Charles H. Spurgeon on Psalms 18:9

"He bowed the heavens also, and came down." As in a tempest the clouds come nearer to the earth, and from the mountains to the valleys, so the psalmist adopts this figure peculiar to such occasions as described God's near approach to judgment (Psalm 144:5, etc.; Hebrews 3:6); "and darkness was under his feet." We have here the increase of the horrors of the tempest, and its still nearer approach, but God is not yet revealed, it is darkness under his feet. Thick darkness was the accompaniment of God's descent on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:21; Deuteronomy 4:11): and it invests his throne, to veil from us the overwhelming majesty of deity. Psalm 97:2. But this darkness, while it hides his coming judgment, bespeaks sorrow and anguish to the objects of his wrath. Luke 21:25, 26. —W. Wilson, in loc.

Verses 9-11: —

"He also bowed the heavens,

And thence he did descend;

And thickest clouds of darkness did

Under his feet attend.

And he upon a cherub rode,

And thereon he did fly;

Yea, on the swift wings of the wind,

His flight was from on high.

He darkness made his secret place;

About him for his tent

Dark waters were, and thickest clouds

Of the airy firmament." Scotch Version, 1649.

Verses 9-12: —

"In his descent, bow'd heaven with earth did meet,

And gloomy darkness roll'd beneath his feet;

A golden winged cherub he bestrid,

And on the swiftly flying tempest rid.

He darkness made his secret cabinet;

Thick fogs and dropping clouds about him set;

The beams of his bright presence these expel,

Whence showers of burning coals and hailstones fell." George Sandys, 1577-1643.