The Voice of the Lord

 Psalms 29, Matthew 3:13-17

This Sunday was the Baptism of the Lord Sunday where we celebrate the baptism of Jesus. We seem to associate baptism with spiritually cleansing one from an old sinful life into a life of newness of spirit. But why did the perfect Jesus wish John to baptize him? Even John the Baptist protests saying Christ should baptize him.

The baptism of Jesus, however, marks the start of his ministry. He is anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit and the voice of God is heard claiming him as God’s son who he loves and is well pleased with – translated in the Greek as one who he approves. This voice from heaven gives credence to Jesus as the Messiah the chosen one.

Psalms 29 describes the voice of the Lord. Lord in the Hebrew is used for Jehovah, their name for God. God’s voice here is over the waters like it was over Christ’s baptism waters. God’s glory thunders. This powerfulness of God’s voice is expressed in many ways. It breaks the strong cedars of Lebanon, flashes out flames of fire, and shakes the wilderness causing the oaks to whirl and strip the forest bare.

God’s voice is also to be full of majesty. We are to ascribe, acknowledge to the Lord God’s glory along with God’s strength. This leads us to worship God in holy splendor that with all this power and majesty God can give strength to God’s people and can bless Jehovah’s people with peace.

Acknowledging the greatness of Jehovah, we are still, through the work of Christ, able to have a relationship with God. We can ask for strength and peace from this powerful being of whom we have become God’s children.

At our own baptism we declare that due to Christ’s death on the cross, we can walk into newness of life as children of God acknowledging the power of God’s voice – the same voice that approved Christ at his baptism and gave him the power to carry out salvation.

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