Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength.
Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.
He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.
The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness; the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.
The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever.
The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.
Psalms 29 is a powerful hymn celebrating the Lord's omnipotence, vividly portraying God's majesty through the imagery of a mighty thunderstorm. It's a call to worship, urging both heavenly beings and earthly inhabitants to acknowledge and glorify God's awesome power. This psalm resonates with themes of trust and reliance on God, echoing throughout Scripture, particularly in Hebrews 11. It also parallels Psalms 8, revealing God's character and attributes through the wonders of the natural world.
A Call to Worship (Psalms 29:1-2)
David begins by summoning the "heavenly beings" (Psalms 29:1) to ascribe glory and strength to the Lord. This isn't merely an invitation, but a recognition that worship is inherently due to God. It is the adoration owed to His name because of the "splendor of his holiness" (Psalms 29:2). This holiness signifies God's separateness, uniqueness, and uncontaminated nature. He is in a class by Himself. Therefore, worship isn't just something we do for God, but something we rightly owe Him. We are to worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness (Psalms 29:2), recognizing His unmatched and awe-inspiring nature.
The Voice of the Lord in the Storm (Psalms 29:3-9)
The heart of the psalm focuses on "the voice of the LORD," which is repeated seven times, emphasizing God's immense power. David paints a vivid picture of a powerful thunderstorm, likely inspired by storms sweeping in from the Mediterranean Sea across Israel. This "voice" isn't just sound; it's the active, creative power of God. When God speaks, He brings things into being, as demonstrated in Genesis 1:1-3 and Psalms 33:6.
The effects of God's voice are dramatic and far-reaching:
- Power over Nature: The voice breaks cedars, shakes the wilderness, and strips forests bare (Psalms 29:5-9). The lightning flashes flames of fire and shatters the cedars of Lebanon (Psalms 29:5, 7). Such a spectacular display is not the work of so-called Mother Nature, but of Father God.
- Universal Impact: Nothing in all of creation is unaffected by such power (Psalms 29:8-9).
The psalm underscores that creation itself testifies to the majesty of the Creator, just as Psalm 19:1 proclaims, "The heavens declare the glory of God." As God's people gather to worship Him, whether in Jerusalem or in our hearts, they shout, "Glory!" (Psalms 29:9), giving the Lord the unique exaltation He deserves.
God's Sovereignty and Strength (Psalms 29:10-11)
David concludes by affirming God's eternal sovereignty. Even over the greatest of all natural disasters—the flood of Noah (Genesis 7:4)—God was seated on His throne (Psalms 29:10). God has used his creation to judge wickedness, as at the flood (Psalms 29:10; see Genesis 7:11-24), and to deliver his people, as at the Red Sea (see Exodus 14:15-31). As the Creator of the earth, God is rightly seen as the King of the earth, enthroned above all he has made (Psalms 29:10). He exercises final authority.
This should give comfort and courage to God's people when facing overwhelming opposition. Regardless of how weak we are, He gives His people strength. No matter who curses, He blesses His people with peace (Psalms 29:11)—that is, with completeness and well-being. His overwhelming glory should encourage us and evoke even greater praise. David asks for strength, likely referring to courage and conviction (Hebrews 10:23), encouraging believers to maintain faith by relying on God's power instead of their own.
Psalms 29 ultimately reminds us that God's power is not just a force of nature, but a source of strength, peace, and blessing for those who trust in Him.
Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength.
Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.
He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.
The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness; the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.
The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever.
The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.
Psalms 29 is a powerful hymn celebrating the Lord's omnipotence, vividly portraying God's majesty through the imagery of a mighty thunderstorm. It's a call to worship, urging both heavenly beings and earthly inhabitants to acknowledge and glorify God's awesome power. This psalm resonates with themes of trust and reliance on God, echoing throughout Scripture, particularly in Hebrews 11. It also parallels Psalms 8, revealing God's character and attributes through the wonders of the natural world.
A Call to Worship (Psalms 29:1-2)
David begins by summoning the "heavenly beings" (Psalms 29:1) to ascribe glory and strength to the Lord. This isn't merely an invitation, but a recognition that worship is inherently due to God. It is the adoration owed to His name because of the "splendor of his holiness" (Psalms 29:2). This holiness signifies God's separateness, uniqueness, and uncontaminated nature. He is in a class by Himself. Therefore, worship isn't just something we do for God, but something we rightly owe Him. We are to worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness (Psalms 29:2), recognizing His unmatched and awe-inspiring nature.
The Voice of the Lord in the Storm (Psalms 29:3-9)
The heart of the psalm focuses on "the voice of the LORD," which is repeated seven times, emphasizing God's immense power. David paints a vivid picture of a powerful thunderstorm, likely inspired by storms sweeping in from the Mediterranean Sea across Israel. This "voice" isn't just sound; it's the active, creative power of God. When God speaks, He brings things into being, as demonstrated in Genesis 1:1-3 and Psalms 33:6.
The effects of God's voice are dramatic and far-reaching:
- Power over Nature: The voice breaks cedars, shakes the wilderness, and strips forests bare (Psalms 29:5-9). The lightning flashes flames of fire and shatters the cedars of Lebanon (Psalms 29:5, 7). Such a spectacular display is not the work of so-called Mother Nature, but of Father God.
- Universal Impact: Nothing in all of creation is unaffected by such power (Psalms 29:8-9).
The psalm underscores that creation itself testifies to the majesty of the Creator, just as Psalm 19:1 proclaims, "The heavens declare the glory of God." As God's people gather to worship Him, whether in Jerusalem or in our hearts, they shout, "Glory!" (Psalms 29:9), giving the Lord the unique exaltation He deserves.
God's Sovereignty and Strength (Psalms 29:10-11)
David concludes by affirming God's eternal sovereignty. Even over the greatest of all natural disasters—the flood of Noah (Genesis 7:4)—God was seated on His throne (Psalms 29:10). God has used his creation to judge wickedness, as at the flood (Psalms 29:10; see Genesis 7:11-24), and to deliver his people, as at the Red Sea (see Exodus 14:15-31). As the Creator of the earth, God is rightly seen as the King of the earth, enthroned above all he has made (Psalms 29:10). He exercises final authority.
This should give comfort and courage to God's people when facing overwhelming opposition. Regardless of how weak we are, He gives His people strength. No matter who curses, He blesses His people with peace (Psalms 29:11)—that is, with completeness and well-being. His overwhelming glory should encourage us and evoke even greater praise. David asks for strength, likely referring to courage and conviction (Hebrews 10:23), encouraging believers to maintain faith by relying on God's power instead of their own.
Psalms 29 ultimately reminds us that God's power is not just a force of nature, but a source of strength, peace, and blessing for those who trust in Him.