Thunderstorms are an amazing display of immense power. Scientists have reported that in one flash of lightning there is more energy released than all the energy of an atomic bomb.
In Psalm 23:3-9 David describes the coming of a thunderstorm from the Mediterranean Sea (v. 3) as it travels from northern Palestine (vv. 5-7) to southern Palestine (vv. 8-9). He writes:
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
The God of glory thunders;
The Lord is over many waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars,
Yes, the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes them also skip like a calf,
Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
The Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth,
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!”
The immense power of this storm splintered the cedars of Lebanon. These 150 feet tall trees—8 to 10 feet in circumference and used in the construction of the temple—were like toothpicks in this glorious light and power show. The mountains—Lebanon and Sirion—shook and trembled.
From this intense storm, David learned the three R’s of spiritual life. They are:
- Reverence for the authority of Jehovah. “Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (vv. 1-2).
- Respect for the voice of Jehovah. “The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare; and in His temple everyone says, ‘Glory!’” (v. 9).
- Reasons for the worship of Jehovah. “The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood, and the Lord sits as King forever” (v. 10).
How well do you know the three R’s of spiritual life?
Good and timely.