The victory of the King is not limited to one battle, or a battle here and there. He wins the war, not just the fight. The third sector of this psalm has the King looking back and reminiscing, remembering how God made him strong for the battle, and how God reduced his enemies to windblown dust, and how the nations would come cringing before him and bowing low. The Lord gave the King such victory that peoples everywhere, even from lands he had not conquered, came and brought tribute to him.
If the imagery was not so bloody, if it were not delighting in trampling enemies into the dust, somebody might have built a praise chorus out of it. David praises the Lord here over and over, but he does so for giving him (David) vengeance, and for subduing people under him. Those themes don’t play well in praise choruses. More’s the pity. The Church needs a much wider palate for the things she sings.
Behold, Psalm 18, in which David the king sings in the voice of Jesus the King.
Here are the lyrics.
Psalm 18:34-50 ESV
34 He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me,
and your gentleness made me great.
36 You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.
37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
and did not turn back till they were consumed.
38 I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet.
39 For you equipped me with strength for the battle;
you made those who rise against me sink under me.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and those who hated me I destroyed.
41 They cried for help, but there was none to save;
they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them.
42 I beat them fine as dust before the wind; I cast them out like the mire of the streets.
43 You delivered me from strife with the people; you made me the head of the nations;
people whom I had not known served me.
44 As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me; foreigners came cringing to me.
45 Foreigners lost heart and came trembling out of their fortresses.
46 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation—
47 the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me,
48 who rescued me from my enemies; yes, you exalted me
above those who rose against me; you delivered me from the man of violence.
49 For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing to your name.
50 Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
to David and his offspring forever.
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