It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a good thunderstorm . . . a while since I took advantage of a wall-rattling storm to just sit and listen and watch. There is something about sitting there anticipating the next peal of thunder as it roles in and then explodes overhead . . . about watching the sky, waiting for the next time it lights up . . . about witnessing a bolt of lightning connect the heavens to the earth. Have you ever seen the lighting and then started to count as you waited for the thunder . . . only to not even get to “two” before your house is hammered with a sonic boom? It’s kind of scary! . . . and kind of exhilarating! . . . all at the same time. But you know, for all those times I took to “enjoy” a good thunderstorm, I never once wrote a song of praise because of it. David didn’t waste the opportunity.

I’m reading Psalm 29 this morning. Seven times in these 11 verses David describes “the voice of the Lord.” “The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders . . . the voice of the Lord is powerful . . . is full of majesty . . . breaks the cedars . . . divides the flames of fire . . . shakes the wilderness . . . makes the deer give birth, and strips the forests bare” (29:3-9). Awesome! It makes me think of some of those hot summer night thunder and lightning storms we experienced when we lived in the B.C. interior. You knew you were witnessing raw power unleashed from the sky . . . oh, had I only had my head more in the game, they would have also been opportunities to recognize something of the power of God. Then I too, just as David did, could have praised Him in the storm.

David’s response to bone rattling-thunder and eye-blinding lightning was to call all of heaven to a worship meeting: “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 . . . and in His temple everyone says, “Glory!” (29:1-2,9b). Talk about your light show . . . talk about your special effects . . . talk about getting hammered by the low frequency bass emanating from a cloud constructed sub-woofer . . . creating the perfect “concert” and venue to look toward the heavens and the Author of the storm and declare, “It’s time to give Him glory!” David saw in the storm the power of God . . . the majesty of God . . . and rather than analyze the physical phenomenon in terms of barometric pressures and such, he instead responded with worship.

“Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” Oh, how I love that thought! There is the idea of the beauty of the dwelling place of God . . . that inner sanctuary . . . that place “behind the curtain.” That place where no defiled thing is permitted . . . or could even exist. The glory of God so present that it ushers out anything contrary to His holy, holy, holy nature. But there’s also a thought of worshipping robed in the beauty of garments of holiness. I can respond to David’s call this morning and worship in the beauty of holiness because of the garments I’ve been given in Christ. My sin atoned for . . . the stain washed away by the blood of the Lamb . . . the rags of sin exchanged for a robe of righteousness. In Him, I reside in the beauty of holiness . . . in Him, I reflect the beauty of holiness . . . in Him, I have full entry into the holy of holies to give unto the Lord the glory due to His name. I’m all dressed up and have a place to go . . . I too, can praise Him in the storm.

And then David concludes this song with a promise. As he’s been led by the storm to consider the glories of God . . . as he has worshiped in the beauty of holiness . . . he then declares that this is the power and glory of the One who sat enthroned at the Flood, the One who sits as King forever (29:10). And as the King, “The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace” (29:11). The power of God which manifests itself in earth rattling thunder is the same power available to those who would seek Him. It is the power that shakes the heavens but also the power that can produce a peace that passes understanding within the hearts of those who would worship Him. Amazing!

O, that I might not miss the next opportunity to praise Him in the storm.