Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 18:3
I will call upon the LORD, [who is worthy] to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
3. Not merely a resolution or expression of confidence for the future ( I will call so shall I be saved); but the expression of a general conviction of God’s faithfulness to answer prayer; whensoever I call then am I saved &c. Cp. Psa 56:9. This conviction is based on experience, and illustrated by what follows ( Psa 18:6).
worthy to be praised ] Cp. Psa 48:1, Psa 96:4, Psa 113:3, Psa 145:3. Jehovah is the one object of Israel’s praise (Deu 10:21), and on Israel’s praises He sits enthroned (Psa 22:3). The keynote of worship is Hallelujah, ‘praise ye Jah,’ and the Hebrew title of the Psalter is Tehillim, i.e. Praises.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I will call upon the Lord – The idea here is, that he would constantly call upon the Lord. In all times of trouble and danger he would go to him, and invoke his aid. The experience of the past had been such as to lead him to put confidence in him in all time to come. He had learned to flee to him in danger, and he had never put his trust in him in vain. The idea is, that a proper view of Gods dealings with us in the past should lead us to feel that we may put confidence in him in the future.
Who is worthy to be praised – More literally, Him who is to be praised I will call upon, Jehovah. The prominent – the leading thought is, that God is a being every way worthy of praise.
So shall I be saved from my enemies – Ever onward, and at all times. He had had such ample experience of his protection that he could confide in him as one who would deliver him from all his foes.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 18:3
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised.
The object, nature, and effect of prayer
Few men have known more of the variegated scenes of human life than David.
I. Davids purpose. I will call upon the Lord. Here we have what he declares concerning the Lord–that He is worthy to be praised. By considering why we praise men we may be furnished with reasons why God is worthy to be praised.
1. We praise men for the beauty of their persons.
2. For the largeness of their minds. But what are all the intellectual attainments of mortals compared with the infinite mind of God?
3. For the benevolence of their hearts; for their tender sympathetic feelings towards the objects of distress. Then how much does God deserve our praise for His benevolence? This in God is universal, absolute, wonderful, and perpetual. His mercy endureth forever.
4. For the liberality of their actions. God scatters His gifts with a most liberal hand. That we may conceive how worthy God is to be praised, consider Him not only in His absolute, but also in His relative character. As a friend, a king, a father. Mans excellency is derived, Gods attributes and perfections are essentially His own.
II. Davids confidence. Or what he asserts relative to himself: His purpose was pious, rational, scriptural, necessary, and beneficial. He says, I shall be saved from mine enemies. This supposes–
1. That he had enemies.
2. That he was in danger from his enemies. And
3. That he had no expectation of saving himself. (Sketches of Four Hundred Sermons.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 3. I will call upon the Lord] When he was conscious that the object of his worship was such as he has pointed out in the above nine particulars, it is no wonder that he resolves to call upon him; and no wonder that he expects, in consequence, to be saved from his enemies; for who can destroy him whom such a God undertakes to save?
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Or, I did calland was saved. For the future tense is commonly used for that which is past. And this seems best to agree with the whole context, which is to praise God for mercies already received.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. to be praisedfor pastfavors, and worthy of confidence.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
I will call upon the Lord,…. In prayer, for fresh mercies, and further appearances of himself, and discoveries of his grace and favour;
[who is worthy] to be praised; for the perfections of his nature, the works of his hands, his providential goodness, and more especially for his covenant grace and blessings in Christ. The Targum is,
“in praise, or with an hymn, I pray before the Lord;”
agreeably to the rule the apostle gives, Php 4:6; and this prayer was a prayer of faith, as follows;
so shall I be saved from mine enemies: which was founded upon past experience of God’s goodness to him in distress, when he called upon him, as the next words show.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
3. I will call upon the praised Jehovah. Calling upon God, as has been observed elsewhere, frequently comprehends the whole of his service; but as the effect or fruit of prayer is particularly mentioned in what follows, this phrase in the passage before us, I have no doubt, signifies to have recourse to God for protection, and to ask by prayer deliverance from him. David having said in the second verse, that he trusted in God, now subjoins this as an evidence of his trust; for every one who confides in God will earnestly beseech his aid in the time of need. He therefore declares, that he will be saved, and prove victorious over all his enemies, because he will have recourse to God for help. He calls God the praised Jehovah, not only to intimate that he is worthy of being praised, as almost all interpreters explain it, but also to point out, that, when he came to the throne of grace, his prayers would be mingled and interwoven with praises. (393) The scope of the passage seems to require that it be understood as meaning, that giving thanks to God for the benefits which he has received from him in times past, he will ask his assistance by renewed supplications. And certainly no man will ever invoke God in prayer freely and frankly unless he animate and encourage himself by the remembrance of the grace of God. Accordingly Paul, in Phi 4:6, exhorts the faithful
“
in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, to make their requests known unto God” (Phi 4:6)
and to disburden their cares, as it were, into his bosom. All those whose prayers are not accompanied with the praises of God are chargeable with clamouring and complaining against him, when engaged in that solemn exercise.
(393) The word in the Hebrew text מהלל, mehullal, literally signifies praise. The ancient versions view the word not as denoting that God is worthy to be praised, which is the meaning attached to it in our English version, but as referring to the Psalmist’s resolution to praise God. The Septuagint reads, Αινων επικαλεσομαι Κυριον Kytov, “Praising I will call upon the Lord.” The reading of the Vulgate is the same, “ Laudans invocabo.” The Chaldee reads, “In a song or hymn I pour out prayers unto the Lord:” and the Arabic. “I will praise the Lord, and call upon him.” This is precisely the sense in which Calvin understands the words, “I will call upon the praised Jehovah.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(3) Presents a trifling verbal variation from Samuel.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
It is said of Jesus, that, in the days of his flesh, he offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears, and was heard, in that he feared. Heb 5:7 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 18:3 I will call upon the LORD, [who is worthy] to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
Ver. 3. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised ] Or, is the proper object of praises, because he is good and doth good, Psa 119:68 . David vows to praise him,
1. By loving him entirely.
2. By trusting in him steadfastly, Psa 18:1
3. By calling upon him continually, here, and Psa 116:2-3 , which psalm is very like to this (in the beginning especially) both for matter and method.
So shall I be saved, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
worthy to be praised. Figure of speech Antimereia. App-6, Pass. Part, put for Adjective. Hebrew the praised One.
So shall I, &c. Quoted in Luk 1:71.
saved = delivered (in the widest sense). Hebrew. yasha’.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I will: Psa 5:2, Psa 5:3, Psa 28:1, Psa 28:2, Psa 55:16, Psa 62:8, 2Sa 22:4, Phi 4:6, Phi 4:7
who: Psa 65:1, Psa 65:2, Psa 76:4, Neh 9:5, Rev 4:11, Rev 5:12-14
so shall: Psa 50:15, Psa 91:15, Luk 1:71, Act 2:21, Rom 8:31-39
Reciprocal: Psa 18:6 – distress Psa 96:4 – For the
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
18:3 I will call upon the LORD, [who is worthy] to be {b} praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
(b) For no one can obtain their request from God if they do not join his glory with their petition.