Psalm 29: Visible Sound

Psalm 29
Visible Sound

1. Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, 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.  

Psalm 29 calls for acknowledgment and worship of the Lord, demonstrating his majesty through the thunderous sound of his voice, while praising the Lord for blessing his people with strength and peace.

In verses 3-9, the voice of the Lord is vividly illustrated as the sound of thunder and lightning. Each of the seven voices is described in a visible manner. The sound resting gently on the water (3), a powerful voice like augmented strength, a sound that breaks cedar trees (4), a voice cutting through flames like fire (7), a sound that shakes the wilderness (8), and the voice that causes the doe to give birth (9).  

The thunderous voice of the Lord does not dissipate; it transforms into visible actions. Thus, God's voice is powerful and full of life. God's voice makes the cedars leap like calves and shakes the barren stillness of the desolate desert. The voice of the Lord brings new life to the does.  

God's voice is not merely a transient sound heard in the ear; it is a visible sound that moves, changes, renews, and gives life.  

Lord, may your powerful voice transform the cries of the suffering into peace! Let the sounds of praise for you fill the places filled with gunfire, explosions, and the scent of gunpowder, overflowing with joyful celebration. Holy Spirit, guide us in truth. Amen.