One of my favorite parts of Springtime are the sights, sounds, and smells of a thunderstorm! The flash of the lightning, the crack of the thunder, the smell and sounds of the rain are all things that I have come to enjoy through the years. It is in the midst of a thunderstorm, that you get a glimpse of the majesty and power of God as displayed in nature. You get a reminder of how big God is and how small you are. You are reminded of God’s power and your own feebleness.
In Psalm 29, David likens the voice of God to the thunder in a storm. Many Bible commentators believe that David penned these words as he viewed a storm roll across the land. David began this psalm by giving glory to God- “Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name…” (vv. 1-2a). As he saw the storm clouds forming, David didn’t run from the storm, but rather, ascribed glory to the One who he knew was in perfect and complete control of the storm.
David began to describe the storm in vv. 3-9- “…the God of glory thundereth…the voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty…The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars…The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness…The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve…” It is significant that David referenced God’s voice seven times between vv. 3-9. As David viewed this mighty storm, he couldn’t help but think of the mighty voice of God. He likened God’s voice to the thunder roaring across the sky and shaking the earth. He likened God’s voice to the bolts of lightning breaking and splintering the mighty cedars into pieces. The storms remind us of the power in God’s voice. In verse 10, we find that although the storms come and go, God remains seated upon His throne! The verse says that He “…sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever” . The storms of earth come and go but God remains unchanged, and His throne remains unmoved!
Being a Christian does not prevent a person from experiencing the storms of life- trials, heartaches, losses, sickness, and disappointments. However, as believers in Christ, we should not fear the storms of life. We should not run from the storms of life. Rather, we ought to see the storms of life as that which God has providentially allowed into our life to turn our gaze upon Him! God has promised strength and peace as learn to lean on Him through the storms of life. Verse 11 says- “The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.” As you walk the walk of faith, there may be many storms that come and go. There may be many heartaches and losses and griefs. Yet we must remember that when storms come into our life and shake us to core of our being, that God is still on His throne, He is in control, and He is working out His purposes and plans. For those who know and love Christ, God is working all things together for our good and for His glory!
H.A. Ironside said regarding this Psalm- “It is a wonderful picture of the soul that has gone through its exercises, its stress, its trouble, but has learned that God is over all, that He is strong to save. And so the heart rests in Him and is at peace.”
When the storms of life come, do you turn your focus to the Almighty God? Do you rest in His power and control? Do you find your strength and peace in Him?
~Pastor Aaron Francis
