From the outset, Psalm 29 catches us up into its inescapable energy with its expansive sounds of angelic praise and the majestic swirling of a mighty thunderstorm. Inspired by experiencing this physical storm, the human writer calls the heavenly creatures to worship, insisting that God’s glory, strength, splendour and holiness be declared and rightly responded to. Following the path of the storm across the land, the psalmist’s focus is unavoidably on the voice of the Lord. Take a moment to read verses 3–9 again, noticing what they tell us about God’s voice. Do you hear the echo of Genesis 1:2 in verse 3? How beautiful, that even in the storm, God’s creative power is present.

As the storm moves from north to south, so the psalm shifts from worship in heaven to that of God’s people on earth. Awestruck praise arises from those aware that the consuming strength of the created storm is only a dim reflection of its Creator (v 9). But this Creator also rules over his creation, and that is a source of hope and comfort. Every storm we face is subject to his permissions and servant of his purposes, and the flood (v 10) reminds us that he is faithful to his people and the promises he has given us. This is the solid ground our strength and peace stand on.