Psalm 29
Preaching
A Journey Through the Psalms: Reflections for Worried Hearts and Troubled Times
Preaching the Psalms Cycles A, B, C
Object:
Certain people have unforgettable voices. Among them are some of the great preachers God has sent us in recent years. The late William Sloane Coffin comes to mind, with his voice ringing out from the pulpit at Riverside Church in New York City. Here was a voice of power. His eloquence and clarity led a generation into faith-based work for peace and social justice. Anyone who ever heard him preach remembers his voice.
Of course, there was the voice of Martin Luther King Jr. The passionate cadence of his preaching led a movement that looms large in history. His spirit, infused with God's, flung his words to millions who responded by joining the good work for racial justice and peace.
There are many voices that have come to us over the years. Preachers, prophets, community leaders, and even a few politicians have stood out as their voices reached out to the multitude. The utterances are clear, recognizable, and filled with power. Remembering the sounds of these voices leads us into a reading of this psalm as we prepare to hear the "voice of the Lord." It is a voice that seizes us through the awesome panoply of nature. The psalmist hears it in the thunder and listens to it as it hovers over the waters in unimaginable creativity and wonder. The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. It can shatter mighty trees and it can cause us to dance for joy.
When was the last time such a voice was heard among us? Has the voice ceased to speak? Or have we forgotten how to listen? Truth be told, it is difficult enough to listen, even to one another, in the cacophony of the world in which we live. How is it that we can stop what we're doing long enough to listen for the voice of the Lord?
Not an easy call, is it? But there it is.
This psalm grabs us by the collar and calls us to focus upon God. This psalm bids us let go of our projects and our addiction to being in charge and calls the reader to give all the glory to God. In other words, God gets all the credit, not you or me. It is, after all, God who is the focus of our worship. And it is, perhaps within the wonder of such focus, that the voice of God becomes discernible.
How is it, then, that our communities can stop the business of projects and fund-raisers? How is it that the flurry of programs and ministries can be stilled so that a people might focus on hearing the "voice of the Lord"?
It could be, as this psalm indicates, "hovering over the water." It could also be in the wonder of our children or in the joy of authentic community. This voice, this Word, that comes finally to us in the person of Jesus, is something that each person of faith needs to hear.
The trick, it seems, is learning how to listen.
Of course, there was the voice of Martin Luther King Jr. The passionate cadence of his preaching led a movement that looms large in history. His spirit, infused with God's, flung his words to millions who responded by joining the good work for racial justice and peace.
There are many voices that have come to us over the years. Preachers, prophets, community leaders, and even a few politicians have stood out as their voices reached out to the multitude. The utterances are clear, recognizable, and filled with power. Remembering the sounds of these voices leads us into a reading of this psalm as we prepare to hear the "voice of the Lord." It is a voice that seizes us through the awesome panoply of nature. The psalmist hears it in the thunder and listens to it as it hovers over the waters in unimaginable creativity and wonder. The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. It can shatter mighty trees and it can cause us to dance for joy.
When was the last time such a voice was heard among us? Has the voice ceased to speak? Or have we forgotten how to listen? Truth be told, it is difficult enough to listen, even to one another, in the cacophony of the world in which we live. How is it that we can stop what we're doing long enough to listen for the voice of the Lord?
Not an easy call, is it? But there it is.
This psalm grabs us by the collar and calls us to focus upon God. This psalm bids us let go of our projects and our addiction to being in charge and calls the reader to give all the glory to God. In other words, God gets all the credit, not you or me. It is, after all, God who is the focus of our worship. And it is, perhaps within the wonder of such focus, that the voice of God becomes discernible.
How is it, then, that our communities can stop the business of projects and fund-raisers? How is it that the flurry of programs and ministries can be stilled so that a people might focus on hearing the "voice of the Lord"?
It could be, as this psalm indicates, "hovering over the water." It could also be in the wonder of our children or in the joy of authentic community. This voice, this Word, that comes finally to us in the person of Jesus, is something that each person of faith needs to hear.
The trick, it seems, is learning how to listen.
