Psalm 29, Psalm 33, Psalm 65-68
Ryan: Since all of us today have grown up in the modern era where most, if not all, “nations” on the earth are technically “states,” it’s very easy for us to get confused while reading the nationalistic parts of the Old Testament. Generally, a nation is defined by culture and ethnicity, while a state is political and/or geographical. You’ve probably heard the term “nation-state” before; this term is used to describe a situation where those two definitions are present simultaneously (Japan is a nation-state). With the definitions behind us, let’s look more accurately at the Scriptures: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance” (Psalm 33:12). So, not to step on any toes here, folks, but the United States of America is NOT the nation that is referenced in Psalm 33. The nation referenced here was initially Jews, but has now expanded to Christians: “you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God” (1 Peter 2:9, emphasis added). Regardless of who is in the Oval Office, or what party is in control of the Congress, the “holy nation” will remain intact, as it knows no borders. With around 2 billion people who proclaim some belief in Jesus Christ worldwide, the holy nation is independent from any one political state on the earth (Praise be to the LORD).
Samantha: I loved the vivid imagery of God’s voice in Psalm 29. We talk about how powerful God is, but we don’t always think about the power in his voice alone. We’ve recently had some thunderstorms in our area, but they pale in comparison to God’s voice, which is described in this psalm as thundering over the waters and like flashes of lightning. We also live in tornado alley and have seen some pretty horendous damage from tornadoes, namely how they can uproot massive trees. God’s voice alone is so powerful it can shatter the cedar trees of Lebanon and twist mighty oak trees. His voice can make mountains skip! Now we see why David says, “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name” (Psalm 29:2)!
