Read Psalm 29
A psalm of David.
1 Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is majestic.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord strikes
with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;
the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord is enthroned as King forever.
11 The Lord gives strength to his people;
the Lord blesses his people with peace.
Go Deeper
Psalm 29 finds David reflecting on the power of God as he observes a storm. He describes God’s voice and His power over the floods, the thunder, the lightning, the wind, and even over the destruction that the storm leaves in its path. God’s power is seen all around him, leaving David awe-struck by God.
You’ve probably felt like David during a storm yourself. As long as we are well protected from their wrath, storms often produce awe in us. There is something humbling that happens when we are reminded we are not in control. When we realize that no matter what we say or do, the tornado could head our direction or the hurricane could sweep over our house. No matter how much money we have, no matter our status in life, no matter how influential or significant we may be, storms come for us all. And we are all powerless against them; the lightning and the thunder do not respond to our voice.
But, they do respond to Someone’s. Mark 4 tells us that in the middle of a terrifying storm, Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the waves “Quiet! Be still!” The wind immediately died down and the waves grew calm. His disciples, full of awe, said “Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey Him!” The reason Jesus had power over the storm is because the wind and waves recognized His Voice. Afterall, it had been His Voice speaking to them, giving them their power since the beginning of time.
God is in control of the storm because He created the storm. We may be powerless, but God is not. May this Psalm serve as a reminder to us that it’s ok not to be in control, because we know the One who is and we can trust Him. Like David, when we witness storms in our lives, both literally and figuratively, may we declare God’s power when we feel most powerless. Let our first response be worship and let praise direct our thoughts as we walk forward in faith.
Questions
- When is the last time you’ve been awestruck by God? If it’s been awhile, have you potentially grown numb to witnessing God’s presence in the world around you? Why?
- What storm is facing you today? How can you reorient your thoughts to praise God in the midst of it?
- This Psalm is purely a song of praise towards God. Spend 5 minutes (or more) praising God for who He is and how you see Him at work in the world around you.
3 thoughts on “Psalm 29”
I’ve always been fascinated by weather/storms, as they display God’s power in a visible way. There is nothing “man-made” or “man-controlled” about them. Psalm 29 opens with a command that uses the word ascribe, which means we give God what he alone deserves. We reflect the glory he inherently has. The New Testament word for glory is “doxa” which means to honor someone’s reputation or make much of his name. Whether it’s a physical thunderstorm in creation or any other storm in your life an opportunity exists to shift your gaze heavenward and know that he is near. He commands both! Our King is enthroned forever and in the midst of the storm strength and peace can find us as we acknowledge him.
V4 the voice of The Lord is powerful. It is the same voice that brought creation into existence. The same voice that called Lazarus out of the tomb. The same voice that cried out from the cross. The one His sheep knows. John 10
I’ve recently been struggling with storms of loneliness, anxiety and insecurity. God has written in His Word, Truth, that discredits and calms all of the storms in a specific way. He is with me. I can cast all my anxieties on Him because He cares for me and He offers me rest. He pursues me. He loves me so much He sent His Son to die for me. He has been so detailed in His creation. How much more is He invested in the lives of those who were created in His image? Thankful for His promises today and His ability to calm every storm. Thankful that He is the one in control. His plans are good. His promises are good.