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
Three times the psalmist calls out to the heavenly beings. We, too, need to hear their praise. Yet somehow, their song is already carried deeply within us. Tell us again, angels! Tell us of God's glory! With eagerness, we want to hear the story again. The forces of nature display God's power. Then the promise emerges—and encourages—as if heard from grandma's lap. She tells of baptism: a sprinkle, a splash. God's power comes mightily and God claims you. Were you hoping for more action figures in the defeat of sin and death? Unexpectedly, it happened on the cross.
In Jesus Christ, you die and rise up. Baptismal waters impart God's Spirit to guide a new way of living. Heavenly praise rings out for God's active redemption: a promise given, made real for now and forever. It is bigger than earthly life can hold.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, help us today to hear God's voice in the midst of whirlwind and storm. May we join the song of angels, telling of the Lord's glory. Amen.