Psalms 18:17-32: a reflection

17He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me. 18They came on me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support. 19He brought me out also into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me. 20The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands, he has recompensed me. 21For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 22For all his ordinances were before me. I didn’t put away his statutes from me. 23I was also blameless with him. I kept myself from my iniquity. 24Therefore the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. 25With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect. 26With the pure, you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd. 27For you will save the afflicted people, but the arrogant eyes you will bring down. 28For you will light my lamp, LORD. My God will light up my darkness. 29For by you, I advance through a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall. 30As for God, his way is perfect. The LORD’s word is tried. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. 31For who is God, except the LORD? Who is a rock, besides our God, 32the God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect?

In this song of deliverance, David praises God for rescuing him from enemies too strong for him, and he uses two images that speak to our own struggles. For you will light my lamp, LORD, he says; my God will light up my darkness. And: by you, I advance through a troop; by my God, I leap over a wall. God lights his darkness, and gives him strength to overcome obstacles that would otherwise stop him, to leap over walls that seemed impassable. In his darkness and against his obstacles, God was his light and his strength.

Notice the two things David praises God for: lighting his darkness, and giving strength to overcome obstacles. When David was in darkness, God lit his lamp, gave him light in the dark. And when David faced obstacles that would have stopped him, walls that seemed impassable, God gave him the strength to overcome them, to leap the wall. God did not merely comfort David in his darkness and difficulty; he lit the darkness and gave strength to overcome. In the dark, God was his light; before the wall, God was his strength to leap it.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too face darkness and obstacles, and God can be our light and our strength. We can be in darkness, not knowing the way, unable to see; and we can face obstacles that seem impassable, walls we cannot get over. But God lit David's darkness and gave him strength to leap the wall. When you are in darkness, God can be your light, lighting your lamp and lighting up your darkness; and when you face an obstacle that seems impassable, God can give you the strength to overcome it, to leap the wall. Do not despair in your darkness or before your obstacles, as though there were no light and no strength; God lights the darkness and gives strength to overcome, as he lit David's darkness and gave him strength to leap the wall. Look to God as your light in the dark and your strength before the obstacles, trusting that he can light your darkness and give you strength to overcome what seems impassable, as he did for David.

Lord, in this song of deliverance, David praises you for rescuing him from enemies too strong for him, and he uses two images that speak to my own struggles. For you will light my lamp, LORD, he says; my God will light up my darkness. And: by you, I advance through a troop; by my God, I leap over a wall. You light his darkness, and give him strength to overcome obstacles that would otherwise stop him, to leap over walls that seemed impassable. In his darkness and against his obstacles, you were his light and his strength. Show me the two things David praises you for: lighting his darkness, and giving strength to overcome obstacles. When David was in darkness, you lit his lamp. And when he faced obstacles that would have stopped him, you gave him the strength to overcome them. You did not merely comfort David; you lit the darkness and gave strength to overcome. Take that to my heart, for I too face darkness and obstacles, and you can be my light and my strength. I can be in darkness, not knowing the way; and I can face obstacles that seem impassable. But you lit David's darkness and gave him strength to leap the wall. When I am in darkness, you can be my light; and when I face an obstacle that seems impassable, you can give me the strength to overcome it. Keep me from despairing in my darkness or before my obstacles, as though there were no light and no strength; you light the darkness and give strength to overcome, Lord. Help me look to you as my light in the dark and my strength before the obstacles.