Psalms 18:13

"At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, hailstones and coals of fire."

Key Reflection

In Psalms 18:13, the psalmist vividly describes a scene of divine deliverance where the brilliance of God's glory seemed to pierce through thick clouds, clearing them away as he moved. This imagery likely draws from the dramatic thunderstorms common in the region and serves to symbolize how the presence and power of God can overcome even the most formidable obstacles. The mention of hailstones and coals of fire emphasizes the intensity and awe-inspiring nature of this divine manifestation.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

The Lord also thundered in the heavens -Thunder is often in the Scriptures described as the voice of God. See the magnificent description inPsalms 29:1-11; compareJob 40:9, “Canst thou thunder with a voice like him?” So1 Samuel 7:10;1 Samuel 12:18;Psalms 77:18;Job 37:4. And the Highest gave his voice -God, the most exalted Being in the universe, uttered his voice in the thunder; or, the thunder was his voice. Hail-stones, and coals of fire -Accompanying the thunder. The repetition seems to be because these were such striking and constant accompaniments of the storm.

Related Verses

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