Psalm 29 in Real Time

3The voice of the LORD is upon the waters;

The God of glory thunders,

The LORD is over many waters.

4The voice of the LORD is powerful, the voice of the LORD is majestic.

5The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

6He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,

And Sirion like a young wild ox.

7The voice of the LORD hews out flames of fire.

8The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
The LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9The voice of the LORD makes the deer to calve

And strips the forests bare;

A great storm. That is what David is describing. Thunder. Waters. Broken cedars. Lighting (hewn flames of fire). The wilderness shaken and the forests stripped bare. And David says it is all caused by “the voice of the LORD.” That is important to remember after what we experienced this past Sunday afternoon. We definitely saw broken trees of every sort. 70+ mile per hour winds. Frightening cracks above our heads. Flying debris. And all of it a reminder of how small we are … and how big God is. The voice of the LORD has shaken a large portion of mid-America this week.

Now in the midst of it all, there is a lot to do. We have been sawing, dragging, pulling, and hauling a whole heap of trash, leaves, and wood this week. And, on behalf of our fellow men in southeast Texas, there is a lot more hauling, cutting, repairing, and generosity ahead this fall. We have a lot of praying to do, too – for people who have lost their earthly all from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes. And we certainly have a gospel to share. All of these things, I hope, leap immediately to your mind once the voice of the Lord is done heaving the winds and waves.

But notice what the Psalmist says. Yes, when the voice of the LORD breaks the cedars, we have to clean them up. Yes, when His voice is above many waters, we have to minister mercy to those whose homes and livings have washed away with the tide. But Psalm 29 reminds us that, in the midst of the restoration, there needs also to be adoration. What should we do in response to the LORD’s storm?

1Ascribe to the LORD, O sons of the mighty,
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name.
Worship the LORD in holy array.

Not just restoration. Adoration! Have you done that yet this week? Have you allowed the broken cedars to put you in awe of our “majestic”, “powerful” God? If not, before the memories fade away and life goes back to the routine and the mundane … make sure you pause to admire the power of God, and to ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name!