A great big God
Opening Prayer
King of all, forgive me when I seek to capture You in some kind of box. Move with power in and through me.
Read PSALM 29:1–11
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
[1]A psalm of David. Ascribe to the LORD, you 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 his holiness. [3] The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters. [4] The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. [5] The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. [6] He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. [7] The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning. [8] The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh. [9] The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!” [10] The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. [11] The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How does the psalmist describe God?If you’ve ever been caught up in a violent storm you will know that strange mixture of fear and exhilaration that comes. This is the strong, bracing picture of God that the psalmist evokes: flood, thunder, crashing trees, flames of fire. But that’s what God is like: exhilarating and to be feared. Our culture tries to ignore God, and his church often conspires to domesticate him. The violent storm of the psalm becomes a gentle breeze that’s easier to cope with. But we ignore or downsize God at our peril. He is the One “who is, and who was, and who is to come,” seated on the throne (Rev. 1:4; 4:2). His voice (mentioned seven times in the psalm) holds all creation together, and the only sane and safe response is to bow down and worship (2). Sometimes it seems as though the forces of secularism are seated on the throne (remember the great whore of Rev. 17!), but that is God’s place (10). For the moment he may seem silent (and therefore powerless), but it is not so. He is in the silence because of his patient love, but one day he will break it and every knee shall bow. If we know him now in silence, we shall not be overwhelmed when the storm breaks.
Apply
Position your body and your heart in a place of reference before God.
Closing prayer
Father, overwhelm me with Your presence; then nothing else will overwhelm me.
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