Devotional Thoughts Based on the Glory to God Hymnal

Psalm 29

Hymn 22, God of the Sparrow is one of my favorite newer hymns. Line after line sets my mind on some way that God’s presence and care has been known to us (watching over the sparrows, hugging the prodigal, caring and neighbor and foe ……). There’s one line that triggers for me thoughts of Psalm 29.

A Psalm of David.

¹ Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,^[a]
 ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
² Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
 worship the Lord in holy splendor.

³ The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
 the God of glory thunders,
 the Lord, over mighty waters.
⁴ The voice of the Lord is powerful;
 the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

⁵ The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
 the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
⁶ He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
 and Sirion like a young wild ox.

⁷ The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
⁸ The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
 the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

⁹ The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl,^[b]
 and strips the forest bare;
 and in his temple all say, “Glory!”

¹⁰ The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
 the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
¹¹ May the Lord give strength to his people!
 May the Lord bless his people with peace!

I have always loved this song of The God of the Thunderstorm. Being a long-time Central Floridian I have always enjoyed watching a thunderstorm. Sitting on my porch in the evening with the rumbling, flashing, wind, and rain inspires me and reminds me of God’s power. God does sit enthroned, and I am humbled and thrilled to be one of God’s subjects.

Prayer

I stand in awe of Your power, Great God of the Thunderstorm. I stand in humble obedience to You as Creator. And I thank You for using Your power to claim and save even me, a disciple of my Lord and Savior, Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.