Psalm 18

David's long victory song, also in 2 Samuel 22. He's tangled in the cords of death, he cries out, and God tears open the sky to come down and pull him out of deep waters. The reason God gives is personal: "because He delighted in me." It's also a warrior's song with hard verses about crushing enemies, and David's claims of clean hands sit uneasily next to what we know of his life. It's honest about what David felt on that day.

"He brought me out into the open; He rescued me because He delighted in me." (Psalm 18:19)

Versions/Hebrew: "I love You" in 18:1 is erchamcha from racham [7355], the womb-love word usually used of God's compassion, not the ordinary ahav. In 18:35, "Your gentleness exalts me" is anvatcha [6037], Your humility or condescension; YLT has "Thy lowliness maketh me great." God stooping down is what lifts David.