April 29, 2022 - Psalms 18-24

Concerning his enemies, David wrote, “The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire. And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them” (18:13,14 ESV).

As David recounts the victories over his enemies, victories given to him by God, he praises the Lord and says, “For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall” (18:28,29). You have to wonder if the apostle Paul had David in mind when he wrote, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-13). Perhaps Thomas Sternhold had in mind both David and Paul when he wrote:

The Lord descended from above,

And bowed the heavens high;

And underneath His feet He cast

The darkness of the sky.

On cherub and on cherubim

Full royally He rode;

And on the wings of all the winds

Came flying all abroad;

And on the wings of all the winds

Came flying all abroad.

And from above the Lord sent down

To fetch me from below,

And plucked me out of waters great

That would me overflow.

(And me delivered from my foes)

That would have made me thrall;

Yea, from such foes as were too strong

For me to deal withal;

Yea, from such foes as were too strong

For me to deal withal. --Thomas Sternhold (1549)