Day Thirty Three: The Paradox of God (Psalm 18:7-15)

"​Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the mountains shook;
    they quaked because of his anger.

Smoke poured from his nostrils; fierce flames leaped from his mouth.
    Glowing coals blazed forth from him.

He opened the heavens and came down; dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.

Mounted on a mighty angelic being, he flew, soaring on the wings of the wind.

He shrouded himself in darkness, veiling his approach with dark rain clouds.

Thick clouds shielded the brightness around him and rained down hail and burning coals.

The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded
    amid the hail and burning coals.

He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies; great bolts of lightning flashed,
and they were confused.

Then at your command, O Lord, at the blast of your breath,
the bottom of the sea could be seen,
    and the foundations of the earth were laid bare."

Psalm 18:7-15, NLT
​

There's an incredible shift, here in Psalm 18,  that's I almost missed because of the way the reading plan is laid out.

I forgive you Bible in a Year plan.
I still love you. <3

But don't miss this like I almost did-- 
The chapter begins,
"I love you, Lord; you are my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety." (verses 1-2)

Can you feel the intimacy in these words? They insinuate friendship and closeness.
I absolutely adore the way David describes his deep relationship with God.

Then David continues,
"I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.
The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me.
The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path. 
But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears." (verses 3-6)

David is in trouble, and cries out to God...
This is where it gets intense:

"Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the mountains shook; they quaked because of his anger." (verse 7, emphasis mine)

"Smoke poured from his nostrils..."
"He opened the heavens and came down..."
"Mounted on a mighty angelic being, he flew..."
"He shrouded himself in darkness..."
"He shot his arrows..."
"...at the blast of your breath, the bottom of the sea could be seen..."

These are some crazy-wild descriptions, for sure!

​
The contrast in this single chapter is incredible.

The great paradox of God is He is so mighty, so strong, and so powerful, and He also guides us gently by streams of water.

His anger is earth-shattering, and His love so fierce He will stop at nothing to get to us.

His very presence is uncontainable, and yet it is contained within our very being, through the person of the Holy Spirit.


The challenge for me is that I become so familiar with God that while I know He is my friend, my Father, and my Savior-- I forget that He is still God.

He is completely holy, unable to commune with sin.
He is mighty and powerful, nothing is too difficult for Him.
He created the heavens and the earth with His very voice.
He is immeasurable; He is God.

It is terrifying to think of, and yet comforting.
Another paradox.

But what a comfort to know, like David, that He is close enough to hear my cry, and big enough to move heaven and earth to rescue me.

Lord, may I never take for granted all that you are--
The parts that I understand, and the parts I struggle to.

​All of you, You are good.

Dwelling in Him,