The images in my head while reading Psalm 18 were that of a Zeus-like god that throws lightening bolts and rides on clouds. A lot of religions also had a punishing god that would take revenge on wrongdoers. The difference between these gods and the one we are used to hearing of in the psalms is the vividness of the actions.
In this psalm, God is described as descending on earth and taking his retribution. This is much more concrete than the usual 'fluffy' metaphorical language about God usually used. The uses of this language are clear though. While it may seem scary, a more vengeful God can probably yield a far greater turnout on Sunday mornings. If people fear God, it is likely they are more likely to worship him. I realize that many will worship God if he is loving and less interfering, but I also believe that more will follow if they dread the consequences of disobeying.
I think this Psalm could be a very powerful motivator for someone trying to get more people to believe in God. I was certainly a little scared while reading it. Will I become Christian because of it? Probably not, but words back then packed a lot more punch as well.
I like your Zeus comparison! This Psalm does seem like it gets a lot of images from greek mythology.
ReplyDeleteand yes, Psalm 18 is a powerful motivator because it shows God's power and the dangers of disobeying ( or being the "enemy").