Sistertech puts this psalm in the category of “earthquake” psalms. Psalm 18 is quite apropos considering the recent spate of earthquakes we’ve had. Sistertech encourages you to join her in following the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program service, @EQTW on Twitter. It’s a two-fer: You’re informed nearly instantaneously of earthquakes and tsunami warnings, and second, you get a little tech frission from all the tech bells and whistles on their site.
Psalm 18: 1-20
1I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,
my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
so I shall be saved from my enemies.
4The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of perdition assailed me;
5the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
To cry out and not be heard? Devastating. I join the Psalmist and pray: Dear One In Charge, remain with those buried under rumble in Haiti. Assure them of your Presence.
6In 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.
7Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and quaked, because he was angry.
8Smoke went up from his nostrils,
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
9He bowed the heavens, and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.
10He rode on a cherub, and flew;
he came swiftly upon the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness his covering around him,
his canopy thick clouds dark with water.
12Out of the brightness before him
there broke through his clouds
hailstones and coals of fire.
13The Lord also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice.
14And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings, and routed them.
15Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
The One In Charge is coming, people. Look busy!
16He reached down from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of mighty waters.
17He delivered me from my strong enemy,
and from those who hated me;
for they were too mighty for me.
18They confronted me in the day of my calamity;
but the Lord was my support.
19He brought me out into a broad place;
he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me.
Those 1-800 computer customer support numbers? Remaining on hold for what is commonly called “eternity”? How far superior is the Customer Support service Sistertech relies on.