March 19th - Psalm 29:3–4

Psalm 29:3–4 David repeatedly refers to the voice of the Lord in this psalm. On seven occasions he talks of the way in which God speaks powerfully through creation. He graphically describes the way in which God’s power and majesty are displayed in thunder and lightning. He speaks of the way in which this power is so great that it shatters the cedars of Lebanon and even makes the wilderness shake. Many of the psalms are focused on the worship of God in the temple but this psalm encourages worshippers to go outside and recognise the awesome power of God in creation. This is a good challenge for all of us. It’s so easy for us to allow our experience of God to be trapped by our personal walk with him or the life of our church. Both of those aspects of the Christian life are vital, but we should never neglect to look outside and see how powerful and majestic he is. We all need to take time to look at this amazing world and acknowledge that it is the work of our awesome Creator God. Thomas Brooks, the 17th-century preacher, expressed this well when he wrote: “What are the heavens, the earth, the sea, but a sheet of royal paper, written all over with the wisdom and love of God?” What I love about this question is that Brooks is encouraging us to expect God to speak to us from creation. I wonder how you will hear the voice of the Lord speaking to you today as you look at his creation. Question When do you hear God speaking to you most clearly from creation, and what have you heard him say? Prayer Creator God, I worship you for this amazing world that you have made. Forgive me that I have so often taken it
for granted. Help me to listen more carefully for your voice in creation. Amen