Psalm 68: 4 Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds – his name is the Lord – and rejoice before him.

This psalm of David is rapturous praise of our Sovereign God who is fully able to defend his own name. He has no equal and is totally in control of everything. Read it and let your spirit soar, break out in praise before your God. “Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, to him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice. Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies. You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God.” (See verses 32-35).

Have you ever witnessed a thunderstorm?  I thought I had. Having grown up in the countryside in Jamaica I had seen many rainstorms and heard roars of thunder, even survived a two-week stretch of torrential rain. During those storms my mother used to tell us as children to go sit still and let the Lord do his work, read a book or something. Good advice because sleeping was out of the question.

In the early 90s I embarked on an adventure to work in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with my 11 year-old daughter. I was re-educated as to what a thunderstorm is. It was the beginning of the Monsoon season and my daughter and I were home when the sky opened up and the rain began to fall in sheets, not drops. Then there was a thunderclap like nothing I had ever heard before – the kind that shook everything more like an earthquake would, followed by lightening that seemed to penetrate every corner of the apartment. You are either transfixed or else you try to run and hide. I stayed put. After a few minutes my daughter bolted from her room and came running with the question: “Mom is God trying to frighten us?”  I was sitting on the bed. I just pulled her close and said: “No, he is just displaying his majesty, reminding us who is in charge.”

The Holy Spirit once reminded me:

“All power belongs to God. He rearranges the earth as he sees fit. Yet even in so doing he creates a refuge for his people. Every so often he shows himself in their behalf to show that he makes a difference between those who are his and those who are not. Rest in him therefore and give him praise for he is worthy, the God of gods.”