When God Storms In
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles, uncategorizedA favorite image for God in several of the psalms is that of a thunderstorm. God’s power is violent and turbulent as a tornado. The thunderstorm represents God as a physical manifestation of His mighty power. Using natural phenomena to evoke an experience of the divine is not unusual in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Psalm 29:3-9 is a hymn to God, presenting His manifestation in the thunderstorm.
“The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
The God of glory thunders;
The Lord is over many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.”
The phrase, “voice of the Lord” occurs seven times in this Psalm. The number seven symbolizes fullness and completeness. The voice of the Lord is a synonym for mighty thunder. What majesty lies in His voice! What fearsome power! With that voice …. God, is able to control all of His creation.
Armed with thunder and lightening the Lord controls the most humble of his creatures to the most powerful. He controls the universe
“The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; The Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!”
In Psalm 97:1-5, the storm imagery again appears. God’s power is life-giving as well as controlling the destructive powers of the universe.
“The Lord reigns;
Let the earth rejoice;
Let the multitude of isles be glad!
Clouds and darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
A fire goes before Him,
And burns up His enemies round about.
His lightning’s light the world;
The earth sees and trembles.The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples see His glory.”
God is exalted as King and Protector. The natural elements of nature extol his mighty powers. He is not only the personification of the powers of the universe, but his great majesty is combined with the divine qualities of righteousness and justice. What is man’s power compared the Almighty and powerful God!
We are in awe of His mighty power!
Therefore, let us “Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name” (Psalm 97:12).
What a great God we serve!
—Barbara Hyland, guest writer