Psalm 18:20-50

 Psalm 18:20-50

In hindsight we realize doing the right thing is always best.  How often do we look back on our righteous good behavior and say, “I wish I had been a lowlife”? In retrospect we see the goodness and beauty of righteousness.  We have a little more trouble seeing it in the future.  Psalm 18 is written from the hindsight perspective.  In verses 20 to 45, David recalls his righteous behavior, God's holiness, and God's provision for David's victory. and in verses 46 to 50 there is a brief but beautiful song of praise for God's deliverance.

All this is possible because David took a view of the beauty of righteousness in advance. There is a single line so small that it might escape our notice if we are not careful. In verse 23 David says he was blameless or complete or living in integrity, and he has kept himself from iniquity. Notice that David is self-aware; he knows where his problems lie. He is taking responsibility to be righteous. He isn't trusting society, circumstances, or people; he says, “my iniquity.” At this point perhaps David was acutely aware of a flaw in his character. Before we can enjoy the beauty of righteousness in hindsight, we have to see ourselves honestly.

“Lord, give me clarity as I look at myself. AMEN.”

Psalm 18:1-19

 Psalm 18:1-19

Many people, especially those with an ax to grind with God, say unimaginably stupid things like, “When I see God, I'm going to ask Him…” or “When I see God, I'm going to tell Him…” In the first half of this Psalm, the veil between the physical world and the rest of the universe is lifted for a moment, and quite frankly, it is terrifying.

After opening with his worship of God, David moves on to the reality of the extra-physical universe. David is convinced that he is at death's door and is about to be pulled into another world. Then God makes His presence known, and while He is good and holy, He is no less terrifying. The passage of verses 7 to 15 is a description of what we shouldn't read too quickly. We are terror-stricken by nature in a tornado or lightning storm. What if we saw mountains rolling like waves at the beach, or creatures we might call monsters being ridden like a horse, and a sky of fire, smoke, and oppressive darkness? 

No man will approach God and anything less than terror. The only defense we have is to see Him as our hero and rescuer rather than the One who will treat us as our sins deserve.

“Lord, help me to stand in awe of You. AMEN.”