So, we talk about God intervening on our behalf . . . about God involving Himself in the affairs of our lives . . . but do we ever really think about that looks like . . . and if we do, what do we imagine? I ask myself that and it occurs to me that I probably see God not having to exert a lot of “effort” (if God exerts effort) in order to tweak this or influence that as He directs in the paths He has ordained for me. I probably imagine Him to be somewhat passive in His actions concerning my life . . . thinking, perhaps, that He just speaks a word . . . and it is so. But as I read the first part of Psalm 18, it portrays a very different picture — not a picture of David’s over-active imagination, but a Holy Spirit directed, God-breathed revelation of the way God might act on the behalf of His people. And as I read it, I realize He is God of action.

It’s a psalm of David, a psalm of deliverance. David is absolutely up against the wall . . . going down for the count . . . “the pangs of death surrounded me, and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me” (Ps. 18:4) . . . David says his enemies “hated me . . . they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity” (18:17-18). Back up against the wall . . . situation desperate . . . out numbered . . . out powered . . . out strategized . . . done, like dinner. So what does David do? What’s left to do? He cries out to the Lord. “In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears” (18:6). David prays . . . God hears . . .God acts. And there is nothing passive about the intervention of God . . . check this out . . .

“He was angry . . . devouring fire came from His mouth . . . He bowed the heavens and came down . . . He rode upon a cherub and flew . . . The Lord thundered from heaven and the Most High uttered His voice, hailstones and coals of fire . . . He sent out arrows and scattered the foe . . . the foundations of the world were uncovered at Your rebuke O Lord, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils . . . He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters, He delivered me from my strong enemy . . . the Lord was my support” (18:7-18). Passive intervention? No way! God of action? You bet!

Sure, there’s some imagery here that probably shouldn’t be taken literally . . . but it’s imagery, not imagination. This is God-breathed play-by-play action. Does God act in this way all the time? Probably not. Does God act in this way sometimes? I’m thinking so. Is this my God? my Rock? my Fortress? my Deliverer? Pretty sure! Awesome!!!

O’ how we need to beware of a view of God that has Him passively watching our lives like we watch TV during dinner . . . half listening . . . paying enough attention to know what’s going on, but not enough to get really wrapped up in it. I wonder if God doesn’t lean forward in His throne, vitally interested in what’s happening down here . . . down here as concerning this world. . . down here as concerning this guy in this chair. Will He always directly intervene? No. But can He? Yes. Will He always intervene in such a way that He’s bows down heaven and flies upon cherub and thunders and fires arrows of deliverance? No. But can He? Yes!!! And that is my God.

David says, “He delivered me because He delighted in me” (18:19b). True of me too? Does God delight in me? I’m thinkin’. Not because of who I am or what I’ve done, but because of who Christ is and what He’s done. He is the delight of the Father (Isaiah 42:1, Matt. 3:17) . . . and I am in Christ. By grace alone and through faith, when God sees me, He sees His Son . . . and thus, He delights in me. And so, I too can say with David, “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised” (18:2-3).

He is worthy to be praised . . . whether He chooses to intervene or not . . . whether it is with thunder and lightning or in a more subtle fashion. He is worthy to be praise because He is God . . . Almighty, All-knowing, All-powerful God . . . . far from passive God. And so, this morning, I will own David’s words as my own, “I will love You, O LORD, my strength” (18:1). Amen!