Psalms 18:14

14 He sent out his arrows, driving them in all directions; by his flames of fire they were troubled.

Psalms 18:14 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 18:14

Yea, he sent out his arrows
By which thunderbolts, cracks of thunder, and flashes of lightning, seem to be meant; see ( Psalms 77:17 Psalms 77:18 ) ( 144:6 ) ; comparable to arrows shot, and sent out of a bow; and may denote, either the doctrines of the Gospel, which were sharp in the hearts of Christ's enemies, and are either the means of subduing them to him, or of destroying them, being the savour of death unto death; or however, like arrows, give great pain and uneasiness where they stick, and grievously distress and torment; as does the fire which comes out of the mouth of the two witnesses, ( Revelation 11:5 Revelation 11:10 ) . The Targum is,

``he sent his word as arrows;''

or else the judgments of God are meant, as famine, pestilence, and the sword, which God sent unto, and spent upon the Jewish nation, ( Deuteronomy 32:23 ) ;

and scattered them;
among the nations of the world, where they have been dispersed ever since;

and he shot out lightnings;
or "many lightnings", so the Targum:

and discomfited them;
troubled, terrified, and distressed them.

Psalms 18:14 In-Context

12 Before his shining light his dark clouds went past, raining ice and fire.
13 The Lord made thunder in the heavens, and the voice of the Highest was sounding out: a rain of ice and fire.
14 He sent out his arrows, driving them in all directions; by his flames of fire they were troubled.
15 Then the deep beds of the waters were seen, and the bases of the world were uncovered, because of your words of wrath, O Lord, because of the breath from your mouth.
16 He sent from on high, he took me, pulling me out of great waters.
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