Wednesday December 9, 2009 HIS VOICE Give to the LORD, you heavenly beings. Give to the LORD glory and power. Give to the LORD the glory his name deserves. Worship the LORD in his holy splendor. The voice of the LORD rolls over the water. The God of glory thunders. The LORD shouts over raging water. The voice of the LORD is powerful. The voice of the LORD is majestic. Psalm 29:1-4 I find three major themes in today's passage: 1. Praising God is fun. 2. God clothes us with His glory. 3. God speaks through the thunder. First, let's talk about praise. Psalm 134:2 says, "Lift your hands toward the holy place, and praise the LORD." I know I've mentioned this before, but seventeen years ago when I attended a retreat called "The Walk to Emmaus" (a very dear friend of mine just attend and I think he enjoyed it too) I was astonished when people began raising their hands in praise to God. I was a little hesitant at first, but as the weekend progressed my hands went higher and higher. Now, people are raising their hands in praise in churches everywhere! David said in Psalm 28:2, "Hear my prayer for mercy when I call to you for help, when I lift my hands toward your most holy place." When we make a conscious choice to praise Him or seek His help and raise our hands in total abandonment to Him, He fills us with joy! Now, let's talk about garments. Isaiah 61:10 says it best, "I will find joy in the LORD. I will delight in my God. He has dressed me in the clothes of salvation. He has wrapped me in the robe of righteousness like a bridegroom with a priest's turban, like a bride with her jewels." God clothes us with His salvation and adorns us with the robe of righteousness, not because we are good, but because He loves us. However, He allows us the choice, will we wear these marvelous garments, or will we continue to put on sack cloth and ashes or a garment of heaviness? Okay, now the thunder part. Psalm 81:7 says, "When you were in trouble, you called out to me, and I rescued you. I was hidden in thunder, but I answered you. I tested your loyalty at the oasis of Meribah." Max Lucado says God speaks to us with a voice of "Gentle Thunder." Many times during praise and worship I long to hear God's voice echo through the room; to feel the thunder of His majesty. Instead, I hear a silent voice assuring me of His love for me and His pleasure. Yet, one day, He will again speak with that voice of thunder as all men are drawn into His presence at the judgment. So, as we lift our hands in praise, allow Him to dress us in garments of righteousness, and listen for the gentle thunder of His voice, we can experience His hope. There is hope in the gentle hands of God. Jesus truly is the reason for the season - celebrate His birth in your heart this year! He will visit us with His glory as we share His gift of love with others - Jesus Christ!
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