Safe or Good? Psalm 29

A text – Psalm 29

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

A reflection:

We, being human, think of God as like us, a being of some sort, usually bigger or older or in some way greater – a higher power, a Michelangelo-drawn white-haired creator, a superior being. But some theologians I know like to ask the question, “What if God were not a noun but a verb?”

As I encounter this psalm this week in order to write something to you about it, it is reminding me of that great question. This psalm is all about what the voice of the Lord can do. The Lord’s voice causes trees to break and causes Lebanon and Sirion to skip and prance like young beasts. The Lord’s voice flashes flames, shakes the wilderness, and whirls trees around. The Lord’s voice is capable of causing both damage and joy, and it possesses glory, strength, and reigning power. Just God’s voice. It is always causing action. Maybe God is a verb.

For folks who like to control their environment (and who doesn’t?), we are much more comfortable with a Lord God who isn’t a verb, who doesn’t do much of anything unless it is to intervene in a cause in the way we specify. But this Lord, in Psalm 29, does a lot just by voice. This voice does things we could never do and probably would not want to be done. This voice of the Lord is not in our control. Perhaps verses 10 and 11 may calm us down a little: If the Lord is king forever, may this powerful Lord give humans strength as well as peace. In these verses, God the most powerful set of actions anywhere stoops to give human beings strength and peace. That would be very good of God, wouldn’t it?

If you have a relationship with God, and you believe that God is tame and sweet, this psalm about great power and movement might be a rude wake-up call. If so, may I please point you to one of my favorite books in the world, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis. In it the children are about to be introduced to Aslan, the great Christ-figure lion mentioned in the title. Susan, the older sister who often misses the point, asks their friend, an actual beaver called Mr. Beaver, “Is he quite – safe?…” and Mr. Beaver replies, “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

The Lord God isn’t under our control. He is not safe. But he is good. He’s the King, I tell you. Beavers know more than you think.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for being our God, King of the Universe. Help us to remember your power and lordship. Help us to be grateful for your love and care, and that you walk with us as a loving parent all the days of our life. Amen.