Psalms 18:20 - Meaning and Application

Here David takes comfort in his own integrity, and rejoices in the witness of his conscience that he had lived with godly sincerity, not guided by human cleverness (2 Corinthians 1:12). His rescue by God showed this clearly, and that was one of the great comforts of his rescue. His enemies had misrepresented him, and when his troubles lasted a long time, he may even have started to question himself. But when God openly took his side, David had both honor and comfort in his righteousness.

His deliverance cleared his innocence before people and freed him from the crimes falsely charged against him. He calls this God rewarding him according to his righteousness (Psalm 18:20, Psalm 18:24), meaning that God settled the dispute between him and his enemies according to the rightness of his cause and the innocence of his hands, despite the accusations of rebellion, treason, and sedition. David had often appealed to God about his innocence, and now God gave a just answer to that appeal, as he always will.

His deliverance also confirmed the witness of his own conscience, which he then reviews with deep satisfaction (Psalm 18:21-23). His own heart knew, and was ready to testify, that he had stayed firm in his duty and had not turned away from his God. Those who leave the Lord’s ways, in effect, turn away from God himself, and that is a wicked thing. Yet when we stumble many times, and make many wrong turns, but then return in repentance and keep walking in our duty, it should not be counted as a wicked turning away from God.

He also kept his eyes on the rule of God’s commands (Psalm 18:22). All of God’s judgments were before him. He gave attention to every one of them, did not reject any as unimportant, and did not resist any as too hard. He made it his care and business to live by them all. He did not push God’s statutes out of sight or out of mind. Instead, he kept them before him, unlike those who want to leave the Lord’s ways and so do not want to know them.

David also kept himself from his iniquity, and that showed he was upright before God. Constant care to avoid the sin that most easily traps us, and to weaken its power in our lives, is a strong sign of a right heart before God. As David’s deliverance cleared his integrity, so Christ’s exaltation cleared his, and forever removed the shame that was cast on him. That is why he is said to be justified in the Spirit, meaning shown to be righteous by the Spirit’s testimony and power (1 Timothy 3:16).

From this, David draws the rules of God’s government and judgment, so we may know not only what God asks of us, but what we may expect from him (Psalm 18:25, Psalm 18:26). Those who show mercy to others, though they themselves still need mercy and cannot rely on even their merciful deeds, will find mercy with God (Matthew 5:7). Those who stay faithful to their covenants with God, and to the duties that belong to their relationship with him, will find that he is faithful to all he has promised to be. Wherever God finds an upright person, he will prove himself an upright God.

Those who serve God with a clear conscience will find that the words of the Lord are pure words, fully trustworthy and deeply sweet. But those who resist God and live against him will find that he resists them and deals with them in kind (Leviticus 26:21, Leviticus 26:24). So David speaks comfort to the humble, who are wronged and bear it patiently, saying that God will save them. He speaks terror to the proud, whose eyes are lofty and who look down with scorn on the poor and godly. He also encourages himself: God will light his candle, meaning he will renew his comfort, lift his sorrowful spirit, and not leave him in gloom. God will bring him out of trouble and restore peace and prosperity. He will make his honor shine again, now that it has been dimmed. He will guide his path and make it clear, so he can avoid the traps set for him. He will light his candle for work, giving him a chance to serve God and the good of his kingdom among people.

Let those who walk in darkness and carry many discouragements take heart from these verses, and remember that God himself will be their light.