Psalm 29 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 29 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Verse 2Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendor.
Verse 3The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters.
Verse 4The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
Verse 5The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
Verse 6He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
Verse 7The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
Verse 8The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
Verse 9The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, "Glory!"
Verse 10The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
Verse 11May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!
Devotion
Psalms are prayers, praises and songs of God’s people in response to God and His action in their lives. Only someone like the shepherd lad David could make a Psalm like this. I like to think he did it one night while lying on his back watching a desert storm. Instead of cowering in fear, he commanded the angels to give three cheers for God!
Why? Because God is so awesome. God’s voice thunders across the water. God’s thunder smashes cedars, makes mountains skip, spits fire, quakes the wilderness, shakes the desert and sets the oak trees dancing.
Our God is an awesome God. We sing "How Great Thou Art," which includes the line, "I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed." He who sits above it all makes His people strong and gives His people peace. Even in the storm.
Prayer
Dear Lord, when I hear the thunder roar, the winds howl and the earth beneath me shake, give me the faith of David and give me a hymn to sing that praises you for your power. In Jesus' name, Amen.