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Psalm 18:21
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
19He brought me out also into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands, he has recompensed me.
21For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22For all his ordinances were before me. I didn’t put away his statutes from me.
23I was also blameless with him. I kept myself from my iniquity.
Notice
Keeping YHWH’s ways and refusing to depart from him make faithfulness concrete: David speaks of conduct and allegiance to his God.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What would keeping YHWH’s ways look like in one choice before you today?
Write on thisHow do you understand David’s confidence in saying he has not departed from his God?
Write on thisWhat difference does the phrase “my God” make to how you read David’s claim?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Jeremiah 17:5The LORD says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man, relies on strength of flesh, and whose heart departs from the LORD.Departure from the LORD is the shared concern: David denies it, while Jeremiah warns against a heart that turns toward human strength.
Psalm 119:102I have not turned away from your ordinances, for you have taught me.Both speakers affirm that they have stayed with God’s ways, describing obedience through their refusal to turn away.
Psalm 26:1By David. Judge me, LORD, for I have walked in my integrity. I have trusted also in the LORD without wavering.David speaks with confidence about his conduct before the LORD in both psalms, affirming faithfulness and integrity.
Psalm 17:4As for the deeds of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.Both passages describe keeping to a path: the LORD’s ways here, and a path away from violence through God’s word.
Proverbs 8:32“Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.Keeping ways is shared language: David affirms keeping the LORD’s ways, while Proverbs pronounces blessing on those who keep wisdom’s ways.
1 John 2:19They went out from us, but they didn’t belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have continued with us. But they left, that they might be …Both texts speak of departure, though the psalm concerns leaving God and John describes people leaving the believing community.
Acts 24:16In this I also practice always having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.Both passages describe attention to conduct before God: keeping his ways in the psalm and maintaining a clear conscience in Acts.
Hebrews 3:12Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there might be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God;Departing from God is the shared danger: David says he has refused it, while Hebrews warns against falling away through unbelief.
2 Chronicles 34:33Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that belonged to the children of Israel, and made all who were found in Israel to serve, even to …Both passages describe faithfulness as refusing to depart from the LORD, with Chronicles recounting Israel’s service during Josiah’s lifetime.
1 Thessalonians 2:10You are witnesses with God how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe.Both speakers affirm upright conduct before God, with Thessalonians also naming the believers as witnesses to that conduct.
Psalm 119:10–11With my whole heart I have sought you. Don’t let me wander from your commandments.Both passages connect devotion to God with staying in his ways, one affirming faithfulness and the other asking help against wandering.
1 Samuel 15:11“It grieves me that I have set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments.” Samuel was angry; and he …David’s refusal to depart contrasts with Saul’s turning back; both passages connect following God with obedience to his commands.
Where this verse fits
Temptation. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The words “my God” keep obedience personal. YHWH whose ways David keeps is the same God who brought him out into a large place.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).