Absolute Assurance: A God who rescues
We're continuing our journey through Psalm 18.Yesterday we saw how David found himself in a desperate situation:
- He was entangled by the cords of death and the grave.
- Torrents of destruction and snares of death overwhelmed and ensnared him
- He was in distress and called for help"
And God heard him!
Today our passage describes how God not only heard, but came to his rescue. This idea of God coming from heaven and majestically, powerfully moving toward those in need is a thought that is frequently used in the Old Testament. These descriptions of Almighty God rising up and coming to the rescue are often described using the natural phenomena (storms, wind, thunder etc) that are the "horses and chariots" of His oncoming presence. (The scholars call this a "theophany".)
We often joke about not getting between a mama bear and her cubs... When Brenda was a teen, she was on a walking trip in Timbavati and their party got between a lioness and her cubs. The lioness responded with the kind of roaring that ripped the air and gave them goosebumps. It even had the game-ranger getting his rifle ready - but thankfully they were able to get out of the way.
Today's section of Psalm 18 is a beautiful description of God roaring as He rises up to rescue His child. Then it moves into the actual rescue which is described as a rescue from drowning, a deliverance from enemies and a being brought into a spacious place.
And why?
"...because He delighted in me."
As you read this section, try to use your imagination and as much expression as you can when you read it. (Be brave enough to read it aloud to yourself and read it as expressively as possible!) Understand that it reflects how God feels about us and how He 'roars' as He comes to our rescue.
| The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. 8 Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. 9 He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. 10 He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him-- the dark rain clouds of the sky. 12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. 13 The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. 14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies, great bolts of lightning and routed them. 15 The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of breath from your nostrils. 16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; |
