Peace is partly the overflow of strength. Our inner strength gives us a measure of peace, but it is insufficient. It runs out under difficult circumstances. But when we know and trust and rely on the strength that is God’s, we can have peace within ourselves. Because he is stronger than ourselves. He is the one from which we draw deep water.
Perhaps it is for this that this psalm is powerful in its description of God’s strength.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is majestic.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord strikes
with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;
the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
This is a description of the Almighty power of God. He is strong and mighty, above the earth. Not only that but he is over all:
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord is enthroned as King forever.
He is King. And when the mighty and terrible flood came, he was over it all. He is the great King upon his throne.
And that is the picture of great strength. Which then becomes the comfort of God’s people:
11 The Lord gives strength to his people;
the Lord blesses his people with peace.
It’s such a strange thing at first, to speak of the might and splendor of the Lord. And then at the very last moment at the end of the psalm to talk about how the Lord gives his people strength and peace.
But it is because God is Almighty and all-powerful that he is able to give His people strength and peace. Who can be greater? Who can be more powerful? Only the Lord.
And that is where we can find our peace.
Many years ago I used to watch Ceasar Milan and his famous work with troubled dogs. He used to say a dog that is aggressive will not calm down and be a happy dog until he knows that there is someone who has a greater inner strength then itself. The dog needs to know someone is more powerful than itself so that it knows it is safe. Otherwise it can turn aggressive.
It is similar with us. Not that we are dogs, but that for us to truly have an inner peace and calm, we have to know that someone is with us that is more powerful than us, one who is able to provide and protect. This is the same way with children when they know their parents have a calm control. When kids know that, there is room for peace. The same is true wherever there is leadership. When one has a competent leader who has power, is self-controlled and serves the ones they love with great care, there is room for peace.
This is that psalm.
God is all powerful. He is in control. And yet he shepherds his people with wisdom, love and care from that strength.
Because of His power and love, we have peace. And a strength that comes from Him.
1 Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
