Barrow Shmarrow

Psalm 18 barrows certain elements and ideas of God from different religions. For example imagery from pre-Israelite mythology (i.e. seismic events) and Canaanite mythology (cherubs) are used. While some may argue that this is problematic and potentially hypocritical, I feel that it is something so common in religions that it is perhaps inherently embedded within religion. In almost any religion you can find something that has been borrowed or adapted from another group or religion. A clear example of this is the choice of dates in Christian holidays. Christmas, which marks the birth of Christ, is celebrated on December 25. It is clear from contextual clues that Christ could not have been born in winter and it has been theorized that December 25 was chosen as the date because a pagan religious cult of sun-worshipers celebrated December 25 as the birthday of the sun, and as they were the largest rivals to Christianity, choosing Christmas on the same day would "ease" the process of conversion. Borrowing ideas from other religions is not hypocritical or problematic, it just marks a progression of ideas and beliefs--similar to the progression of mound making we studied before (conical --> effigy, etc.). 

Psalm 18 also projects God as an aid/instrument of war. I believe that this is actually a more scary thought for those who are saying God is on their side than for those who are not. When stating that God hears one's call and will answer it, the stakes for that battle are raised a considerable amount. For example, if a group that did not believe God was involved with their wars lost a battle/war, that's all that that would mean--they lost. If a group that believes God will aid them in war and they lose, they then must consider several possibilities: a.) their God has forsaken them b.) they are no longer worthy of God's aid or have done something to offend that God or c.) their God was not strong enough to defeat the other side's God. All of these scenarios, I feel, are much more scary than just thinking you lost a battle because you were outnumbered or were poorly supplied.