Psalm 18:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water.

NIV: He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him-- the dark rain clouds of the sky.

NASB: He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds.

CSB: He made darkness his hiding place, dark storm clouds his canopy around him.

NLT: He shrouded himself in darkness, veiling his approach with dark rain clouds.

KJV: He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

NKJV: He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters And thick clouds of the skies.

Adding to his description of how the Lord delivered him from enemies such as Saul, David writes that the Lord covered Himself with darkness like thick rain clouds. Invisible to the human eye, the Lord was working out His purpose to rescue David. We cannot see God, but the eye of faith perceives that He has a purpose for our lives. Romans 8:28 assures us that all things, including hard trials, work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

Joseph, a major figure in the Old Testament, is a classic example of how God works behind the scenes. God's purpose for Joseph was to put him in high command in Egypt so he would save the lives of God's chosen people. When a severe famine struck that part of the world (Genesis 41:53–54), Joseph had already counseled the Egyptians to store grain in the years of bountiful harvest so it would be available in the lean years (Genesis 41:46–49). His wise plan kept the descendants of Jacob alive when they came to Egypt in search of grain (Genesis 42:1–3). Later Joseph reflected on his brothers' malicious treatment of him that had taken him from Canaan to Egypt (Genesis 37:23–28). Joseph remarked, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today" (Genesis 50:20). The Lord works in secret, mysterious ways, but His ways always lead to the right conclusion.

Psalm 18:1–19 expresses David's love for the Lord and his praise to God for delivering him from his enemies. This is very similar—perhaps an updated version—of David's song of praise recorded in 2 Samuel chapter 22. Psalms 3—5 recall David's prayer for deliverance from his foes and his trust in the Lord to deliver him from them. Psalms 48:1; 96:4; 145:3; and 150 also express praise to the Lord. An account of David's deliverance from his enemies is found in 2 Samuel 19—21. Other passages of Scripture that reveal God's deliverance of His people include Exodus 14; Joshua 10; Judges 7; 2 Kings 19:20–37; and Revelation 19:11–21.

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.