Psalms When Facing a Crisis

Psalm 18

I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.

The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of the netherworld entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.

In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.

The earth reeled and rocked; the foundations of the hills trembled and quaked; they reeled because he was angry.

Smoke rose from his nostrils, and consuming fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him.

He bowed the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet.

He rode on a cherub and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.

He made darkness his covering, his canopy round about him; dark waters and thick clouds were his pavilion.

Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through.

The Lord thundered from heaven, the Most High uttered his voice.

He sent out arrows and scattered them; lightning, and routed them.

Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of his anger.

He reached down from on high and grasped me; he drew me out of mighty waters.

He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.

They confronted me on the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support.

He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.