May 12, 2015: Psalm 29

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.

Reflection:

It is tornado season in Arkansas and much of the South and those who live within the borders of the Natural State have known that the shifting of the seasons spawn many tornado-producing storms.  It’s the time of year when a change in weather causes anxiety in many.  Sometimes the warnings come days early, but usually there is a last minute warning signaled by a siren.  The sound of a tornado siren is frightening and when it goes off in your community, it’s too late to make a plan because the time has come to take cover quickly.  The key to safety is to be prepared. 

In nature, storms usually have a season.  There’s a tornado season, a hurricane season, blizzard season, etc.  Tornados can happen at other times of the year, but it’s not expected.  Life can be like storms.  There are seasons that are expected and we may be a little more prepared.  But there are also storms that come out of nowhere and knock us to our knees.  The Psalmist in Psalm 29 is reminding us that God is Lord over the mighty waters and the storms of life.  He says “ascribe” to the strength and glory of God.  The word “ascribe” means “to refer to a source.”  God is the source of our strength, no matter what storms of life may come our way.  Nature is unpredictable.  God isn’t. 

Prayer:  God of creation, You are holy and majestic.  Thank you for being a constant in my life.  Lord, help me to be as prepared as possible for storms that I might encounter.  But when a storm blows up out of nowhere, Lord help me to lean on You for strength.   Be with those today who are battling storms.  Amen.

Reflection Questions:

Morning: As you look forward to this day, look at the weather forecast.  Is today’s weather predictable?  What adjustments do you make according to the weather? How is God predictable in all seasons?

Noon:  Who have you encountered today that is battling an unexpected storm?  How could you reflect the love and strength of God to that person?   

Evening:  Before you sleep tonight, ask God to bring you peace and calm.  Reflect on the beauty of the day and places where God brought peace to chaotic situations.