Psalms 18:38
“I will strike them through, so that they will not be able to rise. They shall fall under my feet.”
What does Psalms 18:38 mean?
This is the cry of someone in deep distress, calling out to God for deliverance from enemies who are overwhelming them. The language is vivid and intense because the psalmist is describing real suffering, not speaking casually—enemies were literally threatening their life and livelihood. When we read this today, we can understand it as expressing that raw, honest desperation we sometimes feel when circumstances or people seem to be crushing us. What matters most is that the psalmist brings this fierce emotion directly to God rather than pretending everything is fine. The "striking down" isn't presented as something the speaker will do alone through their own power, but as something they're asking God to accomplish. For anyone going through a hard season, this psalm gives permission to be completely honest about how much we hurt and how much we need God's intervention, without softening our words or hiding our struggles.