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
When thunder rumbles, lightning illumines the sky, and rain falls so hard it disorients, worry can sometimes rise in our hearts and minds. Maybe our instinct is to find shelter and thus also safety. Maybe the storm is so bad we gather with others in spaces where there are no windows for fear of shattered glass. I once was in a thunderstorm so strong it shook the very foundations of the building in which I was living. The windows shook loose and flew back and forth. Rain and shards of glass spewed in every direction. Maybe you know what this experience is like. Or, maybe you know what it feels like in the life you live. Through this psalm, we listen for God’s voice, so powerful it reaches beyond the thunder, lighting, and rain we face. It finds us where we are and as we are. We are not alone.
Prayer
Thank you, God, for your presence with us in all circumstances. Help us to find comfort, strength, and hope in you. Amen.
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