Psalm 29 All the imagery in Ps. 29:3-9 suggests a mighty storm – a tornado or hurricane, even – with thunder and lightning, trees set on fire or splintered and uprooted. These storms must have been fearful to ancient peoples; even a mighty storm short of a tornado or hurricane could cause severe damage. Today we are less fearful as we sit in our well-built, sturdy homes; even tornado warnings induce only a casual glance or get ignored completely. Then the worst happens – hurricanes and wildfires – and we see God’s power and we cry to Him for deliverance.
David, in his closing verses (having recognized the power that is his God, Yahweh) gives the Lord the glory due Him: …and in His temple all cry, “Glory!” (v. 9b) He recognizes God as the King, enthroned as Lord over all and he sees His people as fully blessed with strength and peace. I’m afraid that with our modern science and technology we can be almost immune to God’s work in our natural world. It seems to me that they knew better back then than we know today…
When I read today’s psalm, I was struck by the powerful images, meant to bring us into awe of our God. A God like that can do anything! Ironically, I had just read an email from a friend in Texas who had sheltered in a closet while a tornado passed by last night—her description of its noise and power were terrifying. Hope I never go through that!
So is it sacrilege to say that the contrast of the last line amused me? “The Lord blesses his people with peace.” After the very non-peaceful descriptions of the previous lines, I am surely glad that God is on our side…