Psalm 18:9-14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 18:1-19

The title gives us the occasion of penning this psalm; we had it before (2 Sam. 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 18:9

He bowed the heavens also, and came down ,.... To execute wrath and vengeance on wicked men; which is always the sense of these phrases when they go together; see Psalm 144:6 ; The Targum is, "he bowed the heavens, and his glory appeared"; that is, the glory of his power, and of his mighty hand of vengeance; for not his grace and mercy, but his indignation and wrath, showed themselves; for it follows, and darkness was under his feet ; the Targum is, "a dark cloud", expressive of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 18:10

And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly ,.... The Targum renders it in the plural number, "cherubim"; and so the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions; and by whom may be meant, either the angels, who are as horses and chariots, on whom Jehovah rides, and who art he makes use of as executioners of his wrath and vengeance, Zechariah 6:5 ; and to whom wings are assigned as a token of swiftness, Isaiah 6:2 ; or rather the ministers of the Gospel, who are the living creatures in Revelation... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 18:11

He made darkness his secret place ,.... Which, and the dark waters in the next clause, are the same with the thick clouds in the last, in which Jehovah is represented as wrapping himself, and in which he lies hid as in a secret place; not so as that he cannot see others, as wicked men imagine, Job 22:13 ; but as that he cannot be beheld by others; the Targum interprets it, "he caused his Shechinah to dwell in darkness;' his pavilion round about him were dark waters, and thick... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 18:12

At the brightness that was before him , The lightning that came out of the thick clouds; which may denote, either the coming of Christ to take vengeance on the Jewish nation, which was swift and sudden, clear and manifest; or the spreading of the Gospel in the Gentile world, in which Christ, the brightness of his Father's glory, appeared to the illumination of many; see Matthew 24:27 ; and both may be intended, as the effects following show; his thick clouds passed ; that is, passed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 18:13

The Lord also thundered in the heavens ,.... By his apostles and ministers, some of which were Boanergeses, sons of thunder, whose ministry was useful to shake the consciences of men, and bring them to a sense of themselves, Mark 3:17 ; and the Highest gave his voice ; the same with thunder; for thunder is often called the voice of the Lord, Job 37:5 ; compare with this Psalm 68:11 ; the Targum interprets it, "he lifted up his word"; the same effects as before follow, hail ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 18:14

Yea, he sent out his arrows ,.... By which thunderbolts, cracks of thunder, and flashes of lightning, seem to be meant; see Psalm 77:17 ; comparable to arrows shot, and sent out of a bow; and may denote, either the doctrines of the Gospel, which were sharp in the hearts of Christ's enemies, and are either the means of subduing them to him, or of destroying them, being the savour of death unto death; or however, like arrows, give great pain and uneasiness where they stick, and grievously... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:9

He bowed the heavens also, and came down - He made the heavens bend under him when he descended to take vengeance on his enemies. The psalmist seems here to express the appearance of the Divine majesty in a glorious cloud, descending from heaven, which underneath was substantially dark, but above, bright, and shining with exceeding lustre; and which, by its gradual approach to the earth, would appear as though the heavens themselves were bending down and approaching towards us. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:10

He rode upon a cherub, and did fly - That is, as it is immediately explained, Yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. God was in the storm, and by the ministry of angels guided the course of it, and drove it on with such an impetuous force as nothing could withstand. He 'rides in the whirlwind and directs the storm.' Angels are in a peculiar sense the attendants and messengers of the Almighty, whom he employs as his ministers in effecting many of those great events which take place in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 18:11

He made darkness his secret place - God is represented as dwelling in the thick darkness, Deuteronomy 4:11 ; Psalm 97:2 . This representation in the place before us is peculiarly proper; as thick heavy clouds deeply charged, and with lowering aspects, are always the forerunners and attendants of a tempest, and greatly heighten the horrors of the appearance: and the representation of them, spread about the Almighty as a tent, is truly grand and poetic. Dark waters - The vapors... read more

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