Psalm 18 tells a story about David. (According to the beginning of the Psalms.) The main story line is that David asks for help from God. God, then answers to David's prayer. The ending is mostly David thanking God and telling him that God is the reason that he is having/living the life that is he living now. It seems like this Psalm's story is not very different than all of the other Psalms' stories. So, what makes this Psalm so unique?
The one element that really sprung out at me was the poetic language. I really enjoyed reading verses 7 through 19. I love the different imagery of God with nature, that the author of the Psalm has created here. My favorite verses are verses 13 and 14. "From the brilliance before Him His clouds moved ahead- / hail and fiery coals. / The LORD thundered from on high. / Elyon sent forth His voice- / hail and fiery coals." I love the image that these two verses create in my head. I have always thought that rain, hail, and lightning were mystical and magical phenomenon. I am excited that the author of this Psalm thought so too.
I think that all of these images of God as either a fighter or an aid in battle is not scary at all. I think that it shows the reader God's power in the world. He is the most power being on Earth because of all the things that he is capable of doing and the lengths he will endure to do what he wants to do. He is able to show us his power in the writings with different suggestions showing his ruling over both the natural world and the human world.
I agree that lines 7-19 flow nicely, and I think the poetic structure adds to the psalms power and grace. I don't think God is scary either, but I think one of the goals of this God is to instill fear in non-followers (as well as provide strength to His followers).
ReplyDeleteI agree that God's role can be a force to instill fear into non-believers and enemies, yet, as I talked about in my blog, I think the consequences of any failure to succeed or be victorious are even more scary than the fear instilled in enemies on a battle field.
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