June 1, 2016 – Psalm 29:8-9

The voice of the Lord makes the barren wilderness quake; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.  Psalm 29:8On a warm sunny day, with white clouds floating lazily in the sky, we don’t expect any calamities.  There are smiles all around us.  The wind is a gentle breeze.Without warning, our skies darken, the wind rises, and a storm envelopes us.  As the solid ground under us shakes, the unshakeable oak trees twist and turn before our eyes.  The savage wind rips the leaves from the trees and threatens to topple us.We want to wail and cry, “Why, O Lord, Why me?  It was going so well.”  Then we remember Him who made us and our world.Our storm may include the sudden losses of family, possessions, or health.  The storm that will come will cause devastation of all we hold dear.  It is then we realize for a surety where our comfort, our joy and our heart belongs.  Faith in God is more than an idea or words.  It is trusting and caring in the depths of our souls, the strength and joy of the Lord wells up in a growing understanding.And we join God’s people and the angels and shout, “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting! Let all the people say, “Amen!”  (Psalm 106:48) O God, we give glory to you all day long and constantly praise your name. (Psalm 44:8)  Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. All glory to God forever and ever!  (Galatians 1:4-5)  They sang, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.”  (Revelation 7:12)  And we join in a mighty chorus of ‘Glory, Glory, Glory to God!‘The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks and strips the forests bare. In his Temple everyone shouts, “Glory!” Psalm 29:9