Psalms 18:30

Here God's King is presented as victorious at last. David composed this Psalm "When delivered from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul." David had often been in danger of death, but he lived to prove deliverance out of all his troubles. Yet his history and personal salvation is not all that the Psalm celebrates. It really speaks of One greater than he... In David's case it was deliverance on earth before death. In the Lord's case He will appear triumphant as the risen One.

God's word had stood good all through, and the LORD Himself was a shield to those who trusted in Him. But now He gives strength and victory to His anointed for Israel from verse 29 to the end.

People may criticize God for delaying His judgment, or for the way He judges. Yet, "As for God, His way is perfect" (v. 30). Man's way is always crooked and twisted — a great contrast to the way of a God who rules over all and knows all. Closely tied to His way is "the word of the Lord." Every age has proved it stable, solid and dependable. And when His judgment is about to fall, what comfort there is in His word: "He is a shield to all who trust in Him." So His judgment is not against believers; it is on their behalf.

The Bible must be perfect. These are God's words, so they could not be anything else. All His works, in creation or in redemption, carry the stamp of perfection. "The law [or teaching] of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;" and "His way is perfect." (Ps. 18:30; Ps. 19:7.) We read again, "The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times," and that "Every word of God proves true." (Ps. 12:6; Prov. 30:5.) The Bible must be perfect, because... it comes from God.

Having its rest in God, faith brings His strength within the heart of the believer. God so becomes Himself the Shield of the soul that trusts in Him. He has made Himself, in Christ, our everlasting Refuge and Defence. Doctrinal knowledge is no shield. Faith is; and when it works, it brings the heart to depend completely on God.

Resignation. That is the lowest. Acceptance. That is not the highest, but it is one step above. Justification — being able to declare God right. To adore Him for everything He does. That is the highest.

It is very precious to know that God has the metal in His own hand. We see people putting heavy strokes where they should be light, and light where they should be heavy; few where there should be many, and many where there should be few. We are in divine hands, not in one another's. God once offered David a choice of three things. David said, "Let me fall into the hand of the Lord." He would rather be in God's hands than in the hands of the devil or his enemies. We are in the Father's hands. "The Father Himself loves you." He knows how long to keep His bit of gold in the crucible, and when to put it under the hammer.