#DailyDevotion Join The Angels In A Hymn Of Praise
Psalm 29 Give to the LORD, O sons of God, give to the LORD glory and power; 2give to the LORD the glory due His name. Worship the LORD in holy splendor.
It is often not perceived but we should take note of the angels in heaven worship with us when we gather together for worship. These holy beings whose faces behold the glory of the LORD join us in our hymns of praise when we worship as the Church. We see such worship in Revelation chapters 5-7.
So here David calls upon these heavenly beings to give to the LORD glory and power, to give Him the glory due His name, and worship Him in holy splendor. If heavenly beings are being invoked to worship the LORD in this manner how much more are we called to join them in this worship. If we think about it, it may move us to worship the LORD more fervently when we sing our hymns in the congregation.
What is it to give the LORD glory, power and the glory due His name? It is to tell of all His marvelous deeds. It is to give Him alone credit for our salvation. It is to give Him credit for all our good things. It is to praise Him for creation and its maintenance.
3The LORD’s voice is over the waters; the God of glory is thundering; the LORD is over many waters.
The voice of the LORD (LORD’s voice in this translation) is repeated seven times. We have a seven-fold voice of the LORD. It denotes the divine quality of the LORD’s voice. In this opening praise of the voice, it invokes a number of scriptural narratives concerning water. We have creation itself where the world is covered in water and the LORD commands its retreat to form dry land. He parts the waters of the Red Sea to save the Israelites and commands it to fall upon the Egyptians. Through Moses, the Rock produces water. He divides the Jordan River so Israel may enter the Promised Land. The LORD Jesus Christ calms the sea. If you’ve ever been at sea, particularly in a storm, the ability to command the great waters would utterly stun you. They seem so overwhelming to us.
It demonstrates Its/His (Jesus is the Word of God) power and majesty. Perhaps in the Old Testament when we run across the “Voice of the LORD” we should be thinking Jesus, the Word of God. Most importantly for us, the Voice of the LORD is joined to the waters of Holy Baptism. There He washes clean from our iniquities. Our sins though like scarlet are made white as snow. Though our sins are as crimson, they are made white as wool. In the waters of baptism, the Voice of the LORD makes us children of God, heirs of the heavenly Father and rulers over creation with Him. For such power and might, the LORD our God deserves our ascribing to Him power, glory and might.
Heavenly Father, Your voice commands the waters, the oceans, rivers and lakes. Most importantly for us, it cleanses us of our sins and makes us Your holy children. Open our lips always that we may sing Your praise and Your Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Word of God. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.