HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 857
PSAL M 18
page 487
2
Declare me innocent,
for you see those who do right.
3
You have tested my thoughts and examined
my heart in the night.
You have scrutinized me and found
nothing wrong.
I am determined not to sin in what I say.
I have followed your commands,
which keep me from following cruel and
evil people.
My steps have stayed on your path;
I have not wavered from following you.
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
I am praying to you because I know you will
answer, O God.
Bend down and listen as I pray.
Show me your unfailing love in wonderful
ways.
By your mighty power you rescue
those who seek refuge from their enemies.
Guard me as you would guard your
own eyes.*
Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
Protect me from wicked people who
attack me,
from murderous enemies who
surround me.
They are without pity.
Listen to their boasting!
They track me down and surround me,
watching for the chance to throw me
to the ground.
They are like hungry lions, eager to tear
me apart—
like young lions hiding in ambush.
Arise, O Lord!
Stand against them, and bring them
to their knees!
Rescue me from the wicked with
your sword!
By the power of your hand, O Lord,
destroy those who look to this world
for their reward.
But satisfy the hunger of your treasured
ones.
May their children have plenty,
leaving an inheritance for their descendants.
Because I am righteous, I will see you.
When I awake, I will see you face to face
and be satisfied.
18
For the choir director: A psalm of David,
the servant of the Lord. He sang this song
to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from
all his enemies and from Saul. He sang:
1
I love you, Lord;
you are my strength.
17:8 Hebrew as the pupil of your eye. 18:5 Hebrew Sheol.
18:10 Hebrew a cherub. 18:12 Or and lightning bolts; also
in 18:13.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and
my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find
protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
I called on the Lord, who is worthy
of praise,
and he saved me from my enemies.
The ropes of death entangled me;
floods of destruction swept over me.
The grave* wrapped its ropes around me;
death laid a trap in my path.
But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
yes, I prayed to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
my cry to him reached his ears.
Then the earth quaked and trembled.
The foundations of the mountains shook;
they quaked because of his anger.
Smoke poured from his nostrils;
fierce flames leaped from his mouth.
Glowing coals blazed forth from him.
He opened the heavens and came down;
dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.
Mounted on a mighty angelic being,*
he flew,
soaring on the wings of the wind.
He shrouded himself in darkness,
veiling his approach with dark rain
clouds.
Thick clouds shielded the brightness
around him
and rained down hail and burning
coals.*
The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded
amid the hail and burning coals.
• Protection
PS A LM 17:6-15
Despite the wonders of modern technology, many things haven’t changed
much in the last several millennia. The
world was a frightening, violent place in
David’s time, and it still is today. Who can
help but cry out to God after watching
the evening news filled with rape, murder,
and terrorism? The Bible tells us that God
is able to protect us, and we know that
sometimes he does in miraculous ways.
But the psalmist places his ultimate faith
not in physical protection but in the deep
and lasting assurance of God’s presence.
Is your eternal future protected by this
same hope?