Psalm 29
Preaching
A Journey Through the Psalms: Reflections for Worried Hearts and Troubled Times
Preaching the Psalms Cycles A, B, C
Object:
Anyone who has ever worked with other people knows that it's important to give credit where it's due. If a coworker does a good job on a project, he or she should be acknowledged for a job well done. If a supervisor or boss has people working for him or her, it's common knowledge that praise given for work done is not only a good idea, it makes good business sense.
Yes, it's a pretty simple formula, and most people live by it in one form or another. If the child gets a good grade in school, the parents offer praise. The friend does a favor, she gets the voice of thanks. And if someone "goes the extra mile" (Matthew 5:41), we turn up the volume of praise.
This psalm comes with the volume on high! Giving God the praise, the credit, and the glory flow from these words with breathtaking clarity. The greatness and wonder of God is harvested in words that span a dizzying spectrum. From the giddiness of a young calf to gale-force winds that lay whole forests to waste, God's power is present and in charge. From the mystic beauty of ocean's depth to the visceral boom of thunderstorms close at hand, God sits, as the psalmist notes, "on the throne."
Indeed, it's a good thing to give credit where it's due. Not only is it the right and honest thing to do, it's also a source of relief. That's right. God's in charge, not me. Alleluia! If I'm not in charge, then I don't need to be in control. And if I don't need to be in control, then I can release my spirit and my heart for obedience, not to my desires, but to God's!
For these reasons, praying this psalm is a powerful way to center the spirit and orient the heart. Placing God at the center, giving God the glory and the credit, and then removing ourselves from the drive to control are key components on the path to faithfulness.
And, like our conversion to faith, which ever unfolds in prayer and faithfulness, this is not a prayer said only once. This is a prayer repeated often as we learn ever and always to give ourselves to God's sovereignty in our lives. So it is that we "ascribe" to God the glory and the splendor. So it is that we give ourselves to God in worship, not merely on Sunday mornings, but in each moment of our lives.
Yes, it's a pretty simple formula, and most people live by it in one form or another. If the child gets a good grade in school, the parents offer praise. The friend does a favor, she gets the voice of thanks. And if someone "goes the extra mile" (Matthew 5:41), we turn up the volume of praise.
This psalm comes with the volume on high! Giving God the praise, the credit, and the glory flow from these words with breathtaking clarity. The greatness and wonder of God is harvested in words that span a dizzying spectrum. From the giddiness of a young calf to gale-force winds that lay whole forests to waste, God's power is present and in charge. From the mystic beauty of ocean's depth to the visceral boom of thunderstorms close at hand, God sits, as the psalmist notes, "on the throne."
Indeed, it's a good thing to give credit where it's due. Not only is it the right and honest thing to do, it's also a source of relief. That's right. God's in charge, not me. Alleluia! If I'm not in charge, then I don't need to be in control. And if I don't need to be in control, then I can release my spirit and my heart for obedience, not to my desires, but to God's!
For these reasons, praying this psalm is a powerful way to center the spirit and orient the heart. Placing God at the center, giving God the glory and the credit, and then removing ourselves from the drive to control are key components on the path to faithfulness.
And, like our conversion to faith, which ever unfolds in prayer and faithfulness, this is not a prayer said only once. This is a prayer repeated often as we learn ever and always to give ourselves to God's sovereignty in our lives. So it is that we "ascribe" to God the glory and the splendor. So it is that we give ourselves to God in worship, not merely on Sunday mornings, but in each moment of our lives.
