Psalm 18:44 - Printer Friendly

ESV: As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me; foreigners came cringing to me.

NIV: foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.

NASB: As soon as they hear, they obey me; Foreigners pretend to obey me.

CSB: Foreigners submit to me cringing; as soon as they hear they obey me.

NLT: As soon as they hear of me, they submit; foreign nations cringe before me.

KJV: As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

NKJV: As soon as they hear of me they obey me; The foreigners submit to me.

David writes that foreigners chose to be in subjection to him as soon as they heard about his successful victories. This is a continuation of praise to God, for enabling David's success (Psalm 18:31–43).

Second Samuel 8:9–10 is an example of a foreign nation responding humbly to David upon hearing of his military success (2 Samuel 8:1–8). When Toi, king of Hamath, heard about David vanquishing Hadadezer's whole army. Toi dispatched his son on a diplomatic mission to David. Joram presented David with articles of silver, gold and bronze. That same chapter indicates that after David struck down 18,000 Edomites, he put garrisons throughout Edom, "and all the Edomites became David's servants" (2 Samuel 8:13–14).

When Jesus the Messiah rules the planet (Revelation 20:4–6), nations will bow before him and worship him. Zechariah14:16 promises, "Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come up against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts."

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.

Accessed 4/29/2024 9:10:28 PM