Psalm 18:47 - Printer Friendly

ESV: the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me,

NIV: He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me,

NASB: The God who executes vengeance for me, And subdues peoples under me.

CSB: God—he grants me vengeance and subdues peoples under me.

NLT: He is the God who pays back those who harm me; he subdues the nations under me

KJV: It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.

NKJV: It is God who avenges me, And subdues the peoples under me;

Another reason David praised the living God is found here. God took vengeance on David's enemies and brought nations into subjection to him (2 Samuel 8:1–8, 14).

Although David was hunted and persecuted, he did not take vengeance into his own hands. He trusted the Lord to do what was right. For example, Saul was the prior king of Israel and one of David's greatest enemies. In a chance encounter, Saul became an easy target in the cave where David and his men were hiding. David's men urged him to kill Saul, but David refused to do so. He said, to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD's anointed" (1 Samuel 24:6).

In his letter to the Romans the apostle Paul counsels us to leave matters in the Lord's hands when we are maltreated. He quotes the Lord as saying, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay" (Romans 12:19).

David witnessed nations submitting to him. This reference likely has a messianic implication. When Jesus returns to earth, nations will submit to Him. In Revelation 2:26–27 Jesus promises to give authority to overcomers to rule the nations. He points out that the Father has given Him authority over the nations.

Psalm 18:46–50 is the closing section of this song of praise. Here, David raises a crescendo of acclaim to the Lord. He addresses the Lord as his rock and the God of his salvation. Then he rehearses what the Lord did for him. Second Samuel 22:47–51 is a parallel passage. These words of praise were written when the Lord delivered David from his enemies and from Saul (2 Samuel 22:1). Romans 15:9–12 refers to praise to the Lord, and verse 9 quotes Psalm 18:49.

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.