Today’s post is part of our Psalm Saturdays series from guest blogger Robert Chamberlain. You can contact him by sending a message to  bobjc88 @ gmail.com. You can also find him at his new blog at www.roberlain.blogspot.com .

Psalm 18:25–50 (ESV)
25 With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
26 with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
27 For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.
28 For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness.
29 For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.
30 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?—
32 the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless.
33 He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights.
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.

The opening verses of this second half of Psalm 18 are echoed in the New Testament. How we relate to God is often how He relates to us. This doesn’t mean to say He’s only good to us if we’re good- impossible. But we can’t expect His mercy and forgiveness if we’re not merciful and forgiving ourselves.

God hates pride. He loves humility. The world calls vice virtue and virtue vice, but not God. If we want Him to set us free, we need to humble ourselves before Him.

God is the one who brightens up our lives. He is the light in the darkness. He is the victory in the battle and the strength for each hurdle.

God’s Word is true and His Way is perfect: follow Him! He’s a shield to us when we take refuge in Him. He’s a rock of strength who empowers us to walk in integrity. 

Although God is our Saviour, He also empowers us to fight for Him in the spiritual battle against the world, the flesh and the devil. He equips us with everything we need to help us to win the victory He’s already assured us of through Christ’s death and resurrection. Our spiritual enemies don’t stand a chance against us, by God’s might we will prevail!

God’s love is unfailing. He’ll never let us down. It’s only right that we rep Him to the world for His goodness to us. Every generation of His people is blessed.

“Oh Lord our God, we want to praise Your holy name, for in You we have the victory, and nothing can separate us from Your love. In Christ’s powerful name, amen.”

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