A Song of Deliverance
David's experience of deliverance in Psalm 18 teaches us to trust and depend on God as our Rock, Fortress, and Strength, and to call on Him for help in difficult circumstances.
Warren Wiersbe preaches on the importance of not creating problems and enemies but instead praying, living for the Lord, and representing Him in all we do. He highlights how David, in Psalms 18, celebrated victory over his enemies, acknowledging God as his deliverer when he called upon Him. Wiersbe emphasizes the personal connection with God by using nine different titles for Him, encouraging listeners to claim God as their own in times of need and trust Him for deliverance.
Text
Read Psalm 18:1-6
Psalm 18 celebrates David's victory over his enemies. Notice the inscription at the beginning. This is the song David sang "on the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul." David did not classify Saul as one of his enemies. Isn't that interesting? David was an enemy to Saul, but Saul was not an enemy to him.
We may not be able to prevent other people from being our enemies, but we can prevent ourselves from being enemies toward others. Our job is not to create problems and make enemies. Our job is to pray, to live for the Lord and to represent Him in all we do.
The Lord delivered David from all his enemies. The Hebrew language contains 23 different words for deliverance. The Jewish people knew something about deliverance. Throughout their history God had delivered them.
Who delivered David? God did. When did He do it? When David called upon Him. "I will love You, O Lord, my strength" (v. 1). As we look at verses 1-6, we find nine different titles for God: my God, my Rock, my Fortress, my Deliverer, my Strength, my Shield, the Horn of my Salvation, my Stronghold, the Lord. Don't let that little word my upset you. You must lay hold of God personally and say, "He is my God. He is my Deliverer. He is my Salvation." Who delivers you? The Lord. When will He deliver you? When you call upon Him. "I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies" (v. 3).
David learned how to trust God for deliverance. Although his circumstances were often difficult, God was his Stronghold, and David called on Him for help. Do you need deliverance? Is God your Deliverer? If so, you may call on Him for help.
Sermon Outline
- David's Experience of Deliverance
- God's Character and Attributes
- The Call to Trust and Dependence
- Calling on God for help in difficult circumstances
- Laying hold of God personally and trusting in His deliverance
Key Quotes
“Who delivered David? God did. When did He do it? When David called upon Him.” — Warren Wiersbe
“I will love You, O Lord, my strength” — Warren Wiersbe
“I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies” — Warren Wiersbe
Application Points
- We should pray, live for the Lord, and represent Him in all we do to prevent ourselves from being enemies toward others.
- We can trust and depend on God as our Rock, Fortress, and Strength in difficult circumstances.
- We should call on God for help when we need deliverance from our enemies.