Psalm 29

Psalm 29 (NRSV)
1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,a
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
worship the Lord in holy splendor.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl,b
and strips the forest bare;
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!
[1]

Lord,
This morning I want to affirm with the poet your glory and strength.
I want to affirm glory:
In the mystery of your being
In the majesty of creation
In the crisp cold air of a Midwestern January
And in the gentle breezes of a southern winter day
In the wonder of being alive
In the beauty of the senses
And the ability to absorb the majestic hues of day and night
In children and grandchildren
In all the is right and just and good
Lord there is not enough time nor do I have the words to declare your glory.
And your strength, I want to affirm your strength.
You speak and:
The universe is created
Lives are transformed
Nastiness becomes the opener to something good
Death becomes life
Crucifixion becomes resurrection.
Lord, give strength to your people.
Lord, give strength to me.
As I live through this day, give me eyes to behold your glory and a heart to receive your strength for the journey.

PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Name the places where you see God’s glory.
Ask for strength to meet the day.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.

a Heb sons of gods

b Or causes the deer to calve

[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989