Psalm 18 22

Psalm 18:22 kjv

For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.

Psalm 18:22 nkjv

For all His judgments were before me, And I did not put away His statutes from me.

Psalm 18:22 niv

All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees.

Psalm 18:22 esv

For all his rules were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me.

Psalm 18:22 nlt

I have followed all his regulations;
I have never abandoned his decrees.

Psalm 18 verses

Psalm 18 22 Meaning

Psalm 18:22 proclaims the Psalmist's unwavering dedication to God's revealed will. It states that God's "judgments" (His righteous rulings and moral principles) were always held in plain sight and considered by him, and that he steadfastly upheld God's "statutes" (His appointed laws and ordinances), never discarding them. This verse serves as a foundational reason, explained in the preceding verses, for God's gracious intervention and deliverance on behalf of the Psalmist. It underscores that God's blessing and vindication are a response to a life genuinely committed to His commands.

Psalm 18 22 Context

Psalm 18 is a monumental psalm of thanksgiving by David, recorded both here and as 2 Samuel 22. It celebrates God's mighty deliverance from all his enemies, including King Saul. The psalm begins with David's passionate declaration of love for the Lord, his strength and deliverer (18:1-3). He recounts the depths of his distress and God's powerful, dramatic intervention on his behalf (18:4-19). Verses 20-24, of which verse 22 is a part, form a pivotal section where David reflects on the reason for God's extraordinary favor. He asserts that the Lord dealt with him according to his righteousness, the cleanness of his hands (18:20). He then elaborates in verses 21-24 how he had walked in God's ways, kept His statutes, and was not unrighteous, thus explaining his moral grounds for expecting God's vindication against his foes. This particular verse, 18:22, directly articulates the means of his righteous standing—a consistent and intentional adherence to divine law, contrasting himself with those who do not uphold God's righteous standards.

Psalm 18 22 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, ki): This is a causal conjunction, meaning "because" or "indeed." It explains why God acted righteously towards the Psalmist, building upon the preceding declaration that God repaid him according to his righteousness (Psa 18:20-21). It connects the Psalmist's internal disposition and actions directly to God's external blessing.
• all (כָּל־, kol): This signifies totality and completeness. It emphasizes that no part of God's revealed will was excluded from the Psalmist's consideration. It speaks to a comprehensive commitment rather than selective obedience.
• His judgments (מִשְׁפָּטָיו, mishpatav): From the root shaphat (to judge). These are God's divine decrees, rulings, and standards of justice. They represent God's moral governance, His established principles of right and wrong, and His judicial decisions. Keeping "judgments" before oneself implies a constant awareness and alignment with God's just character and ethical expectations in all matters.
• were before me (נֶגְדִּי הֵם, negdi hem): Literally, "before my face they [were]." This idiom indicates that God's judgments were always visible, actively present, deeply considered, and prioritized in the Psalmist's mind and conduct. They were not forgotten, ignored, or merely theoretical. This phrase conveys a proactive and continuous engagement with God's commands.
• And (וְ, ve): A conjunction that links the two clauses, showing that the Psalmist's consistent awareness of judgments and his active obedience to statutes are two facets of the same righteous life.
• I did not put away (לֹא־אָסִיר, lo-asir): This is the Hiphil imperfect form of sur, meaning "to turn aside," "to remove," "to depart from," or "to put away." The negation "lo" ("not") highlights a deliberate, conscious choice to not stray, remove, or abandon God's law. It suggests persistent loyalty and steadfastness.
• His statutes (חֻקּוֹתָיו, khuqotav): From the root chaqaq (to engrave, to ordain). These are God's appointed laws, ordinances, or fixed rules, often inscribed or clearly laid out. While sometimes overlapping with "judgments," "statutes" may emphasize the specific, prescribed forms of the law—both moral and ceremonial. Together with "judgments," they denote the entirety of God's covenant revelation.
• from me (מֶֽנִּי, menni): Indicates that these statutes were never distanced or separated from the Psalmist's person, life, or practice. They remained integral to his being and actions.

Words-group analysis:

• "For all His judgments were before me": This phrase encapsulates the intellectual and spiritual intentionality of the Psalmist. It speaks to a constant cognitive and emotional orientation towards God's righteous will, ensuring that no aspect of God's justice or moral code was overlooked or dismissed. It describes a heart that consistently sought to discern and align with divine truth.
• "And I did not put away His statutes from me": This complements the first phrase by emphasizing the volitional and practical aspect of obedience. It describes a determined adherence, a refusal to deviate from or cast aside God's established commands, even when difficult or inconvenient. It's an active commitment to live out the truth apprehended by the mind.

Psalm 18 22 Bonus section

The concept expressed in Psalm 18:22 prefigures the heart of the New Covenant, where God's laws are not merely external tablets but written "on their hearts" (Jer 31:33; Heb 8:10), indicating an internal transformation that produces genuine obedience. David's experience, while unique to his kingly role and the Old Covenant, models a universal principle of divine reward for human faithfulness, understood not as earning salvation but as responding rightly to God's grace and covenant relationship. His declaration stands as a testament to the integrated nature of faith and practice: knowing God's word (having it "before me") inevitably leads to living by it ("did not put away"). Ultimately, this ideal of perfect, comprehensive obedience to God's laws is fully realized in Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfilled all righteousness (Matt 3:15, 5:17), setting the ultimate standard for humanity.

Psalm 18 22 Commentary

Psalm 18:22 highlights David's covenant fidelity as the basis for God's redemptive actions on his behalf. It does not claim sinless perfection but rather describes a king whose general course of life and rule was marked by a genuine, heartfelt desire to follow God's entire revelation. "His judgments were before me" signifies that God's ethical and moral principles were not merely intellectual knowledge but guiding lights continually consulted and observed. This implies thoughtful meditation and conscious application. Furthermore, "I did not put away His statutes from me" speaks to an active, resolute commitment; David neither discarded God's fixed ordinances nor allowed them to slip from his practice. His walk was consistently oriented toward divine obedience, setting him apart from his unrighteous adversaries and affirming his posture as a "man after God's own heart" (Acts 13:22). God's response to David was not arbitrary but a just reward for sincere devotion and adherence to His revealed will, reinforcing the principle that "with the blameless You show Yourself blameless" (Psa 18:25).

• Examples: This verse illustrates a life of proactive discipleship. Instead of waiting for a command to be explicitly stated, one anticipates God's will by keeping His word "before" them. It means intentionally reviewing scriptures and moral principles, much like an artisan keeps a blueprint in sight. "Not putting away" is active resistance against forgetfulness or the temptation to compromise, like consistently maintaining a clean and ordered home rather than letting clutter accumulate.