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Psalm 18
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This chapter (Psalm 18) and 2 Samuel 22 are nearly identical.
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| 18:1
I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. |
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| 18:2
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my
strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation,
and my high tower. |
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| 18:3
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be
saved from mine enemies. |
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| 18:4
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me
afraid. |
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| 18:5
The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. |
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| 18:6
In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my
voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. |
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| 18:7
Then the earth shook
and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken,
because he was wroth. |
 "Then the earth shook
and trembled ... because he was wroth."
The earth shakes whenever God really gets mad.
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| 18:8
There went up a smoke
out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were
kindled by it. |
"Smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth"
Smoke comes out of God's nose and fire comes out of his mouth.
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| 18:9
He bowed the heavens
also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. |
God curved the heavens and came down to earth with darkness under his feet.
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| 18:10
And he rode upon a
cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. |
God rides upon cherubs and flies through the sky.
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| 18:11
He made darkness
his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and
thick clouds of the skies. |
Does God dwell in darkness or in light?
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| 18:12
At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones
and coals of fire. |
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| 18:13
The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice;
hail stones and coals of fire. |
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| 18:14
Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out
lightnings, and discomfited them. |
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| 18:15
Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered
at thy rebuke, O LORD, at
the blast of the breath of thy nostrils. |
"The foundations of the world were
discovered ... at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils." (The earth is set on firm foundations
and does not move -- unless God blows his nose.)
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| 18:16
He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
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| 18:17
He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for
they were too strong for me. |
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| 18:18
They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. |
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| 18:19
He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he
delighted in me. |
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| 18:20
The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the
cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. |
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| 18:21
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from
my God. |
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| 18:22
For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes
from me. |
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| 18:23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine
iniquity. |
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| 18:24
Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. |
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| 18:25
With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man
thou wilt shew thyself upright; |
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| 18:26
With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt
shew thyself froward. |
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| 18:27
For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks. |
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| 18:28
For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. |
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| 18:29
For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a
wall. |
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| 18:30
As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a
buckler to all those that trust in him. |
Is the law of God perfect?
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| 18:31
For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? |
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| 18:32
It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. |
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| 18:33
He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. |
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| 18:34
He teacheth my hands
to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. |
The God of peace teaches us how to kill our neighbors in war.
Is God warlike or peaceful?
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| 18:35
Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand
hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
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| 18:36
Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip. |
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| 18:37
I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again
till they were consumed. |
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| 18:38
I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under
my feet. |
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| 18:39
For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued
under me those that rose up against me. |
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| 18:40
Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy
them that hate me. |
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| 18:41
They cried, but there
was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. |
God sometimes refuses to answer those who
cry out to him, contrary to Pr.8:7 and the teaching of Jesus in Mt.7:8.
Can God be found?
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| 18:42
Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them
out as the dirt in the streets.
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| 18:43
Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast
made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve
me. |
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| 18:44
As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit
themselves unto me. |
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| 18:45
The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places. |
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| 18:46
The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation
be exalted. |
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| 18:47
It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. |
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| 18:48
He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those
that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. |
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| 18:49
Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and
sing praises unto thy name. |
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| 18:50
Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his
anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.
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