Divine Endowment for Service
David Caldwell, A. M. Psalm 18:34 He teaches my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms. God raises up men specially qualified to meet the exigencies of human society — the soldier, the statesman, the lawgiver, the teacher of religion, the ready writer, the eloquent man, and the cunning artificer. He had need of a soldier to accomplish the purposes of His will, and He qualified David for the work, and so long as David prosecuted his wars, free of ambitious and malevolent feelings, and solely with the desire of accomplishing the will of God, he served God as acceptably in the field as he could have served Him in His temple. Provided his cause be just, and he prosecute it with right motives, the patriot soldier is engaged on as holy a work as the priest at the altar. God so taught David the art of war that "a bow of steel was broken by his arms." It required the use of both hands and feet to bend the ancient bow of steel; how great, then, must David's strength have been to break it with his arms. This verse has, of course, a spiritual application, showing how easily God can clothe with overcoming might all who are engaged in the good fight of faith, enabling them to overcome, with a moiety of their strength, the strongest weapons with which they may be assailed. (David Caldwell, A. M.) Parallel Verses KJV: He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. WEB: He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of bronze.