addendum to the salvation history well known, understood and enjoyed by David sheds much light upon the true nature of the love of God given freely to His elect – the saints of both Covenant Churches.  The first line celebrates the biblical concept of enlargement, whereby in and by God’s free grace our future is enlarged beyond the ordinary limitations of every human life and condition.  Something happens beyond the ordinary evolution in wickedness with which the common man has always been plagued.

 

“He brought me out into a broad place,” David writes glowingly.  Have any of you seen an odd science-fiction movie called “The Cube”?  In that science fantasy, a handful of people are trapped in a series of cubes through which they travel hoping to find their way out.  Only at the end of the movie do any survivors gain escape to the ordinary world.  Close indeed is the selfish ordinary nature of Satan’s cold hearted calculations.  By great and amazing contrast – the world and all that is in it are transformed by the power of God’s interest in us and the love that he makes known.

 

The next phrase is ordinary in every sort of understanding regarding salvation history:  ”He rescued me.”  But the poetic sweetness in the last line for today should make the heart sing as it winds its way to heaven.  Why did God rescue me?  Because, as David notes well here:  “He delighted in me.”  Spurgeon notes here: “Free grace lies at the foundation.  Rest assured, if we go deep enough, sovereign grace is the truth which lies at the bottom of every well of mercy. …  Why Jehovah should delight in us is an answerless question, and a mystery which angels cannot solve; but that he does delight in his beloved is certain, and is the fruitful root of favours as numerous as they are precious.”

 

As a final admonition regarding our favor as well as the mighty work of God throughout both Covenantal periods: remember you read it here first.  “He delighted in me,” David tells us straight from the heart of God.  Let us treasure this revelation and give God the praise, honor and glory for every good thing He has done for us in this life and the next.  Amen.

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PREACHING RESOURCES

Calvin, John:  Commentary on Book of Psalms.

Delitzsch, F:  Commentary on the Old Testament – Psalms.

Spurgeon, C.H:  Treasury of David.

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