The Storms of Life

Series on the Psalms

Text: Psalm 29

Title: The Storms of Life

Introduction

This is a Song about the terror of a thunderstorm. When you think about it that’s a strange subject for a song, except for a Christian who sees the work of God even in the fearful events of nature. Many people become frightened in thunderstorms, both children and adults. In some old versions of the Psalter the Psalms were arranged by months and this Psalm was assigned to July which is a month of frequent violent thunderstorms. We ought to think of this Psalm in the midst of the tempest because it surely provides us with a different perspective. In it we see the sermon in a violent storm. This has implications which reach far beyond a particular change in the weather. The lesson learned has application to the storms of life. But before we look at those lessons, pause to appreciate the beauty of the Psalm picturing someone in the midst of a hurricane and as the thunder roars and the lightening flashes, they are proclaiming the magnificent majesty and power of God. If only we could do this, not only in a literal storm, but also in the changes and vicissitudes of life. Herein let us learn the message of this song, for we are called to wonder, to worship and to wisdom by the storm.

I. Wonder

The thunder is the voice of God as described in verses 3-9, The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!” When the Psalmist speaks of God’s voice he is saying something about the Lord, namely that he speaks and it is done. The very word of God is enough even as we read in Genesis 1 of the creation, God said “Let there be light,” and there was light. And this voice of God is limitless in its power. Knowing God is the foundation of everything else. This song is about God the Creator and providential governor of the world. The proper name of God, Yahweh is used 18 times in this Psalm. Besides this we have mention of him as God and King, and besides that he is referred to five times by the pronouns “He,” and “His.” This makes 25 references to the sovereign ruler in the space of eleven verses. Can there be any doubt about the focus of this Psalm. Knowing God is what makes a difference in the tempest and in the trials of life. There come times in life when the tempest rages. The mountains we thought were fixed skip like calves. The proud cedars are laid low. A terrifying fork of lightening cleaves our inner world and we are surrounded by desolation. The most important thing then is to know God experientially. I remind you that you can only know God through Jesus Christ, His Son, who died for our sins. Listen again to the gospel story from Mark 4: 35-41, That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Jesus is God and the disciples were getting to know Him but more than that He was revealing by his identity with the Father that he was the only way to God. Let us wonder.

II. Worship

The opening verses of the Psalm call us to worship the Lord, verses 1 and 2, Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. Worship is essentially ascribing to the Lord his revealed character. This is how we praise Him, by recognizing who He is. This is the glory due to His name and nothing less is acceptable. But there are two particular things about this command to worship that require further comment. First, there is the reference to the splendor of His holiness. Now this Psalm is about raw power. It is not about righteousness or goodness. Thus the word holy here should be understood to mean something other than righteousness. When the Bible says God is holy, the meaning is not confined to what we normally mean when we apply the adjective to men. Holiness is otherness. It is the distinction between the Creator and the creature. It is an awful, terrible, dreadful, fearful, alarming and horrifying thing. Holiness is God’s absolute authority. It is his dependence on nothing outside of Himself. It is his uniqueness. It is his sovereign power expressed in controlling whatsoever comes to pass. It is his sovereign majesty displayed in choosing whom he will unto salvation in Christ. It is his awful right to consign sinners to eternal punishment and to bless those whom he will bless. It is what Paul is talking about in Romans 9 I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. This is holiness. It is the most essential ingredient in God’s character and it is why we must worship Him. The other thing I would point out about this worship is that the command is addressed to the mighty ones. Some people think this means just angels. In fact in verse 9 we read, In His temple, all cry Glory. But I think the Psalmist is not being so literal. The mighty include all who would be tempted to exalt themselves against his holiness. They are those who have reason to think that somehow they have power in themselves. It is to remind us that not only the poor, the humble, the weak, but the mighty are as nothing in the presence of the Lord God almighty. This realization is also part of true worship.

III. Wisdom

The wisdom of the Psalm is simply stated in verses 10 and 11, The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. Because God is enthroned, because he reigns absolutely, those who trust in him need never fear. The Lord gives strength and peace to his people in the midst of the storm. Courage and calmness belong to those who know God and worship Him in the midst of life’s storms. It is this remarkable confidence that we are in His hand and absolutely nothing can occur which is not His will and not for our good. But it is more than saying that he has our good interests in view. That is true. But it is a wisdom born of knowing who God is. It is anchored in His character as the unchanging one. As almighty and good. It is a kind of abandonment to the one who is our eternal home. It is a recognition that there is only one port in the storm. Sinful, suffering, and shaken we recognize that God is our only hope no matter how bad things get, and he has revealed to us that he will be a refuge.

Summary of Psalm 29

In the Twenty-ninth Psalm David sings the almighty power of God in the midst of the storm. God speaks and it is done. All men and things move at the impulse of his voice. To truly know God is to ascribe to Him this absolute authority and power. The thunderstorms of life are more than frightening phenomena. They are a reminder that in the splendor of His holiness God will do whatever he desires as long as it is consistent with His character. On this mighty power our deliverance depends. Jesus demonstrated this same power when he rebuked the wind on the sea of Galilee and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be Still.” To this mighty God we flee for refuge because the Son of God, through His suffering and death has shown his people, that He loves them. There is no other port in the storms of life because God speaks our source, our situation, and our salvation by His almighty Word.