When God Speaks

When God Speaks

Matthew 3:13–17; Psalm 29

The old saying is when E.F. Hutton talks, people listen. Well, E.F. Hutton has nothing on God.

God’s Word declares that when God speaks, the whole of creation listens!

In the beginning, from the very start: God spoke, and light appeared... life emerged at God’s verbal command. Think about that for a moment. If you have children you know how useless your voice can be, right? God didn’t even have to stand up, or use his hands... He simply spoke and at God’s Word, his voice, creation responded.

His voice is never empty; it’s powerful, mighty, majestic... it’s authoritative, and creative.

In our Scripture Lessons for today, we encounter the voice of God in two complementary ways: one thundering over the waters in majesty, the other descending gently, compassionately. Of course, together, these lessons show us that the sovereign God who rules creation also graciously claims His people.

Psalm 29 draws our attention - not to our own power, our own ability - but to the power of God... as demonstrated in his voice.

In fact, seven times in this psalm, we hear the phrase “the voice of the LORD.” The repetition is intentional. God’s voice:

Breaks (v. 5),

Shakes (v. 8),

Strips (v. 9),

And rules (v. 10).

This is not a tame, not passive voice. It’s sovereign, irresistible, and authoritative. When God speaks nations and mountains leap to attention! The same voice that spoke creation into existence reigns over the whole of that creation. No storm, no chaos, no power... no-thing rivals Him.

Yet the psalm does not end with trembling—it ends with grace:

“The LORD will bless his people (the psalmist says) with peace” (v. 11).

The God whose voice shakes the earth uses that same voice to bless His covenant people. That means... the very same voice that shakes the earth; shelters us. That’s what a sovereign voice does. It’s always efficacious: it always has an effect for our good.

We see that efficaciousness in our Gospel lesson...

When we turn to Matthew 3, the scene is amazing. The eternal Son of God, the Christ, steps into the Jordan River to be baptized by John (you know, the locust and wild honey eater who preached a baptism for the repentance of sin).

John hesitated... and rightfully so...

“I need to be baptized by you” (v. 14).

Jesus’ response is crucial:

“Let it be so now, for it is fitting (or proper) to fulfill all righteousness” (v. 15).

Jesus didn’t submit to Baptism because He had sinned and need to be washed clean, or because He needed to submit to religious authority. He entered the waters of baptism in obedience to the righteous requirements of God’s Word. The King of kings, and Lord of lords, humbled Himself. The Judge stepped into the place of the judged. It was a display of God’s sovereign voice in action—a voice that speaks effectively in our brokeness... a voice that comforts us with God’s peace.

Of course, as Jesus emerged from the water, the heavens opened up. And that voice of God again thundered:

The same voice that “breaks, shatters, and strips” - now affirms, approves, and names.

“This is my Son.”

“Who I love.”

“With whom I am well pleased.”

Before Jesus preached a sermon, performed a miracle, or faced the cross, He was affirmed, approved, and named. As the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, the mission of redemption was firmly established within the whole of the Trinity.

The Baptism of Jesus was a singular moment in time that captured and proved that God’s love precedes ours. Christ is loved not because of what He would do, but because of who He is. And in Christ, that very same love overflows to us.

When you and I are “in Christ” - united to Christ by faith - the Father’s declaration over the Son becomes true of you:

You are affirmed, approved, and named... NOT because of your righteousness, but because of Christ’s righteousness, and Christ’s righteousness alone.

The God who thunders over the waters; the God who spoke and light and life appeared... also speaks blessing, and strength, and peace into our lives. His voice is effective. His voice is heard clearly in His word. And His Word became flesh and dwelt among us; Jesus.

This is covenant love in practice. God’s sovereignty has never been about cold, manipulative control... but rather, grace. Grace in the form of purposeful, merciful, blessing... in other words, peace.

Peace during any storm or trial or fear this world can throw at us. Through it all... the Lord reigns. “The Lord sits enthroned as King forever. The Lord gives strength to His people. The Lord blesses his people with peace.”

How do we know this? Because this is...

The Word of God for the People of God.

Thanks be to God.

Amen.