Псалом 18

The inscription and similarity of this psalm with other psalms of David confirms its origin from the latter. It is impossible to accurately indicate the time of writing due to the generality of its content. This psalm is a solemn hymn to God, as the Creator of the majestic external world and moral law, with which it complements the previous one, which also represents a hymn to God, but as the protector of the oppressed righteous. “Didn’t Kant remember this psalm when he said: there are two things that arouse constant amazement in me, the starry sky above my head and the moral law in my heart!” (Viguru, A Guide to Reading the Bible, vol. 2, first half, p. 477). The sky, majestic day and night, testifies to the glory of God before all living things (2–5). In this sky is the greatest luminary - the sun, which goes around, lives and illuminates the whole world (6-7). Just as the sun is beneficial for the earth, so the moral law of God is beneficial for man, purifying and revitalizing his spiritual nature (6–10), which is why it is superior to all earthly treasures (8–12). Therefore, David prays to the Lord to protect him from the action of sinful inclinations, which are often not consciously recognized by the person himself, but when developed and strengthened, can destroy him (13–15). Ps.18:2. The heavens proclaim the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims the work of His hands. The sky, covered with an endless number of luminaries, especially bright in the East, all this firmament located above a person’s head, clearly testifies to the extraordinary greatness and power of the Creator. Man knows that these luminaries are beyond his power; he sees their unusually harmonious flow and beauty. What else does all this speak of, if not the greatness of the creative glory of God, by the very fact of its existence!? Ps.18:3. Day imparts speech to day, and night reveals knowledge to night. These luminaries and the entire expanse of the firmament, day after day, from night to night, constantly and incessantly speak and preach about this greatness of God. Ps.18:4. There is no language and no dialect where their voice is not heard. The vault of heaven is everywhere, and therefore this sermon is everywhere. Whatever peoples (“pagans”) and tribes (“adverbs”) live on earth, and wherever they are, this voice is heard by all of them. The expression “no language and no adverb” is understood (Hengstenberg) in this sense: although these phenomena are silent, do not have the gift of speech, they everywhere eloquently, albeit silently, preach about the glory of the Creator. Ps.18:6. and it comes out like a bridegroom from his bridal chamber, rejoicing like a giant to run the race: Ps.18:7. from the edge of heaven is his departure, and his march to their edge, and nothing is hidden from his warmth. Of the luminaries, especially majestic in the starry sky, the sun stands out, which comes out every day, “from the edge of heaven” - from the east, in extraordinary radiance, reminiscent of a groom in his attire, or a “giant”, a warrior going to a running competition. It goes around the entire earth and nothing can hide from its warmth and light: it warms and lives everything. Ps.19:8. The law of the Lord is perfect, strengthens the soul; The revelation of the Lord is true, making wise the simple. Ps.18:9. The commandments of the Lord are righteous and gladden the heart; The commandment of the Lord is bright, it enlightens the eyes. Ps.18:10. The fear of the Lord is pure and endures forever. The judgments of the Lord are true, all are righteous; “The law of the Lord,” “revelation,” “the commandments of the Lord,” “the fear of the Lord,” “the judgments of the Lord” are synonymous expressions denoting the revelation of God given to man for his good. In this revelation, a person draws “strengthening” of the soul, since the Divine law always responds to its best, ideal inclinations and the authority of its highest origin sanctifies and strengthens a person in following them. As a revelation sent down to a person in various cases of life, which are difficult for a person to understand on his own, it “makes” a person wise, giving him true knowledge and understanding of objects and phenomena; the revelation “has joy in the heart,” since it says that the Lord sees everything and provides for everything; nothing good remains without His care and protection. – “Enlightens the eyes” is synonymously expressed as “makes wise.” Revelation, as given and originating from God, has nothing sinful in it, and therefore it is not subject to change or purification: it is eternal and unchangeable. In revelation lies the "truth"; therefore it is righteous. Ps.18:11. they are more desirable than gold and even much pure gold, sweeter than honey and drops of honeycomb; If such is the building and renewing power of revelation, it is clear that its givenness is immeasurably higher than any bars of gold and more pleasant than “honey”, higher than all external, material values. Ps.18:12. and Your servant is protected by them; in keeping them there is great reward. “Your servant” - David; “protected by them” - tries to coordinate his actions with the instructions of revelation and protect himself from deviating to sin. Ps.18:13. Who will see their mistakes? Cleanse me from my secrets Ps.18:14. and restrain Thy servant from those who are willful, so that they do not prevail over me. Then I will be blameless and pure from great corruption. In human nature, however, there are hidden, often unconscious, sinful attractions, there are sinful “thoughts” (“deliberate”). Both can go into action and lead to great “corruption”, to apostasy from God, if they prevail over a person. Timely understanding by a person of the true meaning of these drives and thoughts, as well as their destructiveness, protects him from sin. David prays to God for this possible early enlightenment, as an omniscient being from whom nothing is hidden. You might be interested in: