|
Psalms 18
Psalm 18
1. Introduction
David was "a man after JAH'S own heart," (1 Sam.13:14) not because he was perfect, or exceptionally intelligent or generous; but because he recognized and appreciated the true worth of Jahzrael's (Israel's) Maker JAH and was not ashamed to testify to this knowledge in public.
David was totally won over to JAH'S side. His songs are a record of prayer and praise amidst the most trying circumstances. So enthusiastic was he about his Maker that he personally composed some 73 psalms! You can be certain that for the past 2500 years somewhere on earth a song by king David is sung every Sabbath day. David is the greatest songwriter this world has ever seen. Let us study one of his songs.
David's Threefold Declaration
Psalms 18:1 - I will love thee, O JAH, my strength.
Verse 3 - I will call upon JAH, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
Verse 21 - For I have kept the ways of JAH, and have not wickedly departed from my Maker…24: Therefore hath JAH recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
2. JAH'S Amazement
Did you know that there are some things, which surprise even the Almighty? To be sure He knows the end from the beginning; but even so, there are a few things that greatly surprise Him: He wonders! He is astonished!
Isaiah 59:16 - And He (JAH) saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor:...
The Almighty was amazed when He discovered that no one was praying, no one was interceding - for themselves, for their families or for their countries. Are you amongst those who surprise JAH? To be sure you all believe in Him. You believe in prayer; but do you intercede?
3. The Circumstances / Prayer / Answer
Before we can pray with real effect, we must know something about the Most high, His character, His plans, His power and His personal interest in us. This comes with study and experience. Psalm 18 teaches us several lessons.
A True Believer
Verse 1 - I will love thee, O JAH, my strength.
Verse 3 - I will call upon JAH, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
His Plight
Verse 4 - The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of unrighteous men made me afraid. 5: The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
What David did when in trouble
Verse 6 - In my distress I called upon JAH, and cried unto my Maker: He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry came before Him, even into His ears.
JAH'S Response
Verse 7 - Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.8: There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.9: He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.10: And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.11: He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.12: At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.13: JAH also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.14: Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. 15: Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O JAH, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.16: He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. 17: He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.18: They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but JAH was my stay.19: He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
4. Reasons For Success
Why was David's prayer successful? Why did JAH answer him in such a dramatic way when millions pray with little or no effect? We know that JAH is no respector of persons (Acts 10:34-35). Then why did He answer David (a type of Messijah) in this astonishing way? The answer is given in verses 20-24. Let us study these verses because they contain the formula for answered prayer.
Secret No.1 - David obeyed JAH'S law
Verse 20 - JAH rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.21: For I have kept the ways of JAH, and have not wickedly departed from my Abbah.22: For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.23: I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. 24: Therefore hath JAH recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
Secret No.2 - David was Humble before JAH
Verse 25 - With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; 26: With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. 27: For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.28: For thou wilt light my candle: JAH my Maker will enlighten my darkness.29: For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my Maker have I leaped.
NOTE: Success in prayer comes in direct proportion to the supplicant's personal holiness. In other words, the more holy, righteous and humble a person is, the more likely are they to have prayers answered. Also note that the Most High reacts to people according to this unchanging principle mentioned in Galatians 6:7.
Galatians 6:7 - Be not deceived; JAH is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Let no one imagine that JAH has abandoned His methods of reacting to man's attitudes, or that He now responds in a new way. You may be sure that though He is a Person of infinite mercy and goodness, He still reacts to our prayers according to our attitudes and our willingness to forsake sin and do His will. The above verses prove this.
5. Blessings from JAH
In addition to answering prayer, JAH bestows many blessings on His Jahzarenes (Nazarenes or Saints). These blessings are listed below:
Strength and Perfection
Verse 32 - It is JAH that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
|
Spiritual Stability and Honour
Verse 33 - He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
|
Victorious in Battle
Verses 34 - 42 - He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of
steel is broken by mine arms. 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. 36 - Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my
feet did not slip. 37 - I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them:
neither did I turn again till they were consumed. 38 - I have wounded them
that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet. 39 -
For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast
subdued under me those that rose up against me. 40 - Thou hast
also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy
them that hate me. 41 - They cried, but there was none to save
them: even unto JAH, but he answered them not. 42 - Then did
I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them
out as the dirt in the streets.
|
Peaceful Authority
Verse 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.
|
Holy Vengeance
Verse 47 - It is JAH that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.
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.
|
Note: We Believers have absolutely no need to avenge ourselves. The Most High will take care of our enemies in His own time and in His own way. Let everyone note that:
For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith Jah. And again, JAH shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living JAH! (Hebrews 10:30-31)
6. In View Of These Facts
In view of these eternal truths, what should we do? Listen to king David:
Verse 49 - Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O JAH, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.50: Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.
7. Praise
Verse 46 - JAH liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the JAH of my salvation be exalted...
49: Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O JAH, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
One Love
For more info contact:
The Mount Zion Assembly of Jah
5 Kanarick Crescent
Toronto, Ontario M3L 1P3 Canada
647-231-9466
Email: zionofjah@gmail.com
|