As a kid, I remember being afraid of thunder and lightening until one day I heard someone say that the thunder was just God bowling up in heaven. Another time I heard someone joke that the thunder was just God moving some of his furniture around. Both of these images stuck in my mind and made storms seem much less scary to me as a child.
But as adults, we know better. That thunder and lightening we see in the midst of a powerful storm – comes from the very hand of our God.
Our God is the God of the storm.
Are you in the midst of a storm or a trial right now?
Let’s look at Psalm 29 and see what a comfort it is to us, that we know the God of the storm.
David writes:
1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
The word “ascribe” is used 3 times here and it means “to give credit” and David is calling on the “heavenly beings” ie. angels – to give the Lord the glory that he is due.
This is a call to worship.
When we come before the Lord – we come before a glorious and powerful God. When we worship him – all we are doing is recognizing the splendor that he already has.
Many times our worship is no where near what he is due. Often times – I’m embarrassed to admit, I spend more time preparing my clothes, hair and makeup for Sunday morning worship — than my heart.
Do you spend more time on your outer preparation than your inner?
Do you give God the glory He is due?
We serve a worthy God!
1 Corinthians 10:31 says:
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
He is worth more than just our Sunday morning worship between 9 and 10am. It should be our very way of life – whatever we do – do it all for his glory.
What a challenge this is – right?
But look at Psalm 29:3-4. David says,
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over many waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
The phrase “the voice of the Lord” is used 7 times here in this chapter.
God’s voice is over the waters. The God of the storm is thundering and his voice is powerful and majestic! And now his voice is moving…watch where he goes next:
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
His voice has moved from over the sea to over the land of Lebanon. His voice is breaking the cedars! Cedars are strong and often live up to 300+ years but God’s voice is stronger and is dividing the trees.
Look at verse 6 and how the land is shaking like a scared animal. Lebanon is skipping like a calf.
That’s our God!
In Bible times, the region of Lebanon worshipped Baal but we see here God is shaking this little gods region!
There is no God like our God!
And then the storm moves again…
7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The Lord’s voice is moving and it is like lightening in the desert. God is shaking the wilderness with his voice. This is a huge storm over the waters, the forest and the wilderness.
Our God is sovereign over all of his creation!
And then we have a crescendo in verse 9…
9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare,
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
Have you ever sat through the finale of a fireworks show? You can feel the explosions in your body and when they end, all those watching clap and cheer at the wonderful fireworks display. That is what is happening here.
God’s voice causes his creation to give birth and then to hoot and holler!
He is the Lord over life and death!
And all his people cry out “glory!”
When we see the awesomeness of our God – we cannot help but to fall down at his feet and ascribe to our God the glory due his name!
His magnificent power demands a response from you and me!
And then the Psalm closes:
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
Oh may this bring us comfort to read.
The Lord sits. He is unshakable.
He sits enthroned as king forever!
When we see our God as He really is –as a huge, mighty, powerful King – we can take comfort in knowing that nothing happens in our life that is out of His control.
Our God is the God of the storms!
And during the storms of life, our response should be worship.
May we never use his name in vain but rather ascribe to Him the glory due his name. Because look what the Lord gives his people:
11 May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!
The Lord gives his people His strength and His peace to face the storms of life.
God gives us a peace that this world cannot give. The peace the world gives is gone the second we face conflict or a problem but the peace God gives – the world cannot give to you nor take away from you!
Are you in the midst of a storm right now?
Do not sleep in on Sunday!
God wants to give you strength and peace to face each week.
Worship God now — right where you are!
When we worship God as He really is, all of our problems come into proper perspective.
That God who is over the storm –came to earth to die on the cross for you and He loves you and He wants to give you His strength and His peace.
Worship Him today in all his glory and watch how He lifts your spirits, gives you peace and strengthens you for each new day.
Walk with the King,
Thank you for this beautiful and encouraging reminder that the Holy God I serve is so much bigger than the storms I face!
Amen and Amen and Amen to all these words🙏 thank you for this amazing words!!!💖😇🤗🙏
Thanks you! God deserves all the glory for ever and ever! ❤️👍🏻🙌🏻🙏🏻
Much needed this word today! Thank you and God bless you!
Thanks for this powerful message.
Thank you thank you I needed these words today they hit right at home. I love how you write. Please more videos I like them as well. God is so good 🙏
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. Thank you, God, and thank you Courtney for your post.
Thank you for your ministry ☺🙏🙌👑
Thank you!
Thank you. My soul and heart needs this so much right now. Thank you for reminding me he is always here and my source of peace.
Giving God the Honor and Praise! Thank you Lord for using Sister Courtney to provide this, a message I felt like directed to me. In the midst of my storm, I truly thank Jesus for this peace!!!!
#blessedandthankful