Psalms 18:6-15

Psalms 18:6-15

[6] In my distress  I called  upon the LORD,  and cried  unto my God:  he heard  my voice  out of his temple,  and my cry  came  before  him, even into his ears.  [7] Then the earth  shook  and trembled;  the foundations  also of the hills  moved  and were shaken,  because he was wroth.  [8] There went up  a smoke  out of his nostrils,  and fire  out of his mouth  devoured:  coals  were kindled  [9] He bowed  the heavens  also, and came down:  and darkness  was under his feet.  [10] And he rode  upon a cherub,  and did fly:  yea, he did fly  upon the wings  of the wind.  [11] He made  darkness  his secret place;  his pavilion  round about  him were dark  waters  and thick clouds  of the skies.  [12] At the brightness  that was before him his thick clouds  passed,  hail  stones and coals  of fire.  [13] The LORD  also thundered  in the heavens,  and the Highest  gave  his voice;  hail  stones and coals  of fire.  [14] Yea, he sent out  his arrows,  and scattered  them; and he shot out  lightnings,  and discomfited  [15] Then the channels  of waters  were seen,  and the foundations  of the world  were discovered  at thy rebuke,  O LORD,  at the blast  of the breath  of thy nostrils. 

What does Psalms 18:6-15 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

David cried out in terror, and in His heavenly temple God heard his call for help. The Lord came rushing to the psalmist"s defense. His deliverance was as a thunderstorm in that it was the supernatural invading nature. The figures of speech in Psalm 18:7-15 picture a violent storm with lightning, thunder, high winds, torrential rains, black skies, and flooding. [1] All of this illustrates God"s dramatic intervention for David, punishing those who opposed His anointed.
"The most vivid descriptions of God as warrior occur in Song of Solomon -called theophanic passages, which depict the Lord coming in splendor and power to fight for His people....
" Psalm 18:7-16 is the most detailed of these theophanic texts." [2]