Psalm 18:43 - Printer Friendly

ESV: You delivered me from strife with the people; you made me the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me.

NIV: You have delivered me from the attacks of the people; you have made me the head of nations. People I did not know now serve me,

NASB: You have rescued me from the contentions of the people; You have placed me as head of the nations; A people whom I have not known serve me.

CSB: You have freed me from the feuds among the people; you have appointed me the head of nations; a people I had not known serve me.

NLT: You gave me victory over my accusers. You appointed me ruler over nations; people I don’t even know now serve me.

KJV: Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.

NKJV: You have delivered me from the strivings of the people; You have made me the head of the nations; A people I have not known shall serve me.

Ascribing praise to the Lord, David acknowledges that the Lord delivered him from political strife. Second Samuel 22:44—likely the initial version of this modified psalm—renders David's praise as, "You delivered me from strife with my people." The nation of Israel experienced incidents of civil war during David's life (2 Samuel 15:12–14). Yet God protected him and maintained his rule.

Further, the Lord brought Gentile nations into subjection to His anointed king, David. This verse has messianic overtones. Someday Jesus, David's most prominent descendant, will become Israel's king, and He will rule the nations from the throne of David. Isaiah 9:7 prophesies concerning Jesus: "Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this." Psalm 2:8 speaks about Jesus the Messiah's future rule over the nations. It says, "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession."

Psalm 18:28–45 celebrates the Lord's goodness to David during his wilderness experience (2 Samuel 22:1). Second Samuel 22:29–46 is a companion passage, and 2 Samuel chapter 8 features several of David's victories. Other passages that focus on the victory God gives His people are Romans 8:28–39, 1 Corinthians 15:50–58, 2 Corinthians 1:8–11, 2:14–17, Ephesians 6:10–20, Philippians 1:12–26, 1 Peter 1:3–9, and 1 John 5:1–5.

In 2 Samuel chapter 22, David expresses praise for all the times in his life where God gave him victory. That prayer or song is copied almost identically here. Psalm 18, itself, might have been adapted for use in public worship. David remembers dire situations where God rescued him. He dramatically recounts how God provided rescue and power. David also credits God with rewarding his obedience by making him a powerful and successful military leader. For these reasons, David commits himself to the praise and worship of the Lord.

This psalm is David's prayer to the Lord in which David praises the Lord for making him victorious over his enemies. Second Samuel 5, 8, and 10 are companion chapters, and 2 Samuel 22 provides another version of this psalm. Second Samuel 22:1 tells us David composed Psalm 18 on the day the Lord delivered him from his enemies and Saul. Second Samuel 19 reports David's victorious return to Jerusalem after David vanquished his enemies.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.