Bible Commentaries
Psalms 29

Verses 1-11

Psalms 29

THE POWER OF THE LORD

The theme of this Psalm is chastisement of sorrow that brought David to the gates of death and consecration.

Verses 1-11:

Verses 1, 2 ascribe to the Lord glory, honor, and strength and call upon the mighty, sons of the mighty, to give, grant, extol, or give out the glory due to the honor of His name, and worship Him in the glorious sanctuary of His holiness, Psalms 97:9; Psalms 113:3. Even so should true saints of God, the saved who are in His church, give true glory and honor to His name in the church-assembly of worship and service, Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 3:21.

Verse 3 declares that the voice of the Lord is upon the waters; The God of glory thunders, causes it to thunder repeatedly, as He exists upon, over, has control over many waters; His voice is seen and heard in the lightning and thunder, Job 37:4; Genesis 1:7; Psalms 18:11; Jeremiah 10:13. Therefore glory to God is called for in the thunder and through the thunder-clouds.

Verse 4 furthers asserts that the voice of the Lord is powerful (dynamic) and full of majesty (regal power) of a king absolute, before whom all subjects should bow. For He is the King of Glory, Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:31-33; Revelation 11:15; Revelation 19:11-16.

Verse 5 states that the voice of the Lord breaks the stately cedars of Lebanon, even the strongest. The implication is that in like manner He can break and destroy His foes who are often symbolized as cedars, Ezekiel 17:3-4; Ezekiel 17:22-24.

Verse 6 adds that He causes them to skip like a calf, move to and fro, with the hills on which they grow as they survive earthquakes. Lebanon on Sirion (Mt Hermon) tremble like the young unicorn, a wild ox, or buffalo, Psalms 22:21; Deuteronomy 4:48. God controls the universe, in spite of all nature’s rebellion, is the idea. And He will ultimately have it redeemed to Himself through the power of Jesus Christ, His Son, Acts 3:20-21; Romans 8:18-20; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28.

Verses 7-9 assert that: 1) The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire, of lightning by His abrupt power, cutting them into divisions by His power, Exodus 19:18; Exodus 2) The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness, even of Kadesh and her wilderness, in its great and terrible region, Deuteronomy 1:19; Deuteronomy 8:15; Deuteronomy 32:10; Such is the terrible voice of God in judgment, Hebrews 12:26-27; Haggai 2:6; Joel 3:16; It is the northern part of the Arabian desert, bordering southern Palestine, also called the "wilderness of Zin," Numbers 13:21; Numbers 33:36; and land of Edom, Numbers 20:1; Numbers 20:16; Numbers 20:22-23; Numbers , 3) His voice causes the hind to calve, explore the forest, and in such a temple every one of nature speaks, witnesses of His glory, Psalms 19:1-4.

Verses 10,11 further assert that the Lord of glory continually sits in majestic rule over the flood as King (absolute ruler) forever, vindicating His people and destroying the wicked, Psalms 9:4; Psalms 9:7-8; Joel 3:12; Isaiah 28:2; Jeremiah 46:7-8; Jeremiah 47:2; Job 38:8; Job 38:23. It is concluded that the Lord will grant strength to His people and bless them with peace, Romans 5:1; Psalms 28:8; Psalms 68:25; Isaiah 40:20; Isaiah 40:31.