“Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.” (Psalms 18:49)

This Psalm speaks of David’s thanks and praises to God for delivering him from his enemies. David lists five reasons for saying “Therefore.” Note his five reasons:

Reason #1. “The LORD liveth” (Psalms 18:46):

David said the first part for his giving thanks unto the Lord among the heathen, and to sing praises unto His Name is because, “The LORD liveth.” See Revelation 1:18:

“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell (Hades) and (or even) of death (spiritual separation from God).”

In Luke 24:5-6, the two men (angels), which stood at the Tomb of Jesus, said to those who came to the tomb bringing spices:

“…Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here (in the tomb), but is risen…” (Luke 24:5-6)

In the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, “after” three full days and three full nights in the tomb, Jesus was raised from the dead (physically). As our Representative (the First Fruits), this revealed that He had defeated the devil:

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” (Hebrews 2:14)

That “death” is spiritual death.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12)

“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.” (1 Corinthians 15:21)

So by one man, Christ, came life. That is, salvation in Christ; redeemed from the law of sin and death; redeemed from the bondage of sin – from the Power of sin, the Penalty of sin, and the Punishment of sin (Romans 6:23); and one day, from the Presence of sin; when we leave this body, and receive our new body. All this was done by Christ in His Atonement for sin on the Cross:

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) (Also see Romans 3:24-25; 5:1-2; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 2:24.)

In His Resurrection, Christ was declared to be the Son of God with power:

“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” (Romans 1:4)

Therefore, when a person is regenerated by the Spirit, he experiences the Resurrection of Christ (Romans 6:4), to walk in newness of life, or in Christ’s life, for Christ is Eternal Life Himself (1 John 5:20).

David knew by faith. He could see Christ’s Resurrection; which he knew was the foundation of his own experience of being raised from deadness in sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1-5; John 6:63).

When a person, in regeneration, has the witness by the Spirit, that Christ is alive and that the regenerated are alive in Christ; then issues forth thanks and praises to Christ. For the regenerated person has the witness:

1. That he stands in the position of the Righteousness and Holiness of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1-2).
2. That nothing shall separate him from the Love of Christ; therefore, he is eternally secure in Christ (Romans 8:29-39).
3. That he is now a Temple of God; he is a son of God by adoption; therefore he is an heir of God (Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 4:1-7).
4. That because Christ lives, he lives forever and ever (1 John 5:20).
5. He knows he is “free” from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).
6. He knows he shares in the Victory of Christ (1 John 5:4).
7. Therefore, he is an overcomer and shall inherit “all these things.” (See Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 5:5; etc. Also see John 14:3; 17:21-24.)

David said the second part for giving thanks that the Lord, Jehovah (Christ) liveth, is that on the basis of this knowledge, David could say in his praise, “…Blessed be my rock (or my foundation; my hope) and let the God of my salvation be exalted (or praised)” (Psalms 18:46).

Reason #2. “It is God that avengeth me (overcomes my enemies),” (Psalms 18:47a)

It is Christ that defeated the devil, “…that through death (spiritual death; revealed by His physical death and resurrection) he (Christ) might destroy him (the devil) that had the power of death (spiritual death, or the bondage of sin, that separates from God), that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). (See Hebrews 2:15-17.)

Therefore, in Christ and His Work has our wrong (our sin) been made right, by Atonement for our sin in His own Body (Romans 3:24-25; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12-26; 10:1-22), as our Substitute (2 Corinthians 5:21). He did not excuse our sins; but He was judged in our place. In doing this, He defeated Satan. He went into the strong man’s house and defeated him; and took us (or redeemed us) out of his grip (spiritual death; the curse), and set us free. He avenged us by defeating the devil. He made it right in Reconciliation and Redemption; whereby we are Justified in His Atonement on the Cross. (This is Judicial Justification.) And this is made known to the sinner in Experiential Justification, when the sinner is regenerated by the Spirit.

Reason #3. “And subdueth the people under me.” (Psalms 18:47b)

David said, not only did God judge my enemies; even King Saul, for all the wrong he did to me. But He made the people (or Israel) submit to my kingship and authority.

So it is in Psalms 110:3, “Thy people (King Jesus’ people) shall be willing in the day of thy power…” The Day of the Power of Christ is when the Spirit regenerates a sinner and brings him to repentance, submission, and confession that Christ is both Lord and Master and Savior (Acts 2:33-36; Romans 10:9-10).

Reason #4. “He delivereth me from mine enemies:” (Psalms 18:48a)

David said, Not only did You avenge me and cause the people to submit to me; but You delivered me from mine enemies.

The first interpretation is that David is a type of King Jesus as the Suffering Servant of God, delivered by God from the devil and the enemies of the Cross. This deliverance was manifested in Christ’s Resurrection; which proved Him to be God with all power; victorious over death (spiritual death; as seen in His Victory over physical death), hell, and the grave. It was a complete and total and eternal Victory.

The second interpretation recognizes that David was also a saved sinner. Therefore, not only a type of Christ as King; but David, as a saved sinner, was also victorious in Christ’s (King Jesus’) complete and total deliverance from sin and death (spiritual). As Christ is alive for ever more; so are all that are “in Christ” (Romans 8:1, 29-39; John 10:27-30).

When a sinner comes to understand, by the witness of the Spirit in him, of this great and complete and total and forever deliverance from sin and death – it is then that this knowledge issues in thanks and praises to Christ, our Eternal Deliverer.

Reason #5. “Yea, thou (Christ, King Jesus, LORD, Jehovah) liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.”  (Psalms 18:48b)

David then, by the deliverance of God, was lifted up to the position of king. So it was with Christ. After Christ’s Resurrection, He was lifted up as God and King. In His Resurrection, according to Romans 1:4, He was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. (Also see 1 Corinthians 15:1-28, 57.)

So it is with the sons of God. We also, in regeneration, are lifted up to the position of son by adoption (Romans 8:14-16); which, being in Christ’s Resurrection, lifts us up above those that rise up against us; for God has delivered His Sheep from “the violent man” (that old serpent, the dragon, Satan, even the Devil).

David said in Psalms 18:49, “Therefore (on the basis on my total and complete deliverance in the LORD (or in Christ); from my enemies: sin and death and the devil) will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.”

Then David sums up his praise with verse 50, “Great deliverance giveth he (God) to his king (David, who typed out Christ); and sheweth mercy to his (God’s) anointed, to David (even to Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One), and to his (God’s) seed (all the Sheep) for evermore.”

The deliverance was to Christ, God in the Flesh, our King, our Substitute, and our Representative. This deliverance was to Christ, the Head of His Body, the Church. Therefore, all those “in Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:13) are receivers and participants in this total and complete deliverance in Christ. And this complete and total deliverance is forever more – for all Eternity!