Storm God

God is thundering today through Psalm 29! Take in the scene with me! Can you hear it?

The God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.... The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars.... The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the LORD shakes the desert...twists the oaks and strips the forests bare.
This is possibly the noisiest, most chaotic text in the Bible. Seven times the voice of the LORD thunders. The mountains, the desert, the seas all shake and churn, the trees bend back and forth as huge branches break under the pressure as the storm of God's power thrashes them! God's might and strength are compounded by his fury. The displays of his glory are sometimes violent and awesome.

In the middle of all the noise and disruption--the pounding rain, the crashing thunder, the flashes of lightning, the hurricane-force winds--the last line of the poem seems totally out of place:

The LORD blesses his people with peace (v. 11).

There is something about being awed by God's power and might, even in the most tumultuous displays of his glory, that calms the heart of one who loves him. Unlike his enemies, we take comfort in his power. We know that he uses it to defend us. So the thunder of God's voice may ravage the world around us while at the same time settling a peace over our hearts. That is the blessing of belonging to him.

Yes, God sometimes rides the storms. Sometimes it is he who brings it. But if you are his son or his daughter, you are seeing the strength and glory of your Father in the storm. Let his awesome might bring peace to your heart and calm your spirit. He's on your side!

Father, you amaze me! The displays of your glory are astounding! Your power humbles me and reassures me that my God is awesome! Show the world your might! Flex your muscles! Only remember to keep your promise to bless your people with peace. My soul finds rest in you in the midst of the storms. Amen.

Your impressions of God's message to you in this text may be an encouragement to others. Please share them by commenting below. To do that, sign in at the top right corner first, then type your comments. Or choose Anonymous in the "Comment as" field. God be with you today!