Psalm 18:8

"Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him" (Psalm 18:8).

Comment:

This is a "Psalm of David," which is also found in 2 Samuel 22. It is the psalm of a king giving thanks for victory in a battle. In this metaphorical passage, the Lord is described as a thunderstorm. (Stormy weather was possibly a factor in the victory.) The heavy rain was as dense as smoke, making it difficult to see. And the lightning is described as devouring fire and glowing coals. As the rest of this psalm makes clear, it's not intended to be taken literally. The king—presumably David—is using poetic license to exult in his victory and claim the force of God was on his side.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed