PSALM 29

A Psalm of David.

Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones,
Give unto the LORD glory and strength.

Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name;
Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
The God of glory thunders;
The LORD is over many waters.

The voice of the LORD is powerful;
The voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars,
Yes, the LORD splinters the cedars of Lebanon.

He makes them also skip like a calf,
Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire.

The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
The LORD shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth,
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!”

The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood,
And the LORD sits as King forever.

The LORD will give strength to His people;
The LORD will bless His people with peace.

A SONG FOR THE STORM

In this passage we see David look out at a storm cloud on the horizon. He then uses the storm to show us the voice of the LORD speaking to his people. Some Psalms are best read at sunrise or sunset or even in the midst of the night. This Psalm is best read in the midst of a storm. It is said that in the early churches as they gathered on stormy days that they would read Psalm 29. With that in mind we will open up and begin to look at this psalm, a song for the storm. 

This song reminds us that God is sovereign over heavenly beings. Angels are commanded to offer Him worship because He is worthy of worship. Imagine that, we are telling angels to sing and offer praise to God. (We do this with some of our hymns too, like the Doxology, “Praise Him above ye heavenly Host“). Angels are eager to worship God. It is good and it is right that He is to be given praise!

The “voice of the Lord” peals like thunder through this Psalm seven times! It is interesting that the gospel writer John records this incident in his gospel.  [John 12:27-32 NKJV] (27) “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. (28) “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, [saying], “I have both glorified [it] and will glorify [it] again.” (29) Therefore the people who stood by and heard [it] said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” (30) Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. (31) “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. (32) “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all [peoples] to Myself.”

The storm moves across the Israelite landscape mocking of BAAL the storm God of the Phoenicians. The real God of all creation is at ease in the midst of the storm. He sits, ruling over all.

Storms are powerful and wonderful. They can stormy weather can be terrifying and miserable. God used a storm to bring the great reformer Martin Luther to where he began to seek after the Lord. In a similar way, He used a storm and the calm response of Moravian passengers on a ship, to being John Wesley to saving faith as well. God speaks in the midst of the storms.

Next time bad weather is rolling through, I”ll be pulling out my bible and reading Psalm 29.

PRAYER

Father, thank you for this incredible passage that helps us use the weather to recognize your glory, your holiness, your greatness, and to come to a place where we are in respectful fear and honor of You. We confess that you are worthy of all praise! Thank you for weather that commands our attention, changes our plans, and provokes us to praise the God of the storm. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.