Psalm 18:28-50, Sunday school notes (unedited)
September 21, 2025 Psalm 18:28—50
Psalm 18:28—50
We’re picking up from last week. Just a recap:
1. David praised God after being delivered from Saul and all his enemies.
2. David had faced death, and he was terrified.
3. In David’s distress, he cried out to God.
4. God moved heaven and earth to rescue David.
5. God delivered David from his “strong enemy, the one who hated him.”
6. God rewarded David based on his righteousness: a righteousness based on David’s faith in God, not a righteousness based on his own works.
7. Because of God’s saving faithfulness, believers choose to live righteous lives and sign God’s light to others.
8. God will bless those who love Him, and He will humble those who do not.
Book, page 20-21. Remember this psalm is about Jesus. Call out phrases from verses 20-27 that describe Jesus.
20 --God rewarded Jesus for the cleanness of His hands, His purity.
21 – kept the ways of God, no wickedness
22 – kept God ordinances before Him, blameless
25 – kind, blameless; pure; astute / wise
27 – save afflicted people
Psalm 18:28—29
David declares in his prayer to God; you give me light/show me the way/with You I can do things I would otherwise not be able to do!
Psalm 18:30-35 David declares:
· God’s way is perfect. Without blame
· God’s word is pure. Is tried
· God is a shield to whom? Those who take refuge in Him
· God clothes me in strength.
· God makes my way perfect. Complete, having integrity
· God sets my feet securely on high. Like hinds’ feet, a deer’s feet**
· God trains my hands for war.
· God gives me a shield of salvation.
· God upholds me.
· God’s humility exalts me. gentleness*
· God widens a path below me. enlarges my steps so I do not slip
*David learned good lessons through the humbling afflictions; Less become more in God’s timing and training. “God’s humility” “God’s gentleness” “God’s condescension” taught David much.
What happens to me when God humbles me with his gentleness? When God makes me very aware of who He is compared to who I am?
SCIENCE LESSON: ** A look at a deer’s hooves
o Cloven hooves of keratin: excellent traction & support; ability to climb and make sharp turns on various terrains
o Keratin: same as fingernail, but harder than bones
o Pointed end allows them to dig into the ground
o Hooves are small; limited surface contact, so longer strides and greater speed
o Silent movement
o Strong enough to use for defense
** Hinds’ feet: symbolizes divine surefootedness, agility, and strength
Habakkuk 3:9
2 Samuel 22:34
More about deer & our connection with God:
· The female places her back feet in the exact spot as its front feet: certainty & precision; not faltering on rough terrain
· Overcoming obstacles: overcoming daunting challenges
· Divine support to face adversity
· Security & victory in high places
Psalm 18:37—38
Who are your enemies? David’s enemies were the Philistines, the Amalekites, other nations, and even King Saul. I don’t have any enemies compared to that. Sure, I might have difficult neighbors or family members, but I personally don’t have someone wishing to kill me. (I’ve often skimmed over verses 37-42 thinking this doesn’t pertain to me. I’m not in war.)
Yet, I do have enemies.
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, Sept. 18., speaks of the difference in the temptations facing people. Let me stretch here a bit – can we agree that temptations originate from a tempter … and God tempts no on! So, the tempter is our enemy.
Two types of temptations:
1. Blatant sin --- James 1:14 … tempted when one is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. These are the temptations for all people in this physical life: the temptation to sin; to do wrong things against God and man.
2. Sin after regeneration (Ezekiel – “I will give you a new heart.” After receiving the Holy Spirit at salvation)
Matthew 6:33 … seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
Colossians 3:2 …set your mind on things above, not on things of this earth
Proverbs 3:6… think about Him in all your ways and He will guide your path
This temptation is not based on a blatant lustful sin before salvation. Instead, as Chambers puts it, “Satan does not tempt us just to make us do wrong things—he tempts us to make us lose what God has put into us through regeneration, namely, the possibility of being of value to God. He does not come to us on the promise of tempting us to sin, but on the premise of shifting our point of view.”
So, if I think about my enemies in this light, as anything pursuing me and attempting to overthrow my pursuit of God … or to shift my point of view in life away from being valuable to God, then I can see my enemies.
So, what do I do with these enemies:
Psalm 18:37—38
· Pursue
· Overtake
· Do not turn back until they are wiped out
· Crush them “so they cannot get up”
· Cause them to fall beneath my feet!
I’m not just praying for God’s power to defeat enemies, protect me, keep me safe. I’m praying for God’s power in me to pursue the evil. Be on the offense.
Am I willing to ask God to show me the enemies in my life I need to pursue?
Psalm 18:39—45 God prepares me for the battle!
· All praise goes to God
· Clothes with dignity, subdued adversaries, made enemies retreat, annihilates those who hate me
· 41 – no one could save them; God is on my side
· 42 – I will … pulverize enemies, trample them
· 43 – God freed me, appointed me
Psalm 18:46—50 Praise Again! (This psalm opened and ended with praise. In between David sandwiched in testimony of God’s movement in his life.)
· God lives. (present tense!)
· God makes my way perfect.
Page 20, question 12 – How are verses 37-50 fulfilled in Jesus Christ?
Ecclesiastes 3:14
I know that all God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of Him.
Page 21, question 14 – What will you do next time you feel like running away?
Page 21, PRAY – cut out and save!
Student Notes: September 21, 2025 Psalm 18:28—50
Psalm 18:28—50
Psalm 18:28—29
David declares in his prayer to God:
Psalm 18:30-35 What else does David declare?
· God’s way is p . Without blame
· God’s word is p . Is tried
· God is a s to whom? _________________________________________
· God clothes me in s .
· God makes my w . Complete, having integrity
· God sets my feet s on high. Like hinds’ feet, a deer’s feet**
· God t my hands for war.
· God gives me a s of s .
· God u me.
· God’s h exalts me. gentleness*
· God w . enlarges my steps so I do not slip
*David learned good lessons through the humbling afflictions; Less become more in God’s timing and training. “God’s humility” “God’s gentleness” “God’s condescension” taught David much.
What happens to me when God humbles me with his gentleness? When God makes me very aware of who He is compared to who I am?
Psalm 18:37—38 Who are your enemies?
Oswald Chamber’s reflection on temptations: “Satan does not tempt us just to make us do wrong things—he tempts us to make us lose what God has put into us through regeneration, namely, the possibility of being of value to God. He does not come to us on the promise of tempting us to sin, but on the premise of shifting our point of view.” (Chambers: My Utmost for His Highest, Sept. 18)
1. Blatant sin
2. Sin after regeneration (the Holy Spirit coming into our lives at salvation)
Rethink, “Who are my enemies?” What is attempting to overthrow my pursuit and usefulness for God?”
So, what do I do with these enemies:
Psalm 18:37—38 (more than praying for God to protect me and conquer)
Am I willing to ask God to show me the enemies in my life I need to pursue?
Psalm 18:39—45 God prepares me for the battle!
Psalm 18:46—50 Praise Again! (This psalm opened and ended with praise. In between David sandwiched in testimony of God’s movement in his life.)
How do verses in this chapter point to Jesus Christ?
Ecclesiastes 3:14
I know that all God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of Him.
Page 21, PRAY – cut out and save!