Psalm 29 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 29 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Verse 2Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendor.
Verse 3The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters.
Verse 4The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
Verse 5The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
Verse 6He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
Verse 7The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
Verse 8The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
Verse 9The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, "Glory!"
Verse 10The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
Verse 11May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!
Devotion
Ascribe to the Lord, the psalmist writes. With all due respect to our psalmist, I am mostly leery of ascribing things to the Lord. You and I hear our fair share of ascribing things to the Lord: phrases like "God told me to do it," when "God" sure sounds remarkably like the speaker herself. Or "God blessed us with this house/car/etc.," when hard work and sound financial decisions may also have something to do with it. Not to mention, God may not particularly care to take credit for my new mortgage or Subaru.
But glory and strength? The glory of God's name? Holy splendor? Strength and peace for God's people? The renewing water and word of baptism? For those things, God eagerly takes credit. Ascribe those things to the Lord, the psalmist sings. Give God glory for the heavens and the earth, for a voice that speaks thunderous mercy. For the divine song that brings strength and peace to God's people.
Prayer
God, speak into our world today. Sing your mighty song of peace once again. Make your glory known through the splendor of all you have made. Amen.