What does Psalm 18:43 mean?

Ascribing praise to the Lord, David acknowledges that the Lord delivered him from political strife. Second Samuel 22:44—likely the initial version of this modified psalm—renders David's praise as, "You delivered me from strife with my people." The nation of Israel experienced incidents of civil war during David's life (2 Samuel 15:12–14). Yet God protected him and maintained his rule.

Further, the Lord brought Gentile nations into subjection to His anointed king, David. This verse has messianic overtones. Someday Jesus, David's most prominent descendant, will become Israel's king, and He will rule the nations from the throne of David. Isaiah 9:7 prophesies concerning Jesus: "Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this." Psalm 2:8 speaks about Jesus the Messiah's future rule over the nations. It says, "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession."