Tuesday, August 22, 2006 · no responses · comments closed

I love Psalm 18; there’s so much to like here. Several things stood out to me this morning as I read. First, David begins unabashedly: “I love you, O Lord.” As far as I can tell, this is the first time in Scripture that someone declares his love for God. The Amplified translates this, “I love You fervently and devotedly.”

Then, in verse two, its as if David can hardly contain himself as names pour out:

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Notice that he makes this personal: my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. Moses repeatedly calls God “the Rock” in his song in Deuteronomy 32, and God is described as a rock in other places, but for David, He is almost always “my” rock.

A few verses later, David describes God coming to his rescue, and this is what astounded me; read this aloud and imagine God as David sees Him:

Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and quaked, because he was angry.
Smoke went up from his nostrils,
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
He bowed the heavens and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.
He rode on a cherub and flew;
he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him,
thick clouds dark with water.
Out of the brightness before him
hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.

The Lord also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice,
hailstones and coals of fire.
And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

Wow! I was going to add Selah. Pause. And calmly think about that! Except that calmly is not the response David is going for here; he’s excited, and he wants us join him.

I’ve read this before and noted this picture of God, but today I saw it afresh. In many sports movies, there’s a scene where the young and talented player realizes that the old coach is not just some guy that used to play the game; no, the old coach is actually a star. The young player discovers a photo or a news clipping and suddenly, he is filled with awe and a new-found respect for the old man.

That’s what I experienced as I read: God went from grandpa-like loving Father to great and terrible and awesome Almighty God, the Lord of Hosts, powerful and mighty to save. As David sees it, when God moves on behalf of His child, all of creation feels the force of his power: from the mountains to the foundations of the earth, the clouds to the sea. Truly, I have goosebumps as I write this!

As I ponder this passage, try to imagine this scene in all its splendor, my problems are put in perspective: what could possibly stand before a God whose voice issues hail, fire, and lightning? Everything will work out fine.