Praise to the Lord Who
When tempests their warfare are waging
Who when the elements madly around thee are raging
Biddeth them cease turneth their fury to peace
Whirlwinds and waters assuaging
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
By: Joachim Neander 1680, trans. Catherine Winkworth 1863
Listen to this modern version of this majestic hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.
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Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
As we continue our journey through this hymn ask the Holy Spirit to help you receive and then issue this call to worship. Be sure to find your place in the praise. Let’s tune our hearts.
Tempests War-Waging
I have never been on the ocean when the waves were cresting higher than the ship I was in. I marveled at scenes from the movie The Perfect Storm and the like with the way they represented the sheer power of the surging water. It is terrifying.
But so can be the other tempests that storm into our lives. Whether they are emotional, mental, spiritual or some other kind they can leave us feeling absolutely powerless against them. Like me you may have never been tossed around by the oceans waves, but you have undoubtedly found yourself at the mercy of some other tumult.
What do you do when you find yourself in such an unenviable place?
Soul God-Praising
Praise to the Lord Who When tempests their warfare are waging
The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty! Psalm 93:3-4 ESV
Now we contrast the obvious might of the stormy tempest with that of the Lord. There really is no comparison, but when you find yourself staring into hurricane force wind it can be easy to forget God is far mightier.
What storms are you facing today? What tempests are waging warfare on your mind, heart and soul? The writer challenges us to continue to give praise to the Lord Who is over all those things and with us in the midst of them.
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider how you will respond the next time a tempest roll into your life. Determine to praise God when the waves assail. Make this your simple prayer “Lord, help me praise you in the storm.”
Elements Raging
Whether wave or wind, earthquake or lightning, fire or ice we have all faced forces that are insurmountable. We have each experienced trauma relationally or physically, either personally or in someones life we know and love, that has left us at a loss for where God might be in all of it. The idea that God Who is everywhere might not be “in” something is both a challenging concept to grasp and a comfort for our souls.
Some things we experience make it hard to reconcile with a loving God. The idea that God would allow something but not be in it can be a bit of a mystery, but one that can actually help us reconcile some of our consternation for things that happen to us and the ones we love. Can you wrap you mind around the fact that God could allow the elements to rage around you but possibly not be in that raging, somehow allowing but not creating?
It can very difficult to hear God in the midst of those things.
God’s Voice Hearing
Who when the elements madly around thee are raging
And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. 1 Kings 19:11b-12a ESV
Elijah had an encounter with elements, madly, raging around him. Interestingly, the scripture makes very clear the Lord was not in those. Instead He revealed himself through a low whisper. Power on display through a still, small voice.
Fleeing from a different kind of tempest, Elijah found himself standing at the mouth of a cave, listening for God. God was not in the wind, the earthquake or the fire. We often wonder where God is in the midst of similar things. We must continue to listen for Him.
RESONATE
Take a few moments and ponder how God might be speaking to you today. Maybe the elements, or some other things, are raging. Pray this simple prayer, “Father, help me listen for You. “
Jesus, thank You for being present even if you are not in some things. Thank You for giving me another way to conceive of Your activity. Help me to learnt o listen when you are speaking in a low whisper. In Jesus’ name.
Perceptive Tuning!
Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence. We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.
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Video 55.4 Transcript
Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.
Praise to the Lord Who
When tempests their warfare are waging
Who when the elements madly around thee are raging
Biddeth them cease turneth their fury to peace
Whirlwinds and waters assuaging
What storms are you facing today? What tempests are waging warfare on your mind, heart and soul? The writer challenges us to continue to give praise to the Lord Who is over all those things and with us in the midst of them.
Lord, help me praise you in the storm.
Fleeing from a different kind of tempest, Elijah found himself standing at the mouth of a cave, listening for God. God was not in the wind, the earthquake or the fire. We often wonder where God is in the midst of similar things. We must continue to listen for Him.
Father, help me listen for You.
When Jesus spoke to the storm it seems He raised His voice. How is God speaking into the storms of your life? Is it the still, small voice from the cave or the shout from the boat on the waves? God is speaking. Ask Him for the ability to hear Him.
Jesus, help me hear Your voice.
How do you imagine God will make your current or future storms less intense? Will He calm them? Will He give you the ability to see He is not in them? Maybe He will show Himself as a refuge or strong tower. He will be your very present help in time of trouble.
God, help me to run to you in the tempest.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.
Praise to the Lord Who
When tempests their warfare are waging
Who when the elements madly around thee are raging
Biddeth them cease turneth their fury to peace
Whirlwinds and waters assuaging
Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, Be Resonant.
The post Listening for God’s Whisper Through Violent Weather appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attribution
Praise to the Lord Who When tempests their warfare are waging –https://pixabay.com/photos/tall-ship-nautical-ocean-sea-4624004/
Who when the elements madly around thee are raging –https://pixabay.com/illustrations/lightning-storm-tempest-magical-7640156/
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