Psalm 18:7-15

Remember what happened in the verses preceding this part. David has described the dangers and difficulties in his life. He has said that he calls out to God whenever he is in trouble, and God hears him. This is what happens when God answers David’s prayers!

Psalm 18:7-15
Then the earth was moved and did quake,
And the foundations of the mountains began to tremble,
And were moved to and fro because He was wroth.
There went up a smoke in His nostrils,
And a fire out of His mouth devoured,
Coals were lit by it.
And He bowed the heavens, and came down,
And thick darkness was under His feet.
And He rode upon a cherub and did fly,
And came flying upon wings of the wind.
He made darkness His secret place, His pavilion round about Him,
Dark gloom of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
At the brightness that was before Him, his thick clouds passed, -
Hail-stones and coals of fire.
Jehovah also thundered in the heavens,
And the Highest gave His voice,
Hail-stones and coals of fire.
And He sent forth His arrows, and scattered them,
And lightenings innumerable, and discomfited them.
Then the channels of water were seen,
And the foundations of the world were discovered.
At Thy rebuke, O Jehovah,
At the blasting of the breath of Thy nostrils.

I love this part! God’s child has called for help and now He is coming; and He is angry. When Jehovah God physically comes down to earth, the whole of creation trembles in an earthquake. He comes wrapped in thick, dark storm clouds, breathing smoke and fire. He arrives in the wind on the wings of a cherub, the living creature Ezekiel describes as having the form of a man, a bull, a lion, and an eagle – the animals that are chiefest in this world according to an old Jewish proverb. As God comes in this glorious way, the storm clouds that surround Him open up, and lightening, hail and water come flooding out of the skies. God has arrived. What an incredibly, awesome picture of God coming to rescue His servant.

If we could just open our eyes, we would see that God has done this for us too. No, I have not seen God arrive this way when I have prayed for deliverance; not with my physical eyes. But I know He has done so spiritually. God has moved mountains, breathed smoke and fire, and showered the enemy with hail and lightening on my behalf. He has been my avenger and my defender. He bled for me, He died for me, He went to Hell on my behalf. Yes, this physical picture that David paints for us is a very real representation of what happens spiritually when Jehovah comes to the rescue.
Lord, bring this image to my mind when I pray!

Rebecca A Givens