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Commentary on Psalms 18 verses 1–19
The title gives us the occasion of penning this psalm; we had it before (Sa2 22:1), only here we are told that the psalm was delivered to the chief musician, or precentor, in the temple-songs. Note, The private compositions of good men, designed by them for their own use, may be serviceable to the public, that others may not only borrow light from their candle, but heat from their fire. Examples sometimes teach better than rules. And David is here called the servant of the Lord, as Moses was, not only as every good man is God's servant, but because, with his sceptre, with his sword, and with his pen, he greatly promoted the interests of God's kingdom in Israel. It was more his honour that he was a servant of the Lord than that he was king of a great kingdom; and so he himself accounted it (Psa 116:16): O Lord! truly I am thy servant. In these verses,
I. He triumphs in God and his relation to him. The first words of the psalm, I will love thee, O Lord! my strength, are here prefixed as the scope and contents of the whole. Love to God is the first and great commandment of the law, because it is the principle of all our acceptable praise and obedience; and this use we should make of all the mercies God bestows upon us, our hearts should thereby be enlarged in love to him. This he requires and will accept; and we are very ungrateful if we grudge him so poor a return. An interest in the person loved is the lover's delight; this string therefore he touches, and on this he harps with much pleasure (Psa 18:2): "The Lord Jehovah is my God; and then he is my rock, my fortress, all that I need and can desire in my present distress." For there is that in God which is suited to all the exigencies and occasions of his people that trust in him. "He is my rock, and strength, and fortress;" that is, 1. "I have found him so in the greatest dangers and difficulties." 2. "I have chosen him to be so, disclaiming all others, and depending upon him alone to protect me." Those that truly love God may thus triumph in him as theirs, and may with confidence call upon him, Psa 18:3. This further use we should make of our deliverances, we must not only love God the better, but love prayer the better - call upon him as long as we live, especially in time of trouble, with an assurance that so we shall be saved; for thus it is written, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, Act 2:21.
II. He sets himself to magnify the deliverances God had wrought for him, that he might be the more affected in his returns of praise. It is good for us to observe all the circumstances of a mercy, which magnify the power of God and his goodness to us in it.
1.The more imminent and threatening the danger was out of which we were delivered the greater is the mercy of the deliverance. David now remembered how the forces of his enemies poured in upon him, which he calls the floods of Belial, shoals of the children of Belial, likely to overpower him with numbers. They surrounded him, compassed him about; they surprised him, and by that means were very near seizing him; their snares prevented him, and, when without were fightings, within were fears and sorrows, Psa 18:4, Psa 18:5. His spirit was overwhelmed, and he looked upon himself as a lost man; see Psa 116:3.
2.The more earnest we have been with God for deliverance, and the more direct answer it is to our prayers, the more we are obliged to be thankful. David's deliverances were so, Psa 18:6. David was found a praying man, and God was found a prayer-hearing God. If we pray as he did, we shall speed as he did. Though distress drive us to prayer, God will not therefore be deaf to us; nay, being a God of pity, he will be the more ready to succour us.
3.The more wonderful God's appearances are in any deliverance the greater it is: such were the deliverances wrought for David, in which God's manifestation of his presence and glorious attributes is most magnificently described, Psa 18:7, etc. Little appeared of man, but much of God, in these deliverances. (1.) He appeared a God of almighty power; for he made the earth shake and tremble, and moved even the foundations of the hills (Psa 18:7), as of old at Mount Sinai. When the men of the earth were struck with fear, then the earth might be said to tremble; when the great men of the earth were put into confusion, then the hills moved. (2.) He showed his anger and displeasure against the enemies and persecutors of his people: He was wroth, Psa 18:7. His wrath smoked, it burned, it was fire, it was devouring fire (Psa 18:8), and coals were kindled by it. Those that by their own sins make themselves as coals (that is, fuel) to this fire will be consumed by it. He that ordains his arrows against the persecutors sends them forth when he pleases, and they are sure to hit the mark and do execution; for those arrows are lightnings, Psa 18:14. (3.) He showed his readiness to plead his people's cause and work deliverance for them; for he rode upon a cherub and did fly, for the maintaining of right and the relieving of his distressed servants, Psa 18:10. No opposition, no obstruction, can be given to him who rides upon the wings of the wind, who rides on the heavens, for the help of his people, and, in his excellency, on the skies. (4.) He showed his condescension, in taking cognizance of David's case: He bowed the heavens and came down (Psa 18:9), did not send an angel, but came himself, as one afflicted in the afflictions of his people. (5.) He wrapped himself in darkness, and yet commanded light to shine out of darkness for his people, Isa 45:15. He is a God that hideth himself; for he made darkness his pavilion, Psa 18:11. his glory is invisible, his counsels are unsearchable, and his proceedings unaccountable, and so, as to us, clouds and darkness are round about him; we know not the way that he takes, even when he is coming towards us in ways of mercy; but, when his designs are secret, they are kind; for, though he hide himself, he is the God of Israel, the Saviour. And, at his brightness, the thick clouds pass (Psa 18:12), comfort returns, the face of affairs is changed, and that which was gloomy and threatening becomes serene and pleasant.
4.The greater the difficulties are that lie in the way of deliverance the more glorious the deliverance is. For the rescuing of David, the waters were to be divided till the very channels were seen; the earth was to be cloven till the very foundations of it were discovered, Psa 18:15. There were waters deep and many, waters out of which he was to be drawn (Psa 18:16), as Moses, who had his name from being drawn out of the water literally, as David was figuratively. His enemies were strong, and they hated him; had he been left to himself, they would have been too strong for him, Psa 18:17. And they were too quick for him; for they prevented him in the day of his calamity, Psa 18:18. But, in the midst of his troubles, the Lord was his stay, so that he did not sink. Note, God will not only deliver his people out of their troubles in due time, but he will sustain them and bear them up under their troubles in the mean time.
5.That which especially magnified the deliverance was that his comfort was the fruit of it and God's favour was the root and fountain of it. (1.) It was an introduction to his preferment, Psa 18:19. "He brought me forth also out of my straits into a large place, where I had room, not only to turn, but to thrive in." (2.) It was a token of God's favour to him, and that made it doubly sweet: "He delivered me because he delighted in me, not for my merit, but for his own grace and good-will." Compare this with Sa2 15:26, If he thus say, I have no delight in thee, here I am. We owe our salvation, that great deliverance, to the delight God had in the Son of David, in whom he has declared himself to be well pleased.
In singing this we must triumph in God, and trust in him: and we may apply it to Christ the Son of David. The sorrows of death surrounded him; in his distress he prayed (Heb 5:7); God made the earth to shake and tremble, and the rocks to cleave, and brought him out, in his resurrection, into a large place, because he delighted in him and in his undertaking.
Secretly and with mysterious reckoning he represents his incarnation through [images of] darkness and thick clouds. At last he returns to the same place from whence he had set forth: and he ascends into the heavens with the cherubim and flies, although he had not descended with those cherubim, without the cherubim he himself bowed the heavens and descended. On his return it is said, “And he mounted on cherubs, and he flew,” with the body he had assumed.
"And He mounted above the cherubim, and did fly" [Psalm 18:10]. And He was exalted above the fullness of knowledge, that no man should come to Him but by love: for "love is the fulfilling of the law." [Romans 13:10] And full soon He showed to His lovers that He is incomprehensible, lest they should suppose that He is comprehended by corporeal imaginations. "He flew above the wings of the winds." But that swiftness, whereby He showed Himself to be incomprehensible, is above the powers of souls, whereon as upon wings they raise themselves from earthly fears into the air of liberty.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 18:10 presents a breathtaking and dynamic portrayal of God's majestic and swift intervention on behalf of His servant, David. It depicts the Almighty descending with incredible speed and power, using celestial beings and the very forces of nature as His conveyance. This verse is a vivid poetic expression of divine sovereignty, omnipotence, and immediate responsiveness to the cries of His people, illustrating that no obstacle can hinder His determined movement to deliver.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 18:10 is rich with literary artistry, primarily employing Anthropomorphism, Metaphor, and Repetition. Anthropomorphism is evident in the description of God "riding" and "flying," attributing human-like actions to the transcendent Creator. This device makes God's actions relatable and comprehensible to the human mind, allowing the psalmist to convey His active and personal involvement in human affairs. The phrase "wings of the wind" is a profound Metaphor, comparing God's swift movement to the effortless and rapid flight of a bird carried by the wind. This powerful imagery conveys not only unparalleled speed but also the ease, sovereignty, and unhindered nature with which God operates. The Repetition of "did fly" ("and did fly: yea, he did fly") serves to emphasize and intensify the concept of God's incredible speed and the urgency of His intervention. This rhetorical device ensures that the reader grasps the immediate and dynamic nature of divine deliverance. Furthermore, the verse utilizes vivid Imagery, painting a dramatic mental picture of God's majestic descent, which contributes to the overall sense of awe and wonder surrounding His power and His readiness to act.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 18:10 is a profound theological statement about the nature of God and His relationship with humanity. It reveals a God who is not distant or detached but intensely involved in the affairs of His creation, particularly in the lives of His covenant people. This verse captures the essence of divine transcendence coupled with immanent intervention. God is depicted as utterly sovereign, controlling even the most powerful celestial beings and the most elusive natural forces, yet He condescends to "fly" to the aid of a suffering human. This imagery assures believers of God's boundless power and His unwavering commitment to deliver those who call upon Him in distress. It speaks to God's readiness and ability to act decisively and swiftly, often in ways that defy human comprehension, bringing salvation and justice. The verse reinforces the biblical truth that God is a refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The vivid imagery of Psalms 18:10 offers profound comfort and a robust foundation for faith in the face of life's overwhelming challenges. When we feel besieged by enemies, whether literal adversaries, spiritual forces, or the crushing weight of circumstances, this verse reminds us that our God is not limited by time, space, or human constraints. He is mighty, swift, and utterly able to intervene on our behalf. The picture of Him riding on a cherub and flying on the wings of the wind encourages us to trust implicitly in His sovereign power and His readiness to deliver. It reminds us that when we cry out to Him, He hears and acts with divine speed and strength, often in ways that transcend our understanding, bringing about salvation and deliverance from our deepest troubles. This verse cultivates a deep sense of security and hope, knowing that the God who commands the heavens and the wind is personally invested in our well-being and will move heaven and earth to rescue His beloved. It calls us to abandon self-reliance and fully lean into the overwhelming power and compassion of our delivering God, finding our refuge in His unfailing might.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Is this a literal description of God riding on a physical cherub?
Answer: No, this is highly poetic and anthropomorphic language. The Bible often uses human-like descriptions (anthropomorphisms) and metaphors to help us understand God's actions and character, as He is beyond full human comprehension. God is Spirit, as revealed in John 4:24, and He does not have a physical body in the way humans do. The imagery here emphasizes His majestic power, His swiftness, and His sovereign control over all creation, including celestial beings and natural forces. It's a powerful way to convey His immediate and overwhelming intervention, not a literal depiction of His mode of travel.
What exactly is a cherub in biblical understanding?
Answer: Cherubim (plural of cherub) are significant celestial beings mentioned throughout the Bible. They are not merely decorative figures but powerful, living creatures associated with God's glory, presence, and holiness. They are depicted as guardians (e.g., guarding the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3:24), and in prophetic visions, they are described with multiple faces, wings, and wheels, serving as the bearers of God's throne or chariot (e.g., Ezekiel 1). In Psalms 18:10, their role as God's "vehicle" underscores His supreme authority over even the highest created beings and the supernatural nature of His divine intervention.
How does God "flying on the wings of the wind" relate to His omnipresence?
Answer: While God is omnipresent, meaning He is everywhere at all times, as beautifully articulated in Psalm 139:7-10, the imagery of "flying on the wings of the wind" in Psalms 18:10 speaks more to the manifestation of His power and His swiftness in action rather than His inherent omnipresence. It describes God's dynamic movement into a situation to intervene, emphasizing His immediate responsiveness and the speed with which He brings deliverance. It's not that God needs to travel from one place to another, but that His active power can be deployed anywhere, instantly and effortlessly, to accomplish His will.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 18:10, with its majestic portrayal of God's swift and powerful intervention, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament depicts God's dramatic descent to save His people, the New Testament reveals that this divine intervention culminated in the incarnation of the Son. The very God who "rode upon a cherub" and "did fly upon the wings of the wind" to rescue David, literally "pitched His tent among us" in the person of Jesus, as declared in John 1:14. Christ is the visible embodiment of God's power and presence, the one through whom all things were created and by whom all things are sustained, as affirmed in Colossians 1:16-17. His miracles demonstrated His divine authority over nature, sickness, and even death, mirroring the Psalmist's description of God's command over the wind and elements. His swift and decisive act of salvation on the cross, where He took away the sin of the world, as proclaimed in John 1:29, is the ultimate divine intervention, flying to our aid when we were utterly helpless and lost in sin. Furthermore, the promise of His glorious return, when He will come "on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory," as described in Matthew 24:30, echoes the imagery of divine movement and swiftness in Psalms 18:10, assuring us that the delivering God of David is the same Christ who will perfectly fulfill all His promises.