Bible Devotions for Living

This Psalm paints an amazing picture of how passionately God will defend His children whom He loves.

³ I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. ⁴ The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; ⁵ the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. ⁶ In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. ⁷ Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry. ⁸ Smoke went up from his nostrils,and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. ⁹ He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. ¹⁰ He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind. ¹¹ He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water. ¹² Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds. ¹³ The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire. ¹⁴ And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them. ¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶ He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. ¹⁷ He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. ¹⁸ They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. ¹⁹ He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me. (Ps 18:3-19)

David was in trouble from His enemies and called upon God for help. God responds with passionate fury, power, and help to rescue His child. Look at the images that show His anger against the people messing with His child … the earth reeled and rocked, the foundations of the mountains trembled, smoke of rage come from His nostrils, and fire from His mouth. He then physically came to the rescue swiftly and took care of the situation. Why? Because He cares for and protects His people. You can just see the passion of God as a Parent for His children. That is God’s love, concern, and emotion for His children.

A human parent would react similarly when their child was under attack because they care deeply for their child.

Through this Psalm God shows how He loves and feels about you through His emotions and actions.