My Dad’s Voice

The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. Psalm 46:6

MY DAD HAD a very specific “dad voice.” He was always loving and kind, wanting the absolute best for my sister and me, but that doesn’t mean he never raised his voice—especially when we were disrespectful or acting out of line.

The dad voice. That stern call to stop being foolish. To knock it off. To get your act together. To do something different from what you are doing. My dad didn’t raise his voice often, but when he did, the weight of the utterance would melt your face.

We see something similar happen in Psalm 46. There is war and fear of other nations surrounding Jerusalem and taking over. The nations rage against God, but the psalmist tells us that God needs only to utter His voice. And when He does? It’s game over. His city where His people dwell will not be raged against. As Isaiah 54:17 says, “No weapon that is formed against [Zion] shall prosper” (KJV).

I remember an occasion when I heard my dad’s wrath. My sister had been roller skating in the church parking lot behind our house, and a few boys were also out there with her, running and pushing each other around. Acting like punks, one turned and shoved my sister down as she was skating by. My dad saw it from our backyard, and in that moment the earth melted.

I have no idea how he got there so quickly, but he picked up that boy so fast, if you blinked, you missed it. My dad said with a stern voice, “Do not touch my daughter!” I still remember the scene so clearly. My father was giving this boy the business and telling him his daughter would not be raged against. Then he turned to my sister, helped her get up off the ground, and walked her home, wiping away her hot tears. I loved being my father’s daughter that day, and so did my sister. He was a refuge, strength, and help in her present trouble.

The earth melts at the dad voice when His children are bullied. And the earth melts at the voice of God when nations rage. Psalm 46 shows us we have a God who defends His people and protects them from terror. He is not wrathful in nature but will use wrath when necessary. Sister, because you are His precious daughter, you can trust Him to defend you. Grace looks like turning to your Father in your present trouble and trusting Him to help.

GRACE REFLECTION: Where in your life do you hear God speaking, bringing justice to injustice, bringing restoration to your trouble? Thank Him for fighting for you, for lifting you up, and for forever being by your side.