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
We're often told to "listen for God's voice." But what does that voice sound like? It's easy to imagine something strong, resonant, powerful -- like the Psalmist describes. It's a voice with authority, a voice that commands attention.
But it isn't just the tone of God's voice that gets our attention. It's his persistence in using it. The repetition in the psalm echoes how often God uses that voice for us. He's not afraid to strike with flashes of lightning or thunder over the waters if that's what it takes. But sometimes we're more open to hear a gentle, tender call -- and he'll do that, too.
Whether God's voice is commanding or kind, whether it's a shout or a whisper, rest assured God will keep speaking to us over and over and over until we're ready -- or able -- to listen.
Prayer
Lord, give us ears to hear you when you speak to us. And please, be patient when we're not paying attention. We need to hear what you have to say to us. Amen.