Psalms 18:3-4
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me;
English Standard Version (ESV)
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When David calls upon the LORD "worthy to be praised," he isn't just saying God deserves praise, but that his prayers will be intertwined with praise, drawing strength from God's past faithfulness. This means his confidence in being saved isn't just a future hope, but a present reality rooted in ongoing experience with God.
This psalm is David recounting a time of extreme peril, where he felt surrounded and overwhelmed by enemies and the very threat of death. He's not just stating a general trust in God, but describing a specific instance where, in his darkest hour, he cried out to God. The verses immediately following will detail the powerful, almost cosmic, way God answered his prayer and delivered him.
When you pray, do you focus only on what you need, or do you also bring your thanks? David shows us a powerful connection here.
David declares, "I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised." This isn't just a statement about God's character; it's a statement about his approach to prayer.
Prayer as Worship
Calvin points out that for David, calling on God includes the whole of His service. But here, the focus is on the fruit of prayer: deliverance. This shows prayer is about seeking God's help, especially in times of need.
The Power of Thanksgiving
But David adds a crucial element: "who is worthy to be praised." This means his prayers are not just requests but are interwoven with praise. He's remembering God's past faithfulness and goodness. This approach encourages us to bring our thanks with our petitions. As Paul advises in Philippians, we should make our requests known with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6). This combination makes prayer more confident and less like mere complaining.
What does it feel like to be surrounded by overwhelming threats? David uses intense imagery to show the depth of his trouble and God's powerful rescue.
David doesn't just say he had enemies; he uses vivid metaphors to describe the terrifying intensity of his situation:
Cords of Death
He speaks of "cords of death" and "snares of death" that compassed him about. This language evokes being tangled, trapped, and unable to escape, much like a hunter's snare. It highlights a feeling of complete helplessness.
Torrents of Wickedness
He also mentions "torrents of wickedness." This paints a picture of enemies rushing in with overwhelming force, like a flood threatening to drown him. The commentators suggest "Belial" here refers to wicked, lawless, and destructive forces, emphasizing the intense opposition he faced.
Understand the original words
mavet · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the end of physical life, often personified in the Old Testament as an enemy or a power that seeks to overwhelm the living.
Psalm 18, and this verse in particular, is David's powerful testimony, likely written during his reign after a period of intense struggle and deliverance. It highlights his deep trust in God, forged through a lifetime of facing life-or-death situations, from Saul's persecution to military battles and personal sin.
c. 1050-1000 BC
David's Early Life and Flight
David, as a young man, faces numerous enemies, including King Saul who persecutes him, and Philistine armies. These experiences forge his reliance on God.
c. 1010 BC
David Anointed King of Israel
After years of persecution and wandering, David is finally anointed king, fulfilling God's promise. His reign, however, is marked by ongoing conflicts and challenges.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
Reign of King David
David's rule is characterized by military campaigns to secure Israel's borders, suppress rebellions, and expand the kingdom. He faces constant threats from neighboring nations and internal strife.
c. 1000 BC
David's Fall and Repentance
David commits adultery with Bathsheba and arranges the death of her husband, Uriah. This sin brings severe consequences upon his household and kingdom, leading to profound repentance.
This passage echoes the Psalmist's conviction by instructing believers to bring their requests to God with thanksgiving, highlighting the inseparable link between prayer and praise when approaching God.
1 Samuel 17:45-47David's victory over Goliath demonstrates this principle in action, as he calls on the Lord, who is indeed worthy of praise, and is saved from his enemies by divine intervention.
Romans 8:31-32This New Testament passage powerfully affirms the security of believers in God's love, stating that if God is for us and delivered His Son for us, who can be against us, mirroring the confidence expressed in Psalm 18:3.
2 Samuel 22:4This is the parallel account of the same event in Samuel, underscoring the profound personal experience and theological truth David is proclaiming about God's deliverance.
Psalm 50:15This verse directly instructs the believer to call upon God in times of trouble, promising deliverance and praise, reinforcing the core message of Psalm 18:3.
calvinPsalms 18:3-6: "I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies."
- I will call upon the praised Jehovah, and I shall be saved from mine enemies. 4. The cords [390] of death had compassed me about; the torrents of wickedness [391] had made me afraid. 5. The cords of the grave [392] had compassed me about; the snares of death had prevented me. 6. In my distress I called upon Jehovah, and cried to my God: and he heard my voice from his temple, and my…
poolePsalms 18:3: "I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies."
Or, I did call—and was saved . For the future tense is commonly used for that which is past. And this seems best to agree with the whole context, which is to praise God for mercies already received.
When David calls upon the LORD "worthy to be praised," he isn't just saying God deserves praise, but that his prayers will be intertwined with praise, drawing strength from God's past faithfulness. This means his confidence in being saved isn't just a future hope, but a present reality rooted in ongoing experience with God.
This psalm is David recounting a time of extreme peril, where he felt surrounded and overwhelmed by enemies and the very threat of death. He's not just stating a general trust in God, but describing a specific instance where, in his darkest hour, he cried out to God. The verses immediately following will detail the powerful, almost cosmic, way God answered his prayer and delivered him.
This psalm is David recounting a time of extreme peril, where he felt surrounded and overwhelmed by enemies and the very threat of death. He's not just stating a general trust in God, but describing a specific instance where, in his darkest hour, he cried out to God. The verses immediately following will detail the powerful, almost cosmic, way God answered his prayer and delivered him.
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Divine Intervention
Despite this dire picture, David's confidence is in calling upon the Lord. The deep, poetic language isn't just for show; it's to emphasize how extreme his circumstances were, making God's deliverance even more remarkable. When human help fails and danger seems absolute, God's power is sufficient.
c. 970 BC
Death of David
David's long and eventful reign concludes. He leaves behind a legacy of faith, a united kingdom, and a collection of psalms that continue to inspire.
"I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me;" — When David calls upon the LORD "worthy to be praised," he isn't just saying God deserves praise, but that his prayers will be intertwined with praise, drawing strength from God's past faithfulness.…
