When God Storms In

A favorite image for God in several of the psalms is that of a thunderstorm. God’s power is violent and turbulent as a tornado. The thunderstorm represents God as a physical manifestation of His mighty power. Using natural phenomena to evoke an experience of the divine is not unusual in the Hebrew Scriptures. Psalm 29:3-9 is a hymn to God, presenting His manifestation in the thunderstorm:

“The voice of the Lord is over the waters; 
The God of glory thunders; 
The Lord is over many waters. 
The voice of the Lord is powerful; 
The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.”

The phrase, “voice of the Lord” occurs seven times in this Psalm. The number seven symbolizes fullness and completeness. The voice of the Lord is a synonym for mighty thunder. What majesty lies in His voice! What fearsome power! With that voice …. God, is able to control all of His creation. Armed with thunder and lightening, the Lord controls the most humble of his creatures to the most powerful. He controls the universe.

In Psalm 97:1-6, the storm imagery again appears. God’s power is life-giving as well as controlling the destructive powers of the universe.

God is exalted as King and Protector. The natural elements of nature extol his mighty powers. He is not only the personification of the powers of the universe, but his great majesty is combined with the divine qualities of righteousness and justice. What is man’s power compared to the Almighty and powerful God! We are in awe of His mighty power!

Therefore, let us “Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name” (Psalm 97:12).

What a great God we serve! —Barbara Hyland, elder's wife

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets