Psalm 18

1. (For the music director) This minstrelsy type poem/song was written by David, a devoted worshiper and loyal subject of the Creator God. He arranged this Psalm specifically to praise and glorify the Creator God who snatched him from being subservient to those who hated him and particularly from the power of Saul,

My Creator, I have very tender feelings toward You and am holding tightly to You.
2. The Self Existent One is my stronghold, staying alongside me to catch me and enable me to escape. He is my strong support and refuge where I flee for protection, my defense and the Power that keeps me free and strong.
(Reason given for writing Psalm)
3. I will specifically call, by His name, the Creator, to shine - which is how I will be set free from those hostile toward me.
4-5 Threats to kill surrounded me; people wore me out without helping me, giving me a lot of trouble. Tight demands surrounded me: traps set to kill me restricted my movements.
(Appeal for help)
6. From my cramped, tight situation I addressed the Creator God - my Supreme, Three-in-One God by Name - to free me. From His temple He listened intelligently to my intense appeal to Him for help.
(God's intensely passionate response)
7- 8 Then the earth shook violently, undulating in waves; the hills quivered intensely as God responded in His power. His emotions exhibited as smoke from His nostrils and as embers of fire blowing from His mouth kindling coals of fire.
9 He bent the heavens out of His way as He descended - though before Him was gloom.
10-11 He dispatched a heavenly being to attend Him. He approached with frequencies the speed of thought. At first He hid Himself by holding in His Light - thus being enveloped in an impenetrable, vapor like, cloud of darkness.
(Copulation)
12. Then His dark 'covering' exploded open producing a 'fire show' hailing stones and flaming embers.
13. The Creator's voice sounded like thunder rolling through the atmosphere producing visible effects hailing stones and fiery hot flames.
14. He sent out lightening bolts dispersing His enemies; shafts of His light greatly agitated them and put them in an uproar.
(Conception)
15. As this strong exhibition of Your presence was manifested, the very foundations of the world were revealed, O Self Existent One, as You breathed out divine Inspiration giving birth to new life.
16 - 17. From His high and elevated place He pulled me out of 'negatively charged' surroundings - snatching me from those who are hostile toward me and hate me, for they are too alert and cunning for me.
18 - 19. They anticipated my every move when I was discouraged, but the Creator God protected and sustained me. He set me free and equipped me because He delighted to be with me.
20. As I grew up My Creator weaned me and He has been allowing me more and more 'room' to make decisions according to my maturity level - which also empowers me to see more clearly as He sees.
21-22. I learned God's way of living and have not rebelled against Him. His system of government has been carefully explained to me and I have not turned from His revealed will.
(Adolescence - youth)
23. I became so fully in harmony with Him that it guarded me from doing anything amiss - other than His way.
(Adulthood)
24. My Creator has mentored me into a mature adult as I have stayed with Him - to see as He sees.
25 - 26. You, God, will treat a person who is kind and courteous, kind and courteously; to a person who has matured, you will respond in a mature manner; to those who see clearly you will enlighten them even more; to those who distort - think and act out of harmony with Your will - You will appear to them as unsavory and even as torturing them.
27. You are open with those who feel their need staying in community; but those who choose to act independent will be exposed and embarrassed.
(Parenthood)
28 -29. You, my Creator, ignite my passion; my heavenly Father and Mother illuminate everything in my heart, enabling me to quickly maneuver through intimidating opposition, and leap over any obstacles.
30. The way God does things is complete and what the Self-Existent One says agrees with His actions and protects everyone who unites and agrees with Him.
31. Is there any god except the Almighty, Self-Existent One? Is anyone a protection as the Divine Parents, the Supreme Diety?
(Defender)
32. Great Almighty Chief encompasses me - hugging me with strong arms and whirling me around in joy enabling me to see better in all 'directions' - as He puts me into His harmonious way of living.
33. He empowers me to leap forward, like a deer, to achieve my goals.
34. He urges me to use power and means I receive from Him in fighting to disperse (eliminate) even severe, negatively charged atmosphere by techniques I learn from Him.
35. God, You place your saving protection around me; Your stronger (male dominant) side supports me, and Your modest, (female dominant) gentle purity increases my confidence in You.
36. You have broadened my life experiences so I am no longer indecisive.
37-38. I went after those who hate me and confronted them: I didn't stop until they were vanquished; I didn't back off until the hateful spirit was subdued and destroyed and could not rise again: fallen under my approach.
39. You have encompassed me, hugging me with Your strong arms and dancing with me in joy, increasing my ability to 'see' in all 'directions' in preparation for this consuming engagement against those who are against me.
40. You have humbled and prostrated beneath me those who betrayed me. You have broken the necks of those who were hostile to me so I could eradicate and totally destroy this hateful spirit.
41. They yelled out loud for help, but no one - not even the Creator God - came to their rescue.
42. So I continued beating and breaking that hostility until it was like ashes blown away by the wind; like sticky mud, I washed it away from my life.
(Elderhood)
43. You slipped me away when others argued and wrangled. You put people in my charge I didn't previously know.
44. They listened to my instructions, yet these workers were disloyal to me: acting feignedly but not in harmony with me.
45. These kinds of people act foolishly, they will fail and will disgracefully and suddenly desert their responsibilities.
(Worship)
46 -47. My Creator lives; I reverently kneel in Your presence to exalt You, Almighty God, who has set me free and keeps me safe. You, God - my Strength and my Chief - will avenge what has happened to me and will subdue the people who were under me.
48. He slipped me away from those who betrayed me. Yes, You lifted me up above those who came against me: You snatched me away from those who were attempting to get unjust gain from me.
49. This is why I worship You - My Creator. With others I will sing of Your authority, honor and who You really are.
50. You give ever increasing victories to those in charge of Your family. You reveal Your beauty of character through Your Messiah to David and his family forever.