Showing posts with label Psalm 29. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psalm 29. Show all posts
Monday, June 30, 2025
Psalm Meditation 1307
¶Proper 9
¶July 6, 2025
¶Psalm 29
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2029&version=NRSVUE
¶Sometimes the voice of authority is the loudest of the voices. It rises above the volume of the chatter that surrounds so many of us much of the time. That voice is one that is felt as much as it is heard. It feels as if it could break branches and bones by its very strength and volume. Other times the loudest voice is simply more and louder noise. It doesn’t add any more to the conversation, and the volume makes it easier to tune out. One of my seminary professors, responding to the recording of a sermon for preaching class said, “There is a man who substituted volume for lack of preparation.”
¶Sometimes the voice of authority is the one we have to strain to hear. The authority is speaking to those who will hear rather than to everyone. It is calm and calming giving us a sense of tranquility and an assurance that this voice is the one to which we want to listen. This authoritative voice does not rise above the crowd, it gathers a crowd of those who long to hear what is being said. It draws us away from the crowd into that place where truth and real power reside.
¶The voice of God thunders, and does so impressively. The voice of God can also be the ‘still small voice’ that speaks to our hearts and not just our ears. It is the voice that says, ‘do not be afraid’ in a way that calms the fears that rise within us. When we are not afraid, we can do what needs to be done at the same time we find peace within ourselves.
¶June 30, 2025
¶LCM
Monday, November 7, 2022
Psalm Meditation 1169
¶Proper 28
¶November 13, 2022
¶Psalm 29
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+29&version=NRSVUE
(NRSV)
¶A term I learned in seminary is, ‘the efficacious word.’ It means, saying it makes it so. A couple of near examples are: ‘When I say ‘jump’ you ask how high!’ and ‘Make it so, Number One.’ They are almost example because a true efficacious word does not need to be explained, it happens. “Let there be light, and there was light.” is truly an efficacious word. God is not the only one who makes things happen with a word, however when I use the term, I am usually thinking of God.
¶The psalmist marvels at the variety of ways the voice of the LORD makes things happen in the world and the rest of Creation. With a word God can either calm or roil the waters of the earth. God can rattle the earth and break giant cedar and oak trees. As we watch all this unfold all we can do is look with eye popping, open mouthed awe. We are awed by the power and majesty of God as well as the recognition that God loves us and is attentive to our needs.
¶The God who can strip a forest bare and shake the ground around us with a word cares enough about us to give us the strength to face all that comes our way. Experience shows that God does not give us each enough strength to face our trials. Rather God surrounds us with people who have resources we lack and gives us what those around us need. As we join together to meet each other’s needs we find ourselves at peace even in the face of storms.
¶November 7, 2022
¶LCM
Monday, September 2, 2019
Psalm Meditation 1003
Proper 18
September 8, 2019
Psalm 29
1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, 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.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
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.
9 The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!
(NRSV)
Some voices command attention. It has very little to do with the volume of the voice, it is a quality of the sound that makes us want to listen. The person behind the voice has a way of using it that is both compelling and soothing. God has one of those voices. There is enough power in the voice of God to break a cedar tree, there is a gentleness in God’s voice that brings peace and encouragement to those who hear it. While the voice of God can bring about scary events, That same voice can bring us calm in the midst of storms and trials.
There are those whose attempts at imitating the voice of God include volume and frightening words. If they can get us to tremble and react with fear they feel as if they have copied the voice of God. They bring no comfort because their interest is in power and control. To them, the voice of God is the voice power, the voice that grabs people at their more fearful, their most vulnerable and tells them that their fears are justified. If only they will listen and follow, we will destroy our enemies. Sadly, once one enemy is destroyed, we are told that there is a new enemy who is at least as great a threat as the previous.
There are others who imitate the voice of God with words and tone of comfort. In the face of evil threat it is their voice that offers words of calm so that we can face any enemy or adversary with the full use of our rationality and companion strengths. They draw us in to a world view of meeting challenges in a way that brings out our best. The psalmist sees God in this light. Within the power to break things with a word, the voice of God leads us to the peace of confidence in God. We are blessed in the glorious presence of God.
September 2, 2019
LCM
Proper 18
September 8, 2019
Psalm 29
1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, 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.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
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.
9 The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!
(NRSV)
Some voices command attention. It has very little to do with the volume of the voice, it is a quality of the sound that makes us want to listen. The person behind the voice has a way of using it that is both compelling and soothing. God has one of those voices. There is enough power in the voice of God to break a cedar tree, there is a gentleness in God’s voice that brings peace and encouragement to those who hear it. While the voice of God can bring about scary events, That same voice can bring us calm in the midst of storms and trials.
There are those whose attempts at imitating the voice of God include volume and frightening words. If they can get us to tremble and react with fear they feel as if they have copied the voice of God. They bring no comfort because their interest is in power and control. To them, the voice of God is the voice power, the voice that grabs people at their more fearful, their most vulnerable and tells them that their fears are justified. If only they will listen and follow, we will destroy our enemies. Sadly, once one enemy is destroyed, we are told that there is a new enemy who is at least as great a threat as the previous.
There are others who imitate the voice of God with words and tone of comfort. In the face of evil threat it is their voice that offers words of calm so that we can face any enemy or adversary with the full use of our rationality and companion strengths. They draw us in to a world view of meeting challenges in a way that brings out our best. The psalmist sees God in this light. Within the power to break things with a word, the voice of God leads us to the peace of confidence in God. We are blessed in the glorious presence of God.
September 2, 2019
LCM
Monday, August 21, 2017
Psalm Meditation 897
Proper 16
August 27, 2017
Psalm 29
1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, 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.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
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.
9 The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!
(NRSV)
There are times in which it seems important to figure out what event inspired the psalmist to write a psalm and to write it in this particular way. Scholars want to know the context of the psalm so that it can be more easily interpreted. Yes, scholarship is important in looking to the Scriptures for both information and inspiration. Once we know the details, We can more readily figure out what each word and phrase might mean. When we get the original figured out we can ask what it might meant to us today, because of or despite the original intent.
Other times it seems good to let the psalm speak as it will to the situation in which we find ourselves. We might not be concerned about meaning and context, we simply let a verse jump out at us and give us what we need in that moment. As long as we don’t set that moment in concrete and make that verse guide the rest of our lives, we can be touched by a verse in a way that would make a scholar shudder. We can let the Bible reflect who we are in the moment.
The psalmist gives us a number of reasons to give glory to God. We can study what each of those reasons means and how they play together to paint a picture of the atmosphere in which the psalm is written. We can read the psalm as an invitation to give God glory for reasons of our own. One is not better than the other. Each way has its uses and informs and instructs us along the way.
August 21, 2017
LCM
Proper 16
August 27, 2017
Psalm 29
1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, 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.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
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.
9 The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!
(NRSV)
There are times in which it seems important to figure out what event inspired the psalmist to write a psalm and to write it in this particular way. Scholars want to know the context of the psalm so that it can be more easily interpreted. Yes, scholarship is important in looking to the Scriptures for both information and inspiration. Once we know the details, We can more readily figure out what each word and phrase might mean. When we get the original figured out we can ask what it might meant to us today, because of or despite the original intent.
Other times it seems good to let the psalm speak as it will to the situation in which we find ourselves. We might not be concerned about meaning and context, we simply let a verse jump out at us and give us what we need in that moment. As long as we don’t set that moment in concrete and make that verse guide the rest of our lives, we can be touched by a verse in a way that would make a scholar shudder. We can let the Bible reflect who we are in the moment.
The psalmist gives us a number of reasons to give glory to God. We can study what each of those reasons means and how they play together to paint a picture of the atmosphere in which the psalm is written. We can read the psalm as an invitation to give God glory for reasons of our own. One is not better than the other. Each way has its uses and informs and instructs us along the way.
August 21, 2017
LCM
Monday, December 21, 2015
Psalm Meditation 810
First Sunday After Christmas
December 27, 2015
Psalm 29
1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, 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.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
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.
9 The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!
(NRSV)
In the midst of all that goes on in our lives, it seems important to look up from all the things that concern us to see the glory of God that surrounds us. As Advent gives way to Christmas we can find ourselves putting our heads down and plowing into the final weeks and days. We lose sight of some of the most important parts of the season; the presence of God and the glory that streams out of that presence. If we can take a moment to look up we discover that it is the presence and glory of God that makes all this running and worrying seem a bit less intimidating.
If we don’t get everything done, God will still be with us and the people around us will still love us. If we miss a spot in our cleaning and tidying God will enjoy our company, as will our family and friends. To look up and see that everything on our list pales in the abiding presence of God gives us a moment’s peace at the very least. Sometimes all we need is one or two deep breaths in order to feel our shoulders relax, the tension fade from all the places we store it away, if even for a moment.
When, in the presence of God, we are able to calm our hearts in the face of stresses and strains of this or any other season, we find ourselves better able to face a variety of calamities. To see the glory of God as a regular part of our lives makes some of the things that overwhelm us seem a tad less intimidating.
December 21, 2015
LCM
First Sunday After Christmas
December 27, 2015
Psalm 29
1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, 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.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
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.
9 The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!
(NRSV)
In the midst of all that goes on in our lives, it seems important to look up from all the things that concern us to see the glory of God that surrounds us. As Advent gives way to Christmas we can find ourselves putting our heads down and plowing into the final weeks and days. We lose sight of some of the most important parts of the season; the presence of God and the glory that streams out of that presence. If we can take a moment to look up we discover that it is the presence and glory of God that makes all this running and worrying seem a bit less intimidating.
If we don’t get everything done, God will still be with us and the people around us will still love us. If we miss a spot in our cleaning and tidying God will enjoy our company, as will our family and friends. To look up and see that everything on our list pales in the abiding presence of God gives us a moment’s peace at the very least. Sometimes all we need is one or two deep breaths in order to feel our shoulders relax, the tension fade from all the places we store it away, if even for a moment.
When, in the presence of God, we are able to calm our hearts in the face of stresses and strains of this or any other season, we find ourselves better able to face a variety of calamities. To see the glory of God as a regular part of our lives makes some of the things that overwhelm us seem a tad less intimidating.
December 21, 2015
LCM
Monday, April 29, 2013
Psalm Meditation 672
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 5, 2013
Psalm 29
1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, 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.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
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.
9 The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl,and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!
(NRSV)
One of the signs of comfort with power is the ability and willingness to share it with others. The psalmist extols the power and glory wielded in God’s voice alone. The voice of God has the power to break cedars and to make the ground look like the jumping of a young animal. The voice of God has the power to change everything in an instant. The power of God’s voice is frightening to some and awe inspiring to those with an awareness of the source of all this power.
At the same time that God is wreaking havoc on the world, the psalmist asks for strength and blessing for the people of God. It is the equivalent to interrupting a dictator, who wields absolute power over others, in mid tirade in order to ask a favor. There is as much danger of instant death at the hand of the dictator as there is chance of getting a hearing. The psalmist is confident that God is not a power mad dictator.
There are folks who see God as a frightening tyrant. These folks do all that they do out of fear that they will somehow offend God and end any chance of spending eternity in God’s presence. (And why would anyone want to spend eternity in the presence of anyone who is both absolutely powerful and easily offended?) Others see God as one who wields power and shares it with others at the same time. This God can scoop us up mid tirade and give us comfort and peace. God offers us a share of the strength we witness on a regular basis and blesses us with the ability to use that strength as free people of God.
April 29, 2013
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 5, 2013
Psalm 29
1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, 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.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
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.
9 The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl,and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!
(NRSV)
One of the signs of comfort with power is the ability and willingness to share it with others. The psalmist extols the power and glory wielded in God’s voice alone. The voice of God has the power to break cedars and to make the ground look like the jumping of a young animal. The voice of God has the power to change everything in an instant. The power of God’s voice is frightening to some and awe inspiring to those with an awareness of the source of all this power.
At the same time that God is wreaking havoc on the world, the psalmist asks for strength and blessing for the people of God. It is the equivalent to interrupting a dictator, who wields absolute power over others, in mid tirade in order to ask a favor. There is as much danger of instant death at the hand of the dictator as there is chance of getting a hearing. The psalmist is confident that God is not a power mad dictator.
There are folks who see God as a frightening tyrant. These folks do all that they do out of fear that they will somehow offend God and end any chance of spending eternity in God’s presence. (And why would anyone want to spend eternity in the presence of anyone who is both absolutely powerful and easily offended?) Others see God as one who wields power and shares it with others at the same time. This God can scoop us up mid tirade and give us comfort and peace. God offers us a share of the strength we witness on a regular basis and blesses us with the ability to use that strength as free people of God.
April 29, 2013
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