VI But if the Psalm preaches what Jesus was in the past, how much more does it preach what he is at present, and what he will be in the future. We see this in the testimony of the New Testament, to what Jesus did after raising from the dead, and sitting down at the right hand of God. There was a sound from heaven like the rushing mighty wind of a storm. There were flames of fire, shining like lighting, on the heads of men. In this way the reign of God’s Messiah was announced and the gospel was first preached. The words of the Psalm were proclaimed: “The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as a king forever.” This happened on the day of Pentecost, the day when Israel commemorated the voice of God at Sinai that gave them the law. It is interesting that this Psalm, Psalm 29, was traditionally read during the feast of Pentecost. For the Psalm was fulfilled again on this day, when the sound of the wind was heard, the fire was seen, and the VoicePsalm speaks of the Voice being in the wilderness, it speaks well of Jesus, when he went to the wilderness to be baptized by John and be tempted by Satan. It was there that the voice thundered from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” When it speaks of the Voice being in the multitudes of trees of a forest, it speaks well of Jesus, when he went among the crowds. Those who recognized him as the voice of God were known to fall down before him, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” When it speaks of the Voice being in the mountains, it speaks well of Jesus, sitting before the people, teaching them a sermon on a mountain. We are told that they were amazed at him, because he spoke with a power beyond their experience. It speaks well, too, of Jesus on the mountain of transfiguration, standing there with two older instruments of the voice of God, Moses and Elijah. At that time, a word thundered down, identifying him as the Voice of God. “This is my beloved Son; hear him.” When it speaks of the Voice being over the sea, it speaks well of Christ Jesus, in the boat, as he often was, with his disciples. It speaks of the voice that said to the winds and the waves, “Be still.” To the amazement of his disciples, the waves obeyed his voice. The sea, it seems, recognized the voice for what it was. It speaks well, too, of Jesus walking out to his disciples upon the sea, which terrified them when they saw it. But they were consoled when they heard his voice, “Be of good cheer, it is I.” And when it speaks of the Voice being among the cedars of Lebanon, it speaks well of the Savior, when he was hanged on a tree, the cross of Calvary. What seemed at the time to be a moment of the very heaviest weakness and despair, was found at last to be the moment of greatest power, the power to save every human being from their sins. The thunderous Voice of the Lord, remembered in a storm by the Psalmist, came again through Palestine, as the Psalmist described. Jesus did not display the full heavenly glory that we see illustrated by the sound of thunder. He laid that aside to take our nature. But his earthly ministry was nevertheless thunderous, especially on a spiritual level. What Jesus did in his ministry on earth, was indeed thunder and lightning from heaven, sweeping over the plains and hills of Palestine. VI But if the Psalm preaches what Jesus was in the past, how much more does it preach what he is at present, and what he will be in the future. We see this in the testimony of the New Testament, to what Jesus did after raising from the dead, and sitting down at the right hand of God. There was a sound from heaven like the rushing mighty wind of a storm. There were flames of fire, shining like lighting, on the heads of men. In this way the reign of God’s Messiah was announced and the gospel was first preached. The words of the Psalm were proclaimed: “The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as a king forever.” This happened on the day of Pentecost, the day when Israel commemorated the voice of God at Sinai that gave them the law. It is interesting that this Psalm, Psalm 29, was traditionally read during the feast of Pentecost. For the Psalm was fulfilled again on this day, when the sound of the wind was heard, the fire was seen, and the Voice of Jesus thundered for the first time in the preaching of the apostolic Gospel. Christ Jesus thunders from heaven still, in greater ways even than he did while on earth. The Voice of the Lord, Jesus Christ, still sweeps over the earth. It spoke to Saul of Tarsus, and struck him down. He was hit by God’s lightning. And he was changed forever. John heard the voice too, speaking with the sound of mighty waters, exhorting the churches to be faithful in their tribulations. The voice may not come so directly as it did in these examples, but it comes just as powerfully, and just as majestically. Christ Jesus still rumbles and flames across the face of the earth, striking the hearts of men and women. Sometimes, when a storm moves through, afterward things are no different than they were before. But at other times things are changed forever. The same is true with Christ, the Voice of God. One day, the Lord will strike the whole earth, and change things in an absolute, final way. He will bring the present age to an end. On that day, the prayer of the Psalmist will be answered, when he prayed, “May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!” “Peace,” the shalom so valued in the Old Testament, that perfect, harmonious, tranquility, that wholeness of happiness, will be the gift of our King to his people. So then, let’s hear this too from the Psalm. Let’s appreciate the voice of thunder, the reality of the glory of our living Lord Jesus. Here is a thunder that still rumbles and flames in the earth, striking everywhere, even in your own life, changing forever the hearts of men and women. And it is a thunder that has the power to blast away the present age, and bring the day of peace for the people of God. Conclusion These are the considerations that we are led too, from the words of the Psalm. We are left now with this question, so vital, so critical: How will I respond to the voice of God, wherever and however it comes? When we see and hear a great storm, with its mighty clouds, its terrible thundering and lightning, its sweeping rain and hail, we are naturally terrified and amazed. When a great bolt of lightning strikes nearby, followed closely by an explosion of thunder, we are struck dumb before it. If this is how we are before thunder, how should we before God? These majestic forces of nature are symbols of the majesty of God. If we cower in fear or rejoice in fascination at the thunder, how much more when the voice of God speaks! Friends, it is speaking right now to you, in your living Lord, Jesus Christ. He is saying, “Come and follow me!” He says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Let me into your life.” His voice commands us: “Walk with me, obey my teachings, go where I send you.” It pleads with us: “Shine my light in your life.” We should tremble with fear, but rejoice in fascination, at the voice of our Savior. We can only be struck silent, all our objections and rationalizations scattered away by the thunder of his voice. We can only rise up and obey. “Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your heart.” May God grant that you and I, each one of us, obey the Voice of the Lord, and do it immediately, to the praise of his glory. Amen.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Oct 2013 18:35:31 +0000
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