Psalms 18-22
What I Noticed Today (Psalms 18-22)
Psalm 18
Psalm 18 is a long psalm of praise by David after God had rescued him from the hands of his enemies and saved him from Saul. David recounts how God delivered him from certain death and destruction (vv. 4-19). The psalmist proclaims his faith in the Lord and states that God was rewarding him for his righteousness (vv. 20-29).
David rejoices in God’s perfect word, attributes his abilities and victories to God, and praises God for all the blessings in his life (vv. 30-50).
Psalm 19
David declares the Law of the Lord is perfect. The glory of the Lord is seen in nature (vv. 1-6). The Law of God is perfect and gives joy to the heart because it causes believers to lead righteous lives. The value of the Law of the Lord is greater than gold (vv. 7-11). David prayed for a complete cleansing so that he would be able to live a blameless life, forgiven for even hidden faults, and prevented from willful sin (vv. 12-14).
Psalm 20
Psalm 20 is one of the royal psalms. As David prepared to go to war, he stopped to pray and was joined by the congregation. The congregation and David make an intercessory prayer asking that God would give them protection and victory (vv. 1-5). David proclaims his trust in the Lord and the assurance of victory based on his faith that God would protect him (vv. 6-9).
Psalm 21
Psalm 21 is related to Psalm 20 and may have been written following the battle anticipated in Psalm 20. The Lord is praised for delivering the victory as an answer to prayer (vv. 1-7). Attention shifts to the congregation which now addresses the king, affirming that they knew he would defeat his enemies because they trusted in the Lord (vv. 8-13).
Psalm 22
Psalm 22 is a major shift in tone from Psalms 20 & 21. David now feels forsaken by God. Surrounded by enemies, he endures suffering and pleads with God to deliver him. David feels forsaken by God. Scorned by mankind, he still expects God to save him. Verses 1-5 are a lament, while verses 6-10 express confidence in God’s deliverance. David compares his enemies to ravenous lions and bulls whose constant attacks have drained his strength (vv. 12 -15). David then compares his enemies to scavenging dogs (vv. 16-18). David prays that the Lord will deliver him from his enemies and concludes with a notation that his prayers have already been heard (vv. 19-21). In the final section of the psalm, David addresses the congregation vowing praise to the Lord because the Lord had fulfilled His promise. Because of this, many future generations would turn to the Lord and worship Him (vv. 22-31).
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.