Psalm 18 - The Lord Came Down in a Storm

   

 I fled into the mountains, hoping they would not find me among the crags and caverns. Yet, they chased and hunted me, and now I stood with my back to a sheer stone wall as they spread out in front of me like a pack of lions, ready to tear me to pieces. My only light was the cold shards of stars above.

    

   I was trapped, utterly trapped. In my terror I felt as if cords broke through the cracked earth beneath my feet and captured me. Icy cold and reeking of death, they bound my legs, wanting to drag me down to Sheol. The putrid bands of fear twisted around my chest and arms and I knew I had only moments to live.

     I felt my enemies' gloating roil over me like a mighty wave of the sea, striking me forcefully and rising higher and higher, threatening to cut off my breath. Powerless to move, my eyes flitted back and forth on their shadowed faces. I was surrounded by people determined to kill me. Helpless in the face of so many foes, I did the only thing I could. I tipped back my head and cried out for help to the Lord.

    I felt a quiver beneath my feet when He heard me, a tremor that went straight to my heart with hope. The pebbles rattled on the dry earth and the air was seared like hot metal. The craggy mountains around us shook with His anger. His rage sent rocks cracking and tumbling, the rumbling filling my ears. I felt the hair on my arms rise up, and I trembled at His might. I looked at my enemies, and their eyes were white with fear as they quailed.

     As one we all turned our faces upwards, and we saw the proof of His anger. Churning smoke billowed from His nostrils. He opened his mouth and fire shot forth, searing the sky with His power. The heavens themselves bowed away from His presence as He came down. Thick darkness surrounded and concealed Him as He flew on the wings of the wind. As we strained our eyes against the blast of wind, we saw the darkest torrents of water and the thickest clouds of the sky were His hiding place.

     The Lord spoke, and it was like thunder. Helpless, we clapped our hands over our ears as the sky echoed with his might. From beneath my fingers I heard a piercing whistle as coals of fire sliced through the air and slammed into the ground. I could feel their heat as they passed, and my nose twitched with soot. Hailstones began to fall among the coals, and my enemies dropped their weapons and threw their hands over their heads. 

     As if they could shield themselves from His wrath.

     The Lord sent his arrows and my foes cried in terror and turned to flee. Lightening struck again and again, and I had to squeeze my eyes shut to keep from being blinded. It grew quiet. Slowly I opened my eyes, and saw my enemies were finished.

     I felt myself being drawn up by the Lord, lifted away from those who had hated me, who had surrounded and overpowered me, who would have killed me. I was carried away from the sharp mountains to a soft, open valley. After months of hiding in dust and rock, I felt sweet grass beneath me, and drew deep the fragrance of wildflowers.

     My enemies had been strong, but the Lord is my rock, my shield, and my fortress! He rescued me, because He loves me.

Read this psalm for yourself in Psalm 18:1-19

My thoughts:

We are told to think of God as our father. 

When you were a child, sometimes you wanted to curl up in your parent's lap, and sometimes you wanted them to charge in to rescue you when you sat crying. This story reflects the desire of rescue for the psalmist. 

Perhaps you've never been surrounded by physical enemies. |(I know I haven't!) The author of this psalm knew what it was like to face death, and to have to rely on the Lord to save him. It's very important to realize that the language is poetic, like many of the psalms. It does not describe an "real" storm he saw, but encapsulates the emotions he was feeling in his trails. In that sense, his cry for help in time of trouble is applicable to you and me.

Last Sunday, my family and my parents were gathered with some other believers for a meal, and to share the Lord's Supper. We had just had a big rain storm, and it reminded  my dad of this psalm. The poetic language fired my imagination, and so I thought it would be enjoyable to revisit this psalm with my own words. It's good for me to remember that when we cry out, God DOES hear us. When we are sick, or worried, or lost, or suffering or grieving, and pray to him, He hears! True, He doesn't always ride in on a storm to save us. Sometimes my prayers feel unanswered. If you feel the same, please remember that God loves you, and someday, somehow, things will be made right for those that trust in Him.

Your turn:

Hero movies are super popular right now! Disaster breaks out, and the costumed heroes run into the chaos to fight evil and save the day. Do you think of God as your hero? In what ways, big or little, has He worked to save you or someone you love from physical, emotional, spiritual or mental harm? 

And, on the other side, in what ways has He enabled YOU to be the hero? Don't forget, we are to love others as Christ has loved us. Keep your eyes and heart open to hear how God wants to use you to help one of His own. 

I would love it if you shared some of your own experiences in the comments, to encourage me and others!