Psalm 29

Psalm 29
The Message (MSG)

  29 1-2 Bravo, God, bravo! Gods and all angels shout, “Encore!” In awe before the glory, in awe before God’s visible power. Stand at attention! Dress your best to honor him! 3 God thunders across the waters, Brilliant, his voice and his face, streaming brightness— God, across the flood waters. 4 God’s thunder tympanic, God’s thunder symphonic. 5 God’s thunder smashes cedars, God topples the northern cedars. 6 The mountain ranges skip like spring colts, The high ridges jump like wild kid goats.

  7-8 God’s thunder spits fire. God thunders, the wilderness quakes; He makes the desert of Kadesh shake. 9 God’s thunder sets the oak trees dancing A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches. We fall to our knees—we call out, “Glory!” 10 Above the floodwaters is God’s throne from which his power flows, from which he rules the world. 11 God makes his people strong. God gives his people peace.

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  Imagine that you've lived your entire life in a desert, having never seen more than a bucket of water at once.  Then, one day late in life, you're picked up in a helicopter that carries you out to an island in the middle of the ocean.  The sheer volume of water would be astounding, unlike anything you've ever been able to fathom or imagine.  Perhaps you had heard stories of such places, but until you witnessed such abundant water you could not grasp it.

  I believe that's similar to how God is.  In this life, we get a basic understanding of God.  God's glory shines around us, in the natural world and through the selfless love of people.  We read Scripture and begin to see how amazing God is, and we hear stories and sermons that illustrate the truth about God.

  But God is so much greater, so much grander than we can begin to fathom or imagine.  His abundance and love are beyond any idea we can begin to think, no matter how bold it may be.  As Paul says, now we see dimly, but then we shall see face to face.  One day, we shall be immersed in the vastness of his love, and his majesty will overwhelm us forever.

May the grace of God astound you today