The Voice of the Lord

Psalm 29

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
worship the Lord in holy splendor.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl,
and strips the forest bare;
and in his temple all say, "Glory!"

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!

There are days when situations or relationships escallate with an intensity that rattle our minds and hearts. We are buffeted by words spoken to us or that emerge from our inner being that seem to chip away at our sense of peace and We may describe those days as "crazy"...or "overwhelming" or in simplest terms "bad". I've experienced those days even when nothing was apparently wrong.

Then there are days when everything seems to flow with purpose... a pleasant tapestry where everything seems to connect in harmony. It is almost as if the moments have been choreographed by a Master Planner. The words spoken and heard throughout the day vibrate with peaceful contentment...and they settle into a trust that all is and shall be well. I've experienced those days even when situations have, on one level or another, been quite chaotic.

Today's Psalm reminds me that there is a voice, God's voice, that overrides all of the voices of the world...including the inner world where my ego or emotions can compete for my attention.

Nomatter how severe your life's circumstances become, their power collapses in the presence of God. God's voice trumps the world and the human condition, to override everything with God's desire (and God's promise) to strengthen and shelter God's people in peace.