Through The Storm

Psalm 29

At first I really didn't want to write about this Psalm, not because I don't like it but because I didn't understand it. Sure, I know what the words mean - God is great, blah blah - but I didn't give the Psalm a chance to really speak to me. I looked at the other passages from the week's lectionary, all of which had something to say, but for some reason I wasn't able to move on.

I sat in silence to reflect on the Psalm - nothing. I closed my eyes and envisioned the Psalm - nothing. I read each line slowly, taking in the meaning of each word and phrase - nothing. What was I to do? The Psalm just didn't inspire me...Sorry.

Then, as I clicked on different commentaries and descriptions about Psalm 29 I came across one which said that the Psalm would have been read aloud during a "tempest." Not simply a storm, or even a thunderstorm. The words written in this particular Psalm is meant to be read amid, and even above, the noises which a strong-winded, heavy-rain filled, extremely loud thunder-clapping storm brings.

Not only were the words meant to be said during such a storm - a storm which could bring down the walls of a King David-era middle-low class house, a storm which can knock down the fences of a sheepfold and scatter one's livelihood - but these words were, and are, meant to remind us that no storm, in fact nothing, is more powerful than our God.

God's voice is stronger than the wind. God's voice is louder than the thunder. God's voice can do what no storm can do and snap the mighty cedars into pieces. Yet the Psalm reminds us that God's voice can also calm the storm. It is for that reason we give glory to God, because although God is mightier than the mightiest storm, God is the one who will keep us safe in the storm and bring us through it.

No matter the storms in your life - addictions, doubts, sickness, poverty - know that there is a God who can, and does, huddle you in strong arms to keep you safe until the storm has passed.