We may speak excitedly about the power of a nuclear reactor or the energy at work in a particle accelerator, and those are certainly fascinating topics.
But the ways that the Lord expresses His power are spiritually touching and are infinitely more engaging.
The Lord uses exquisitely beautiful poetry to capture our attention and to make Himself understandable.
So that all people may know
The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” (Joshua 4:19-24 ESV)
As still as a stone
“Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you — majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them.
In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. The nations will hear and tremble… terror and dread will fall upon them. By the power of your arm they will be as still as a stone — until your people pass by, O Lord, until the people you bought pass by. You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance — the place, O Lord, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, your hands established. The Lord will reign forever and ever.” (Exodus 15:11-14a, 16-18 NIV)
Brilliant Light
This prayer was sung by the prophet Habakkuk:
I have heard all about you, Lord, and I am filled with awe by the amazing things you have done. In this time of our deep need, begin again to help us, as you did in years gone by. Show us your power to save us. And in your anger, remember your mercy.
I see God, the Holy One, moving across the deserts from Edom and Mount Paran. His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise! What a wonderful God he is! Rays of brilliant light flash from his hands. He rejoices in his awesome power. (Habakkuk 3:1-4 NLT)
Turn us again to Yourself
Please listen, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Israel like a flock.
O God, enthroned above the cherubim, display your radiant glory to Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Show us your mighty power. Come to rescue us!
Turn us again to Yourself, O God. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved. (Psalm 80:1-3 NLT)
How good the light was
In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth,
the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss,
while a mighty wind swept over the waters.
Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
God saw how good the light was.
God then separated the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:1-4 NAB)
By His powerful Word
In days gone by, God spoke in many and varied ways to the Fathers through the prophets. But now, in the acharit-hayamim) (the End of Days), he has spoken to us through his Son, to whom he has given ownership of everything and through whom he created the universe. The Son is the radiance of the Sh’khinah (Divine Presence), the very expression of God’s essence, upholding all that exists by his powerful word; and after he had, through himself, made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of HaG’dulah BaM’romim(the Greatness on High). (Hebrews 1:1-3 CJB)
The Voice
Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. (Psalm 29:1-4 ESV)
For the salvation of everyone
For I see no reason to be ashamed of the gospel; it is God’s power for the salvation of everyone who has faith — Jew first, but Greeks as well — for in it is revealed the saving justice of God: a justice based on faith and addressed to faith. As it says in scripture: Anyone who is upright through faith will live. (Romans 1:16-17 NJB)
We will remember
Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him
from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
They have bowed down and fallen;
but we have risen and stand upright. (Psalm 20:6-8 NKJV)
The power of Your Name
Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that the Son may glorify you. For you have made him sovereign over all mankind, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him… I pray for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, because they belong to you. All that is mine is yours, and what is yours is mine; and through them is my glory revealed.
I am no longer in the world; they are still in the world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you have given me, that they may be one, as we are one. (John 17:1-2, 9-11 REB)
Listen
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord,
O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel;
and whose power is in the skies. Awesome is God in his sanctuary,
the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God! (Psalm 68:32-35 NRSV)
Ever exalted
Lord, God of hosts, who is like you? Mighty Lord, your loyalty is always present. You rule the raging sea; you still its swelling waves. You crushed Rahab with a mortal blow; your strong arm scattered your foes. Yours are the heavens, yours the earth; you founded the world and everything in it. Zaphon and Amanus you created; Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name. Mighty your arm, strong your hand, your right hand is ever exalted. Justice and judgment are the foundation of your throne; love and loyalty march before you. Happy the people who know you, Lord, who walk in the radiance of your face. In your name they sing joyfully all the day; at your victory they raise a festal shout. (Psalm 89:9-17 NAB)
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