Psalm 29

NOTE: On May 30^th I am moving to North Carolina. I have already prepared meditations for the next several days and they are scheduled to be posted at 6:30 AM each morning. However, I may not be able to respond to your email inquiries for the next few days.
 
Psalm 29 is thought to be one of the oldest poems in the Psalms. The number seven in the Bible connotes the perfection of God and seven times the psalmist refers to the voice of God; thus, the theme of the sovereign rule of God is supported by the form of the poem to affirm God’s rule is complete. The psalm also identifies the neighboring countries of Israel to support the thought that God is sovereign over all creation; nature, humankind and nation states.

The theme of Psalm 29 is often repeated in the psalms. As an example, consider the opening verses of Psalm 121: “I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!”

Here, the psalmist was contrasting his belief in the LORD, to the people who worshipped the god Baal and believed Baal lived in the mountains. This is similar in form to what we saw in Psalm 20: “Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.”

This is a very hard psalm for American Christians to take seriously. In worship services, following the teaching Paul in 1 Timothy 2 and Titus 3, I often pray to “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient” (Titus 3:1). Because Americans are a rebellious lot, and do not want to submit to authority, I’ve had people object to my prayers.

Our God loves us unconditionally. He died for us while were yet sinners. He will never, ever give up on us. Nevertheless, His sovereign rule is absolute and complete. God is at work in our lives, bringing us to the time when we will joyfully pray to God, “My life does not belong to me. My life belongs to God. By creation and redemption my life belongs to God.” (See Philippians 2:13)

We know that God is at work transforming our lives to become like Christ. Today is a good day to examine your life. Will you pray Psalm 29 as your personal prayer, with joy and conviction? How enthusiastically you embrace God’s complete sovereign rule in your life is a good indicator of how far along the path of transformation you have journeyed.

Sē’lah

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What word or phrase in today’s reading of the Psalms

 attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

Reading for May 31, 2012  Psalm 30