An impressive storm system swept through our area last night. The skies darkened. We could hear the rumble of thunder in the distance. I was halfway into cooking the tri-tip on the grill when the heavens opened and rain began to pour. Rain, thunder and flashes of lightning – some a little too close – impressive displays of power.
The Bible often describes the voice of God as the sound of thunder. In fact when the children of Israel heard the thundering voice of God (presumably for the first time) they were afraid. They begged Moses
Exodus 20:18-21 (NCV) When the people heard the thunder and the trumpet, and when they saw the lightning and the smoke rising from the mountain, they shook with fear and stood far away from the mountain. Then they said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak to us, or we will die." Then Moses said to the people, "Don’t be afraid, because God has come to test you. He wants you to respect him so you will not sin." The people stood far away from the mountain while Moses went near the dark cloud where God was.
Thunder and lightning also served as a warning for disobedience and a call to repentance. When the same children of Israel asked for a king Samuel said:
1 Samuel 12:16-20 (NCV) "Now stand still and see the great thing the LORD will do before your eyes. It is now the time of the wheat harvest. I will pray for the LORD to send thunder and rain. Then you will know what an evil thing you did against the LORD when you asked for a king." Then Samuel prayed to the LORD, and that same day the LORD sent thunder and rain. So the people were very afraid of the LORD and Samuel. They said to Samuel, "Pray to the LORD your God for us, your servants! Don’t let us die! We’ve added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king." Samuel answered, "Don’t be afraid. It’s true that you did wrong, but don’t turn away from the LORD. Serve the LORD with all your heart.
My favorite event that incorporates thunder is the worship scene of Revelation 19. The vivid portrayal of the praises of God’s people sounding like the noise of flooding water and of loud thunder.
Revelation 19:4-6 (NCV) Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures bowed down and worshiped God, who sits on the throne. They said: "Amen, Hallelujah!" Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you who serve him and all you who honor him, both small and great!" Then I heard what sounded like a great many people, like the noise of flooding water, and like the noise of loud thunder. The people were saying: "Hallelujah! Our Lord God, the Almighty, rules.”
Think about the futility and ridiculous effort to worship God passively. Yes, I know there are appropriate times of contemplative meditation of silence before the Lord. We’ve got that side figured out, patented, marketed and for sale on eworship.com!
How can the sound of God’s people declaring “Amen, Hallelujah!” be anything but the sound of flooding water or loud rain?
How can the voices of a great many people saying “Hallelujah! Our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns” be anything but the sound of flooding water and like the noise of loud thunder?
I need to be reminded, I need to hear the words that come from the throne: “Praise our God, all you who serve him and all you who honor him, both small and great!”
Yes, Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! Our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns! Can you hear the thunder?
