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Psalm 18:43
You have delivered me from the strivings of the people. You have made me the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known shall serve me.
41They cried, but there was no one to save; even to the LORD, but he didn’t answer them.
42Then I beat them small as the dust before the wind. I cast them out as the mire of the streets.
43You have delivered me from the strivings of the people. You have made me the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known shall serve me.
44As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me. The foreigners shall submit themselves to me.
45The foreigners shall fade away, and shall come trembling out of their strongholds.
Notice
Foreign peoples serving David can be hard to read amid crushed enemies, even as he credits God with his rescue and rule.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
How does David's repeated “You have” shape the way you read his rise to power?
Write on thisWhat troubles you about the foreign peoples' submission in the surrounding verses?
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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
Isaiah 55:5Behold, you shall call a nation that you don’t know; and a nation that didn’t know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and for the Holy One of …Both describe previously unknown peoples responding to someone whose standing comes from God's action.
2 Samuel 3:1Now there was a long war between Saul’s house and David’s house. David grew stronger and stronger, but Saul’s house grew weaker and weaker.Both describe David's rise amid conflict, with Samuel recounting his growing strength and the psalm crediting God for his rule.
Isaiah 52:15so he will cleanse many nations. Kings will shut their mouths at him; for they will see that which had not been told them, and they will understand that which …Both concern nations responding to someone, though Isaiah describes cleansing and astonishment while the psalm describes service to a king.
1 Peter 2:10In the past, you were not a people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.Both speak of a changed relationship involving a people, though Peter describes receiving God's mercy rather than serving a king.
2 Samuel 19:9All the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the …Both place David amid strife among the people, with deliverance remembered against the backdrop of conflict.
Ephesians 1:22He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly,Both attribute headship to God's action and describe others being placed under that authority.
Psalm 18:16He sent from on high. He took me. He drew me out of many waters.Both credit God with David's rescue, one describing many waters and the other strife among the people.
Psalm 22:27–28All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD. All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you.Both extend their scope to the nations, though one describes service to David and the other worship before the LORD.
Romans 15:18For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,Both credit divine action for obedience among foreign peoples, though Paul describes Christ's work through his words and deeds.
Romans 15:12Again, Isaiah says, “There will be the root of Jesse, he who arises to rule over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will hope.”Both describe a ruler whose authority reaches beyond Israel, with Romans also speaking of the Gentiles' hope in him.
Acts 5:31God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.Both attribute a ruler's elevated position to God, while Acts names repentance and forgiveness as purposes of Jesus' exaltation.
Where this verse fits
Leadership weight. gratitude.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
David's song does not promise you victory over everyone who opposes you. In this account of a king's rescue and rule, God receives the credit.
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).