Psalm 18 Devotional

The God Who Reaches Down

“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters.”Psalm 18:16 (BSB)

Psalm 18 is David's song from the day the LORD rescued him from all his enemies, including Saul (18:1). It begins with a rush of names for God: rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, stronghold (18:2). Then David recalls how close he came to death, tangled in its cords and swept along by torrents (18:4-5). He called out, and God heard (18:6).

Then the scene erupts. The earth shakes, the heavens part, and God comes down in cloud, fire, and thunder (18:7-15). Yet the purpose of all that power is surprisingly personal. He reaches down, takes hold of David, and draws him out of deep waters (18:16). He brings him into a wide-open place because he delights in him (18:19). The God who commands the storm also lights a lamp in one man's darkness (18:28). The song ends with God's steadfast love to his anointed king and his descendants forever (18:50), a promise that finds its fullness in Jesus, the Son of David. God's strength is not distant power. It reaches down for his people.

To think about: Where do you need God's power to reach down into something personal and specific in your life right now?