Scripture Reading(s)
Psalm 29
29:1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
29:2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name; worship the LORD in holy splendor.
29:3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over mighty waters.
29:4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
29:5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
29:6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
29:7 The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.
29:8 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
29:9 The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
29:10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.
29:11 May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!
Reflections
This Psalm brings attention to the simple and powerful truth that God is the ruler of all and that there is none like Him. He alone is the unique creator and supreme Sovereign over all that this described in this Psalm. This is the one and only true God that has supremacy over the entire universe and this psalm splits it up into three different categories. They are God’s supremacy over the Heavenly beings (vs1-2), the forces of nature (vs3-9) and over humanity (vs10-11).
I love how at the end of this Psalm, after describing the vast power and majesty that God has, the Psalmist brings it back to the point that God gives strength to His people and blesses us with His peace. Out of all the amazing things that God has rule over, we are always seen as His most valuable and prized creation. When He first created mankind, He did so out of love and joy. Think about that, the God over the entire universe, still cares about you and me.
This Psalm is meant to put God’s glory on display and give us a sense of hope and comfort that the one true God whose rule is above every single thing on this planet has a significant and limitless love for you and I. His power and His Glory have no end and as His creation we ought to live our lives as reflection of all that He is through our words and actions. Praise God for all that He is the power that He not only has over this universe but over your life as well.
Psalm 29 is a thorough reminder that God is the master and creator of the universe. There is nothing that goes unnoticed or that He does not rule over. It should be humbling to those who question God’s ruling. I am reminded of God’s response to Job after Job had accused the Lord and spoke openly about his displeasure with God.
“Who is this that obscures my plans
with words without knowledge?
3 Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6 On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
7 while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors
when it burst forth from the womb,
9 when I made the clouds its garment
and wrapped it in thick darkness,
10 when I fixed limits for it
and set its doors and bars in place,
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;
here is where your proud waves halt’?12 “Have you ever given orders to the morning,
or shown the dawn its place,
13 that it might take the earth by the edges
and shake the wicked out of it?
14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;
its features stand out like those of a garment.
15 The wicked are denied their light,
and their upraised arm is broken.(Job 38:1-15)
It can be easy to view things from our own human experience. Yet, we must remind ourselves that God’s in charge, not us. As much as I would like to tell God how to do things, it is God who rules the universe with righteousness, not I.
[Featured image from Christianglobe.com]