Psalms 18:8

"Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations also of the mountains quaked and were shaken, because he was angry."

Key Reflection

In Psalms 18:8, the poet vividly describes a cosmic response to divine anger, drawing upon imagery that would have been striking for ancient readers. This verse portrays the earth's violent reaction as a manifestation of God’s wrath, emphasizing the power and authority of the divine. The shaking of the foundations of mountains underscores not just local upheaval but a profound disturbance of the natural order, reflecting the intensity of God’s anger in a way that would resonate with both the physical and spiritual awe felt by ancient Israelites.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

There went up a smoke out of his nostrils -Margin, “by his;” that is, as it is understood in the margin, the smoke seemed to be produced “by” his nostrils, or to be caused by his breathing. The comparison, according to Rosenmuller and DeWette, is derived from wild beasts when excited with anger, and when their rage is indicated by their violent breathing. ComparePsalms 74:1;Deuteronomy 29:20;Isaiah 65:5. And fire out of his mouth devoured -That is, the clouds seemed to be poured forth from his nostrils, and the lightning from his mouth. So inHabakkuk 3:5: “Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.” Coals were kindled by it -Everything seemed to glow and burn.

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