The Voice

We've all heard the voice. You know: the one a parent uses and you know y0u're in trouble now. Or the unmistakable voices of Barry White or James Earl Jones. Or the friend's voice when there so much brokenness in your life, family, marriage and no one can do anything to fix it, but just hearing the love and concern in that voice somehow helps.

Psalm 29:3-9 (http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=67154999) speaks of God's voice.

"The voice of the Lord
is over the waters...
is powerful...
full of majesty...
breaks the cedars...
flashes forth flames of fire...
shakes the wilderness...
causes the oaks to whirl...
strips the forests bare."

The psalmist here speaks of a strong voice. Sometimes we need that strength when we are weak.
It is the voice of the God who speaks things into being...of the eternal Word incarnated among us.

It's important to recognize the voice we are hearing.
Parents know their child's voice.
Lovers know the beloved's voice.
The sheep know the shepherd's voice.

"⁴⁵He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers" (John 10:3-5).

Tuesday night was confirmation at Emanuel Lutheran Church. Another teacher did the opening. She spoke about the Lord's Prayer and about her recent experiences in prayer. She asked, "Has anyone ever heard God's voice?" No one said a word. She asked Vicar Todd if he ever heard God speak. He acknowledged that he had heard God speak, giving him thoughts and ideas that he knew were from God.

What about us? Do we need comfort from pain and sorrow? Listen for the voice. Do we need direction? Follow the shepherd and listen to the voice. Do we just feel we need to know God better?

Listen. God is calling.


picutures: Iconotec Stock Photography and http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/sheep.html