Psalm 18.
The depths of the sea became visible.
The foundations of the world were exposed at your rebuke, Lord, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
He reached down from on high and took hold of me.
He pulled me out of the deep water.
He rescued me from my powerful enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.
They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support.
He brought me out to a spacious place.
He rescued me because he delighted in me.
The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness.
He repaid me according to the cleanliness of my hands.
For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not turned from my God to wickedness.
Indeed, I let all his ordinances guide me and have not disregarded his statutes.
I was blameless towards him and kept myself from my iniquity.
So the Lord repaid me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanliness of my hands in his sight.
The word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
Please be seated.
Isaiah 40 tells us that the grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord stands forever.
And in Luke 1, we hear that no word from God shall be void of power.
Would you pray with me?
Oh Lord, by this same powerful word, please speak to your people.
Thank you that you're a God who watches over your people intently.
You hear our prayer.
You speak to us.
Please help us, Lord, by your spoken word, by scripture, illuminated by the Holy Spirit.
Help us to see Jesus Christ and to behold him, the author and perfecter of our salvation.
We ask this in his precious name.
Amen.
Well, there are times in life where something new is around the corner.
And we need comfort and hope.
There's no better source of comfort and hope than in the Psalms.
Maybe some of you, it's going to the next grade level in school.
And you just need to hear from someone who's been through that one.
I made it through that grade.
So shall you.
Maybe some of you are entering a new phase of life.
Those final years where your body is failing.
But you can hear or even read the testimony of an old witness.
The Lord was faithful to the very end.
You're going to make it.
The Lord sustained me every way.
And so shall you.
There are even some individuals and families who have really scary news.
Or a medical diagnosis.
Or even the fear of one coming around the corner.
To hear from another brother or sister.
The Lord was faithful to me when we got that.
And so shall God save you also.
In Psalm chapter 3 verse 8.
The psalmist declares salvation belongs to the Lord.
And in Psalm 18.
He opens up what this is like.
How salvation belongs to the Lord.
Would you look at verse 3 of Psalm 18 with me.
David says.
I will call upon the Lord.
Who is worthy to be praised.
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
Beloved congregation.
Of our Lord Jesus Christ.
My message for you today.
As you see God's salvation in Psalm 18.
You can find comfort and hope.
It's the same God.
Yesterday.
For David.
Today for you and me.
And forever.
And so shall you be saved.
First.
Why God can be trusted.
Three reasons.
Number one.
God can be trusted.
Because he has bound himself.
To his people.
By way of covenant.
What's a covenant?
A covenant.
Is more binding than a promise.
And it's more loving than a contract.
As someone had said.
How do we know this?
This Psalm is about God's covenant faithfulness.
If you look at the superscription.
What comes right above verse 1.
We're told this is a Psalm of David.
The servant of Yahweh.
And that designation.
The servant of Yahweh.
It's special.
There are many authors to the Psalms.
And only David receives this special title.
Students of the book of Psalm have noticed how this elevated title.
Servant of the Lord.
It confers elevated authority.
To declare the divine word.
And to lead God's people.
In a covenant relationship.
There is a Lord.
And a servant.
We can listen for this theme.
As the basis for David's prayer.
We also notice he's called.
The chief musician.
Or I'm sorry.
David is giving directions to the chief musician.
Can you picture this scene?
The temple is not yet built.
It's around a tabernacle.
And the people of God gather in the presence of the Lord.
Before them is the visible sacrament.
The shedding of blood.
And the promise of God's covenant faithfulness to his people.
That's the occasion.
And the chief musician is directed.
Implying there are many musicians.
But it's appropriate and pleasing to God.
When one gifted.
Musically gifted leader is delegated.
To facilitate the singing.
Of all God's gathered people together.
We read that.
The Lord is the one.
Who is addressed in this song.
David spoke this to the Lord.
The words of this song.
So it's a song that's to the Lord.
What's it called when we speak to the Lord?
It's a prayer.
We're singing a prayer.
In all the Psalms.
We see this theme delivered.
That God alone can save.
But we get rich texture.
And insights.
In every single Psalm.
That add to the glory of God.
And help our eyes to behold him.
What we see here is the occasion.
We're told it's the day that the Lord delivered him.
From the hand of all his enemies.
And from the hand of Saul.
And so it begins.
I love you.
Oh Yahweh.
Oh Lord my strength.
This word that he uses for love.
Is typically only used.
Of God's tender compassion.
For his people.
It's unique.
Especially to begin such a majestic Psalm.
To find it.
Describing a human being's.
Love toward God.
It's a resolute declaration.
Of intense love.
It conveys deep.
Intimate affection.
I love you.
Oh Lord.
My strength.
So we can trust God to save.
Because God has bound himself.
With this loving bond.
This covenant relationship.
To his people.
That's what David is calling.
All of God's people.
To celebrate.
And to pray.
The second reason.
God can be trusted to save.
Is because who God.
Has shown himself to be.
For his covenant people.
In verse two.
We have one of the longest.
Descriptions of the attributes of God.
Piled up.
Back to back.
In all of the Psalter.
The Lord is my rock.
And my fortress.
And my deliverer.
My God.
My strength.
In whom I will trust.
My shield.
And the horn of my salvation.
And my stronghold.
Someone pointed out.
There's always another and.
That can be added to the inventory.
Of Yahweh's faithfulness.
Our words will never be enough.
To describe how faithful God is.
When he uses the word.
For a rock.
In a fortress.
It conjures up visions.
Of a remote mountain stronghold.
In an inaccessible terrain.
The word fortress.
Is a word.
After which.
The mountain of Masada.
Was named.
And if you've read.
The Lord of the Rings.
What will come to your.
Your mind's eye.
Is Helm's Deep.
It's this.
Rock fortress.
That's impenetrable.
You will be safe.
Secure.
Behind this mighty.
Fortress.
God's called a deliverer.
That's one who rescues.
He's called.
A refuge.
And a shield.
Those are both.
Defensive.
Words.
But he's also called.
The horn.
Of my salvation.
The horn is.
An aggressive image.
It's offensive.
In Daniel chapter 8.
The Persian ram.
And the Greek goat.
They headbutt.
Their way.
To conquest.
The Lord's kingdom.
Is advancing.
And if you're behind.
His advancing kingdom.
You're safe.
Secure.
That's what David is painting.
With these words.
And the word.
Stronghold.
Is a high.
Unassailable.
Tower.
So God.
Can be trusted.
Because.
Who he has shown himself.
To be.
To David.
And to all his covenant people.
Through every generation.
The third reason.
God can be trusted.
Is because.
He hears the prayer.
Of his covenant people.
Notice the confidence.
Of David.
As he prays.
He says in verse 3.
I will call.
Upon the Lord.
Who is worthy.
To be praised.
So shall I be saved.
From my enemies.
He's introducing.
In verse 3.
That on the far side.
Of this.
Suffering.
And this affliction.
This hell.
That he's going to go through.
The Lord will save him.
But first.
He must cross through the valley.
Of the shadow.
Of death.
In Psalm.
I'm sorry.
In 1st Samuel.
Chapter 20.
Verse 3.
We have a narrative.
Describing how.
Saul was trying to kill.
David.
And David turns to.
His good friend.
Saul's son.
Jonathan.
And he says these words.
There is but.
A step.
Between me.
And death.
That's the reality.
Of what David was going to.
Going through.
And how is he going to describe this.
Poetically now.
Look at verse 4.
Of Psalm 18.
It says.
The pangs of death.
Surrounded me.
And the floods.
Of ungodliness.
Literally.
Belial.
Or the.
The floods.
Of demonic.
Powers.
Made me afraid.
In verse 5.
The sorrows of.
Sheol.
Or hell.
Surrounded me.
And the snares of death.
Confronted me.
You see how it escalates.
From verse 4.
Into verse 5.
This is a literary device.
Used in Hebrew poetry.
In verse 4.
There are chaotic.
Torrents of water.
Like a flood.
That drown him.
In destruction.
And he describes.
The cords of death.
Death.
As encompassing him.
The Hebrews.
Were land people.
So the Sea of Galilee.
Or the Mediterranean Sea.
These were terrifying.
Pictures of chaos.
And death.
You don't venture into those.
You stay on the good.
Terra firma.
And he says.
I'm flooded.
And as I'm.
I'm drowning.
In these waters.
These torrents of death.
The ropes.
Of death.
Are encompassing me.
They're all around me.
Now watch you go to the next level.
In verse 5.
The cords of hell.
Now they're not just around me.
They entangle me.
He's not only drowning.
But now he says.
He's swept over.
Drugged down.
And caught like a prey.
In a hunter's snares.
That's how he's poetically describing.
This valley of the shadow.
Of death.
One person commented.
That this description.
Of his suffering.
Smells.
Of the underworld.
And in that state.
In that mire.
In verse 6.
In my distress.
I called upon Yahweh.
And I cried out to my God.
And he heard.
My voice.
From his temple.
And my cry.
Came before him.
Even to his ears.
See the Lord is not distant.
From his people.
In their suffering.
God's faithfulness.
To his people.
It's more binding.
Than a promise.
More loving.
Than a contract.
God can be trusted.
Look at verse 6.
As we cry out.
From his temple in heaven.
The Lord.
Hears.
Our prayer.
Some of you.
Maybe.
Need to cry out.
To the Lord.
In such a way.
Today.
Call upon.
The Lord.
Cry out.
To our God.
Maybe for some.
It's been.
A long time.
Since you've.
Come before the Lord.
With confidence.
That he will hear you.
He hears.
The voice.
Of his people.
From his temple.
In heaven.
Your prayer.
Comes before him.
Even to his ears.
So our song.
Invites us.
Come ye sinners.
Poor.
And wretched.
Weak.
And wounded.
Sick.
And sore.
How can we go to him.
With such confidence.
Because Jesus.
Ready.
Stands.
To save you.
Full of pity.
Love.
And power.
For.
This truth.
Is declared.
In Micah.
Chapter 7.
Verse 7.
Therefore.
I will look.
To the Lord.
And I.
Will wait.
For the God.
Of my salvation.
My God.
Will.
Hear me.
This is why God.
Can be trusted.
To save.
Well what we see next.
Beginning in verse 7.
Is what God does.
To save.
What God.
Does to save.
Love.
This passage.
Celebrates.
How God.
Answered.
His covenant.
People's prayer.
Poetically.
In verse 7.
David says.
Then.
After I prayed.
The earth.
Shook.
And trembled.
I love the English translation.
It reeled.
And rocked.
In the Hebrew.
It rhymes that way.
As well.
The foundations.
Of the hills.
Also quaked.
And were shaken.
Why?
Because God.
Was angry.
Spurgeon.
Commented.
Nothing.
Makes God.
So angry.
As an injury.
Done.
To his children.
Oh parents.
You know what.
That's like.
Your child.
Gets hurt.
Your blood.
Starts to boil.
And when the Lord.
Sees his precious.
Child.
His servant.
On this earth.
Suffering.
Look at this description.
Verse 8.
Smoke went up from his nostrils.
Devouring fire.
From his mouth.
Coals were kindled.
What comes next in verse 9.
Can only be attributed to God.
Redeeming his people fully and finally.
Look at verse 9.
He bowed the heavens also.
And came down.
With darkness under his feet.
And he rode upon a cherub.
And flew.
He flew upon the wings of the wind.
A cherub is a celestial.
Winged beast.
The Lord made the heavens and the earth.
He made the physical realm.
And the spiritual realm.
And angels belong to the spiritual realm.
From scripture we know.
These are majestic.
Fierce.
And fear striking creations.
The cherub are also a symbol of God's redemption.
They're associated with the mercy seat.
Over the ark of the covenant.
There's the picture for the people of God.
Through his covenant.
The Lord comes down.
To save his people.
In verse 11.
We read that he made darkness.
His secret place.
His canopy around which.
The dark waters.
And the thick clouds of the sky.
Were covering him.
This thick darkness.
It hides.
The majesty of God.
From our eyes.
His majesty is indescribable.
It's ineffable.
And it's also a reminder of.
The curtain.
Within the temple.
That veiled the holy of holies.
The presence of the Lord.
From mere creatures.
Whose eyes couldn't handle.
Seeing the glory.
Of the majestic God.
God.
We read verse 12.
From the brightness.
Before him.
The presence of the Lord.
Is like purest light.
Blinding.
White.
Glory.
His thick clouds.
Passed.
With hailstones.
And coals of fire.
Verse 13.
The Lord thundered from heaven.
And the most high uttered.
His voice.
Hailstone.
And coals of fire.
Verse 14.
He sent out his arrows.
And scattered the foe.
Lightnings in abundance.
And he vanquished them.
The language that David is using.
Is describing.
Poetically.
Theophanies.
Of God.
Appearing.
Bending creation.
Bending the cosmos.
To save his people.
Now.
In 1st and 2nd Samuel.
Or in any of the other scriptures.
We don't ever get a description of.
David actually beholding.
A manifestation of God's glory.
David.
As far as we know from scripture.
Didn't get to see God.
In the way that Moses.
Or the people did at Sinai.
Not even necessarily.
The same way that.
Samuel.
Had with the previous generation.
But what David is doing.
Is using.
The covenant faithfulness of God.
Over all the centuries.
And saying.
This is my God.
When the Lord came down.
And saved me.
This is what God was doing.
For me.
No less than what God did.
Throughout redemptive history.
We can sing this.
In the same way.
Like we do in one of our hymns.
Thou rushing wind.
That art so strong.
Ye clouds that sail.
In heaven along.
Oh praise him.
Hallelujah.
The Lord reigns over all creation.
All creation.
Serves his purposes.
In redeeming.
And finally saving his people.
He will use.
All things.
For the good of those.
Who are the called ones.
According to his purposes.
David's describing God's might.
Over all the elements.
Back to the book of Exodus.
Remember.
These are the very.
False gods.
That the Egyptians worshipped.
That the Lord shows his supremacy.
Over.
The ten plagues.
He turned upside down.
These gods of the Egyptians.
To deliver.
To save his people.
It also describes.
What God did at Mount Sinai.
The earth shook.
The darkness covers them.
They tremble in fear of the Lord.
David knew.
This is my savior.
My deliverer.
Deliverer.
It's the same.
Covenant.
Keeping God.
For me.
This week.
I was so refreshed.
At the clarity of God's word.
After reading.
Some really thick commentaries.
On.
On Psalm 18.
And.
Doing my best to wrestle with it.
And.
Understanding the hard parts.
I just read this passage.
To my family.
And.
The eight year old.
Summed it all up.
Just as well as anyone else.
God.
Comes down.
To save.
That's what we read right here.
You see what God does.
To save.
As someone put it.
God moves.
The universe.
To answer.
His servants prayer.
He.
Unglues.
Creation.
To bend.
The heavens down.
To rescue.
His own people.
That's what God does.
To save.
And.
The next verses.
Show us what it's like.
Now from David's perspective.
To experience.
God.
Saving you.
And it's glorious.
Look at verse 17.
I'm sorry.
Verse 15.
Then the channels.
Of the sea.
Were seen.
The foundations of the world.
Were uncovered.
At your rebuke.
Oh Lord.
At the blast.
Of the breath.
Of your nostrils.
He sent from above.
He took me.
He drew me out.
Of many waters.
This is David's.
Salvation experienced.
God came from heaven.
There I was in the waters.
Being tangled up.
And drugged down.
But the Lord.
Rescued me.
I was under.
Those floods of destruction.
Distressed.
Hard pressed.
Claustrophobic.
And in verse 17.
God.
Delivered me.
From my strong enemy.
From those who hated me.
For they were too strong for me.
Verse 18.
They confronted me.
In the day of my calamity.
But the Lord was my support.
Verse 19.
He also brought me out.
Into a broad place.
He delivered me.
Because he delighted.
In me.
Maybe that's why it's easier for a child.
To understand the plain meaning.
Of God's salvation.
A childlike faith.
God came down to save.
You could ask this child.
This eight year old.
Why does God save?
Because I'm his child.
How do you know.
Your father will save you.
Because he delights in me.
Why?
Because I'm his.
Isn't our gospel.
So free.
So simple.
And yet so glorious.
Look at 18.
One more time.
The Lord.
Was my support.
Verse 19.
He brought me out.
Into a broad place.
He delivered me.
Because he delighted.
In me.
That's what it's like.
To experience.
God saving you.
But yet we have a problem.
It's that.
The enemy tells us.
There's nothing in you.
That God should delight in.
And if we look at.
Verses 20 and 24.
This accusation.
Becomes even more problematic.
What God's.
Salvation depends upon.
Is brought into question next.
Now.
Before we walk through these verses.
Would you notice how.
Verse 20.
And verse 24.
Share a common phrase.
He's referring to.
Clean hands.
In verse 20.
And then his clean hands.
In verse 24.
When this happens.
It's called a bracket.
And it means these verses.
Are stand together.
As a smaller passage.
And they're to be read together.
He's appealing to.
The purity of his hands.
Look at verse 20.
The Lord rewarded me.
According to my.
Righteousness.
In verse 20.
He prays for it.
According to the cleanness.
Of my hands.
He has.
Recompensed me.
Verse 21.
For I have kept.
The ways.
Of the Lord.
Has David really done that?
Has he kept.
The ways of the Lord?
Let's turn.
In your copy of God's word.
To 2nd Samuel.
Chapter 22.
2nd Samuel.
Tells us all about.
King David.
And his life.
And his rule.
As the king over Israel.
I want you to see this.
With your own eyes.
We read in chapter 22.
How David.
Spoke to the Lord.
The words of this song.
On the day.
When the Lord.
Had delivered him.
From the hands of all his enemies.
And from the hand of Saul.
That's the same introduction.
That we just had.
For Psalm 18.
And would you just take a moment.
And scan.
What comes next.
2nd Samuel.
Chapter 22.
Would you look now.
At verse 22.
Specifically.
David.
Prayed the song.
For I have kept.
The ways of the Lord.
And have not wickedly.
Departed from my God.
He's saying.
The exact same words.
In.
Chapter 22.
Of 2nd Samuel.
As he did.
In Psalm 18.
If you look.
One more chapter forward.
Now look at.
2nd Samuel.
Chapter 23.
That chapter.
Begins by saying.
These are the last.
Words.
Of David.
So at the very end.
Of David's life.
The end of his reign.
He's praying.
This same.
Psalm.
Psalm 18.
Almost.
Word for word.
All the way through.
But now.
Will you turn back.
11 chapters.
To 2nd Samuel.
Chapter 11.
And in chapter 11.
Here's where we have.
The account.
Of David's.
Most public.
Grotesque.
Sins.
Do you see the sequence.
David is able.
To sing.
Psalm 18.
At the end of his life.
After.
His public sin.
Against God.
His own wife.
The honorable.
Uriah.
And Bathsheba.
Has been exposed.
And fully dealt with.
He can still go back.
And sing.
Yahweh.
Has seen.
My hands.
And he's recompensed me.
By the cleanness of my hands.
How can this be?
How can God.
Who is righteous.
Recompense.
David.
According to his righteousness.
Like he prays.
I think this might be a.
Important lesson.
For all of us.
Especially those who have.
Known the Lord.
But yet battle that remaining sin.
In our lives.
We want hands that are.
Clean.
Before the Lord.
But yet we're so.
Aware.
Of the remaining sin.
In our lives.
Maybe it's more like.
Macbeth.
My English teacher.
In high school.
Made us memorize this.
Is this a dagger.
That I see before me.
The handle toward my hands.
Famously.
After.
Committing this murder.
They can't wash off.
The blood.
She says.
The smell of the blood.
Is still here.
And all the perfume.
Perfumes of Arabia.
Will not sweeten it.
What's done.
Cannot be undone.
This is what we think.
And what the enemy.
Accuses us.
But because of God's grace.
It's David.
And you and I.
No matter what we've done.
We can stand before God.
Trusting.
His promise.
That he will be faithful.
To his covenant.
Of grace.
And he will lead us.
To repentance.
And he will forgive.
Our sins.
He will give us.
Clean hands.
In Psalm 51.
Which is.
After his sin.
He confesses to the Lord.
And he prays.
The Lord make us.
White as snow.
Purify my heart.
Wash my conscience.
Clean.
I'm your child.
Please be faithful.
I need your grace.
When those who are in Christ.
Are accused by the enemy.
And what we're reminded of our sin.
The enemy wants us to run away from God.
And Psalm 18 teaches us.
You run to God.
God.
You trust him even more.
Not based on your merits.
But on his covenant.
Faithfulness.
Now David gives this testimony.
He says.
I have not done wickedly.
I have not wickedly departed from my God.
And so.
In this case.
With Saul coming to kill him.
In this instance.
David.
Did not take the life of the man.
That God anointed.
In this case.
He was sinless.
The spirit restrained him.
And he has not committed apostasy.
He's not said.
This God is making me run away.
And live as a refuge in my own country.
I can't follow this God anymore.
He's not departed from God.
And he does trust.
The Lord's rule.
The moral law of God is good to David.
Look at verse 22.
For all his judgments were before me.
See God graciously.
Reminded me.
Of what is good and pleasing.
And I did not put away.
His statutes from me.
And that's what the Holy Spirit does.
The Holy Spirit teaches.
God's people to love his law.
And to trust.
This alien righteousness.
Clean hands.
Given to us by God himself.
That's how in verse 23.
David can say.
I was blameless before you God.
And I kept.
Myself.
From my iniquity.
Calvin commented.
That God finds no righteousness.
In us.
To recompense.
Except.
What he has freely given.
To us.
But yet this tension remains.
Because the language is so strong.
Verse 24.
Yahweh has.
Recompensed me.
According to my righteousness.
According to the cleanness.
Of my hands.
I think this can be.
Understood.
At.
At two more levels.
One other level.
As it's declaring a principle.
And it's the same principle.
As Psalm 1.
As you walk.
With clean hands.
Before the Lord.
By the help of his spirit.
You will reap.
A peaceful life.
And as you rebel.
Against the Lord.
Rebel against his law.
And buck his authority.
Over your life.
Be prepared.
For consequences.
That will pile on.
That's one level.
But yet.
I believe.
Psalm 18.
Is still here.
To teach us.
Even more.
To point us.
Toward.
This principle.
In scripture.
That God's salvation.
Truly does.
Depend.
Upon his.
Anointed servants.
Righteousness.
God's salvation.
Depends upon.
Someone.
More holy than David.
Praying Psalm 18.
An anointed king.
More glorified.
More exalted.
Than David.
Pleading to the father.
Father.
And upon.
His.
Righteousness.
Recompensing.
The blessing.
That he secured.
For his people.
So if you'll do this with me.
Let's.
Read through.
Parts of this psalm.
One last time.
Together.
And let's.
Celebrate.
How our Lord Jesus Christ.
Alone.
Could ever satisfy.
What God's salvation.
Truly depends upon.
Under Adam's curse.
You and I.
We were tangled.
Like verse five.
In those cords of hell.
Drowning.
Swept over.
We're being drugged down.
In our sin.
We're caught.
And unable.
To save.
Ourselves.
Amen.
But as the scripture.
Tells us.
God.
Being rich.
In mercy.
Look at Psalm 18.
Verse 16.
He sent his own son.
From above.
In Zachariah's prophecy.
Upon seeing the Lord Jesus.
In Luke 1.
69.
We're told that God.
Has raised up.
A horn of salvation.
For us.
In the house.
Of his servant.
David.
God himself.
In the flesh.
Jesus.
Is the horn.
Of our salvation.
God's own word.
Interprets.
Psalm.
18.
For us.
He fulfills.
Verse two.
Of Psalm 18.
The anointed son of God.
And through him.
All of God's people.
Receive the final salvation.
Of God.
Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Proves.
What God has done.
To save.
In the person of our Lord Jesus.
God came down.
To save.
Only Jesus Christ.
Can perfectly sing.
Verse one.
I love you.
Oh Lord.
And only Jesus.
Can stand before the father.
And say.
Look at these hands.
These hands are clean.
These hands that were clean.
Were pierced.
To purchase.
My bride.
He was blameless.
He fulfilled.
All righteousness.
In the place of his people.
Therefore God.
In the words of verse 24.
God has recompensed.
Jesus Christ.
According to his righteousness.
According to the cleanness.
Of his hands.
God has said.
You.
And you alone.
Are holy.
In my sight.
And Jesus turns around.
In the covenant of grace.
He says.
My holiness.
Will be covering.
All of my people.
In the presence.
Of my father.
And when he looks out.
At my people.
My father.
Will only see me.
And my righteousness.
I am their rock.
I'm their fortress.
They're safe.
Secure.
In me.
Forever.
Romans 1.16.
Tells us.
That the gospel.
Of Christ.
Is the power.
Of God.
To salvation.
Who is this for?
For everyone.
Who believes.
For you too.
Dear friend.
See how lovely.
God is.
In Jesus Christ.
Believe in this salvation.
It's for you.
Our Lord Jesus.
Proved that God.
Can be trusted.
To save.
John Calvin.
Came to the same conclusion.
His comment was.
That David shows us.
In Psalm 18.
That David's reign.
Was an image.
Of the kingdom of Christ.
He shows us.
How the Messiah.
By the magnificent.
And incomprehensible.
Power of God.
Will always.
Be.
Victorious.
Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Trusted God.
Perfectly.
Even as our Lord.
Was.
Living his life.
Without a place.
To lay his head.
Foxes have holes.
But the son of man.
Son of God.
Has nowhere to even lay down his head.
And yet he could pray verse two.
The Lord.
Yahweh.
Is my rock.
And my fortress.
My deliverer.
My God.
My strength.
In whom.
I trust.
My shield.
And the horn of my salvation.
My strong.
Hold.
Jesus could pray verse three.
With his final breaths.
He called upon the Lord.
Who is worthy.
To be praised.
And even as he hung on the cross.
Shedding his innocent blood.
Pronounced innocent.
By the Greek ruler.
And by the criminal on the cross.
He prayed.
And God heard him.
God proved that he heard him.
Because when the Lord.
Released his spirit.
And his body.
Died.
The earth shook.
And great darkness.
Covered that place.
Our confession says.
Jesus descended.
To hell.
And through his suffering.
On the cross.
The spiritual darkness.
Of that great act.
Of redemption.
Jesus fulfilled.
Verse four.
The pangs of death.
Surrounded him.
He drowned.
In the flood.
Of Belial.
Of ungodliness.
Verse five.
The sorrows of hell.
Surrounded the Lord Jesus.
And the snares of death.
Confronted him.
That phrase.
The pangs.
Or the cords of death.
Is interpreted for us.
By Acts chapter two.
Verses 23 and 24.
Peter preaches.
God.
Who is.
Incarnate in Jesus Christ.
Innocent life.
Righteousness.
Manifest to us.
Whom you killed.
God raised him up.
Having loosed.
The pangs of death.
Because it was not possible.
That he should be held by it.
So Jesus could pray.
Verse 19.
He also brought me.
Out.
Into a broad place.
God the father.
Delivered his son.
Because God the father.
Delighted in Jesus.
Verse 19.
God brought his beloved son.
From.
Hell.
And the pangs of death.
Into the spaciousness.
Of heaven.
Looking.
Upon all of the earth.
As his dominion.
Crowned him.
With glory and honor.
And that's why we.
Can proclaim with confidence.
As Acts.
Chapter four.
Verse 12.
Does.
That there is no other name.
Under heaven.
Given among men.
By which.
We must.
Be saved.
In Titus chapter 2.
11 and 12.
For the grace of God.
That brings.
Salvation.
Has appeared.
To all men.
If God has.
Saved you.
You love him.
You can trust.
That God too.
Will.
Raise you with Christ.
Bring you to a broad place.
And make you to sit with him.
In heavenly places.
His courtroom.
Large.
Spacious.
Comfortable.
What is hope now.
By faith.
Will one day.
Be made sight.
And when the weakest believer.
Cries out.
In the name.
Of Jesus Christ.
You and I can trust.
That the same majestic God.
He mounts.
His chariot.
Of angels.
And he comes with infinite speed.
And matchless power.
To answer the prayers.
Of his people.
And to save you and me.
This is.
What we see in Psalm 18.
David saw this looking back.
We see this reading.
God's faithfulness to David.
And we can say the same as David.
So shall.
I be saved.
Because if Jesus is your Lord.
Then this God of Psalm 18.
Is your God as well.
And this is who God is.
And saving his people.
Is what God does.
Let's thank our great Savior.
Oh Father.
We praise you.
How you are the same.
Yesterday.
Today.
And forever.
We thank you that.
Our hands before you.
Have been washed clean.
And you look at us.
And you see a people.
Whose righteousness.
Depends on Christ alone.
How you've not given us.
What we deserve.
But you have recompensed.
Your son Jesus.
And we receive your grace.
Your blessing.
Through him.
We ask Lord.
That your Holy Spirit.
Will teach us more and more.
How your ways.
Are sweet.
And right.
May the righteousness of Christ.
Be always.
Before us.
We ask this for his sake.
Amen.