Poetry enlightens the eyes of our hearts, and thunderstorms strike awe in our hearts regarding God’s strength and power.  King David was called the sweet psalmist of Israel and a man after God’s own heart. The Spirit of the LORD spoke by him, and it was the His word on David’s tongue (2 Sam 23:1-2). David paints for Israel a picture of a thunderstorm that evidently is East, North, and South of him as he observes it. David poetically encourages Israel to ascribe (give credit) to the LORD for His strength, glory, splendor, and holiness, and so, let the nature of God result in their worship of God, a worship that will strengthen and give peace to His people.  One example of all this is Psalm 29.

 

Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty ones,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

2     Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

3     The voice of the Lord is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.

4     The voice of the Lord is powerful;

the voice of the Lord is majestic.

5     The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;

the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

6     He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,

Sirion like a young wild ox.

7     The voice of the Lord strikes

with flashes of lightning.

8     The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;

the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.

9     The voice of the Lord twists the oaks

and strips the forests bare.

And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

10   The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;

the Lord is enthroned as King forever.

11   The Lord gives strength to his people;

the Lord blesses his people with peace (Ps 29 NIV).

The ability to observe and appreciate poetry and thunderstorms are God given, and both should leave us inspired with God’s power and His splendor. The ability to worship God in a way that strengthens and gives us peace is also God given. I pray we enjoy the blessings afforded those who make use of these gifts!

 

Peace,

Jay Don

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