Psalm 29

My first twelve years of life were spent in Southern Illinois. Most of the time since then I have resided in Central Florida. In both places, summer has seemed synonymous with thunderstorms. And I love a good thunderstorm.

There is a something invigorating about a thunderstorm. There is a might and power that is present in the wind, the thunder, the lightning. For me, sitting on my back porch and witnessing this phenomenon can be a spiritual experience.

The writer of Psalm 29 had a similar attraction to thunderstorms:

 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!

Some summer night, maybe tonight, you may want to spend a little time pondering the power of our God in a good thunderstorm.

Prayer

God, I stand in awe of Your power and might. Let me lift You up today in my thoughts and in my mind. Amen.