There are few displays of God’s power and might that are quite as amazing to see as storms. While they can be scary and dangerous, they also show just how powerful of a God we serve. David uses storms to describe God’s power in delivering him from his enemies in Psalm 18:12-16:
"Out of the brightness before him
hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.
The LORD also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice,
hailstones and coals of fire.
And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters…"
Throughout the nation of Israel’s history, there are many examples of God doing incredible things for them. Even within just a few chapters in Joshua, for example, He destroyed walls while the people marched in circles, held the sun in the sky, and used hail to destroy Israel’s enemies. Joshua was a faithful leader that helped encourage the people to have faith in God’s power over their own, even when they were outnumbered (Joshua 10-11). Up to this point in their history, they had gone from a family of twelve brothers to a mighty nation in just a few generations, seen the plagues and other miracles to get them out of Egypt, been sustained in the wilderness for forty years, and then were being given the land of Canaan without much effort or any military expertise on their part.
Centuries later, David shows himself to be “a man after God’s own heart,” in part meaning that He relied on God’s power rather than his own (1 Samuel 13:14). He knew that despite his personal shortcomings and moral failures, God was eternally holy, upright, and good. Not only that, He had immense historical and personal evidence of God’s working on behalf of His people. To this end, he is honest with himself (and appropriately humble) about the role his own faith had God working on his behalf. He says in verses 20-24:
"The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
For all his rules were before me,
and his statutes I did not put away from me.
I was blameless before him,
and I kept myself from my guilt.
So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight."
While it is untrue that the righteous will never experience suffering or hardship, we do know that the Lord protects His people and works powerfully on their behalf. Whether we are observing the power of a thunderstorm, lose electricity, experience hail or wind damage, we can take courage knowing that the Omnipotent God that controls creation is still and will always be on His throne in Heaven.
When we look at our lives, do we have the same confidence that David did that we are presenting ourselves as blameless before God? It is incredible to think that as Mighty as God is, He still cares about and loves us. He has communicated His will to us through His Word, and has expectations for our lives and how we use them for His glory. David obviously knew what it was like to turn his back on God, ignore His laws, and make horrible mistakes, but he also knew that the way back into God’s favor was repentance and continued obedience. When we see God’s power on display, do we put our faith in Him and “keep ourselves from guilt?”
Praise God for saving us, cleansing us, and always working on our behalf. May we trust and serve Him faithfully as He continues to powerfully provide for our needs and act as our Refuge, Shield, and Fortress throughout life’s many storms.
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