Psalm 18:1-27, Sunday school notes (unedited)
September 14, 2025 Psalm 18:1—27
Psalm 18:1—27 When do you feel like running away? How do people escape pressure?
· When things are out of my control
· When fear of the future hits
· Isolate
· Overeat
· Cry / nervous breakdown / give up & spiral down
· Quit job, marriage, friendships
Setting – Psalm 18
· A Messianic psalm – Psalm 18:46—50 references to David’s descendants and the God of Salvation
After the fact – song to the Lord on the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul
Consider Ukraine & innocent in Russia; Charlie Kirk’s family; Israel & Palestine; Iran & Israel; civil war in Sudan; India & Pakistan; Latin American cartels (POINT OUT “voices of Martyrs” map) --- I can’t imagine the mothers, the children, the fathers
Lamentations 1, Jeremiah 49 & 50
Psalm 18:1—6
Imagine singing this to God after He delivers you from ____________.
Consider: Right now, you might be in a difficult place and it’s hard to sing praises. Think back on God’s faithfulness and rescue in the past. How does that help?
Psalm 22:3 God inhabits the praises of His people.
Psalm 18:4—5 my thoughts this week … politics, Ukraine, death of Charlie Kirk
Psalm 18:7—15 How did God respond? Make Himself known?
Psalm 18:16—19 Read this personally.
· You reached down from on high and took hold of me.
· You rescued me from the powerful enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.
· My enemies confronted me in the day of my distress, but the LORD was my support.
· God, my God, brought me out to a wide-open place
· God rescued me because He delighted in me.
Psalm 18:20 – Wow! If God is rewarding me because of my righteousness, all I see is my sin. What kind of reward is that? I blow it all the time. I feel weak and impossible. I wonder why people I thought I was close with distance themselves. I hurt people and often don’t even realize I’ve said or done something hurtful. I’m critical. I’m undisciplined. And yet …
1 Corinthians 1:30 Jesus became righteousness for me.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For my sake, Jesus became sin so I might become the righteousness of God.
Romans 3:22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe
Galatians 2:16 No works of the Law justifies; I am justified by faith.
Philippians 3:9 I do not have a righteousness of my own based on my works. My righteousness comes from God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Psalm 18:20 – Read again!
Rather than seeing my see, God sees me as righteous because He looks at me through the screen / veil / covering of Jesus Christ!
MY CHOICE REGARDING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST IN ME
Psalm 18:21—24 Why do I choose to do righteous works? Why do I choose righteousness as my life’s guide?
Psalm 18:25—27 How does God reveal Himself?
Individuals
God
25 – the kind, the faithful
Merciful (Matthew 7:2)
25 – the blameless
Blameless
26 – the pure
pure
26 – the crooked
Astute; shrewd**
** thought: If a person insists in going devious ways in his dealings with God, God will outwit him, as that man deserves. (commentary from Enduring Word, David Guzik)
Leviticus 26:23-24 – If you are not reformed…If you walk contrary to God, then I will be contrary to you and punish your sins to 7 times.
There are rewards and natural consequences for walking with God in God’s ways; likewise, there are punishments and natural consequences for walking against God’s ways.
Psalm 18:27 (HCSB)
For You rescue an afflicted people,
But You humble those with haughty eyes.
NASB For You save an afflicted people, But You humiliate haughty eyes.
AMP For You save an afflicted and humble people, But bring down those [arrogant fools] with haughty eyes.
TLB You deliver the humble but condemn the proud and haughty ones.
NIV You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
NKJV For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks.
Humble: acknowledge one’s own unworthiness, dependence on God;
· understanding one’s own sin and limitations
· recognizing my total dependence on God’s mercy and kindness
Key Points:
1. God loves you and chooses to rescue you.
2. God sees you as righteousness when you have believed on Him and accepted Him as Lord and Savior.
3. God’s people choose to live righteously because they love God and want to bring Him glory.
Student Notetaking on September 14, 2025 Psalm 18:1—27
Psalm 18:1—27 When do you feel like running away? How do people escape pressure?
Setting – Psalm 18
· A Messianic psalm – Psalm 18:46—50 references to David’s descendants and the God of Salvation
· A song to the Lord on the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul
Read Psalm 18:1—6
Where does David turn when he feels overwhelmed?
How might you “rewrite” Psalm 18:1—3 in your own words? If you find it difficult with the situation you are in right now, think back to a time when you could praise God for His rescue? Do you believe you will be able to sing again?
Why should I praise God even when it is difficult?
Psalm 22:3 God _______________________________________________________________.
Psalm 18:7—15 How did God respond? Make Himself known?
Psalm 18:16—19 Read this personally.
· God, you reached down from on High and took hold of me.
· God, you rescued me from __________________ and _________________________, for they were too strong for me.
· My enemies confronted me in the day of my distress, but the ________was my support.
· God, my God, brought me out to ___________________________________.
· God rescued me. Why???? You_________________________________ in me.
Psalm 18:20 – Wow! If God is rewarding me because of my righteousness, what does it mean when all I see is my sin?
But …. (Draw lines to match the reference with the explanation of the righteousness God sees.
1 Corinthians 1:30
For my sake, Jesus became sin so I might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21
No works of the Law justifies; I am justified by faith.
Romans 3:22
Jesus became righteousness for me.
Galatians 2:16
I do not have a righteousness of my own based on my works. My righteousness comes from God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:9
This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
MY CHOICE REGARDING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST IN ME
Psalm 18:21—24 Why do I choose to do righteous works? Why do I choose righteousness as my life’s guide?
Psalm 18:25—27 How does God reveal Himself?
Individuals
God
25 – the kind, the faithful
Merciful (Matthew 7:2)
25 – the blameless
Blameless
26 – the pure
pure
26 – the crooked
Astute; shrewd** (shrewd: having astute or sharp judgment; wise, keen, piercing, judicious, penetrating, perceptive)
** thought: If a person insists in going devious ways in his dealings with God, God will outwit him, as that man deserves. (commentary from Enduring Word, David Guzik)
Psalm 18:27 (HCSB)
For You rescue an afflicted people,
But You humble those with haughty eyes.
Humble: acknowledge one’s own unworthiness, dependence on God;
· understanding one’s own sin and limitations
· recognizing my total dependence on God’s mercy and kindness
Key Points:
1. God loves you and chooses to rescue you.
2. God sees you as righteousness when you have believed on Him and accepted Him as Lord and Savior.
3. God’s people choose to live righteously because they love God and want to bring Him glory.