Psalms 29

Psalms 29:1

Psalm 29: The Voice of the Lord29:1, 2 Do you ever complain about the weather? As David watched a thunderstorm sweep down over Israel it inspired him to praise rather than grumble. In fact he calls upon all the hosts of heaven to worship the LORD in full recognition of His glory and strength as revealed in the storm. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, Bow down before Him, His glory proclaim; With gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness, Kneel and adore Him; the Lord is His Name. J. S. B. Monsell29:3, 4 The expression “the voice of the LORD” is used seven times. It seems to be applied to the storm in general and to the thunder in particular. At first the storm is over the Mediterranean, moving inland to Lebanon. The thunder reverberates over many waters like an advancing cannonade. It is a sound of awesome power and majesty. 29:5, 6 Now the mountains of Lebanon are being bombarded. Tall cedars go crashing under the lightning assault. As the wind passes over the forest in sudden, violent gusts, the trees bend in rhythmic waves, creating the impression that the Lebanese range is skipping like a calf and Mount Sirion (Hermon) like a young wild ox.29:7, 8 The lightning is streaking southward. The Wilderness of Kadesh is shaken by the ferocity of nature’s onslaught. 29:9 As David sees the storm fade away in the south, he summarizes his admiration in three observations. First he says that the voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth. It is a scientific fact that weather disturbances have a direct influence on animals that are about to deliver their young. The psalmist sees the forests denuded of leaves. The trees stand gaunt and bare, robbed of their foliage in a matter of minutes. Then the sweet singer of Israel reminds us that in God’s temple everyone cries “Glory!” His temple here quite clearly means the world of nature, especially the area that is being convulsed by the storm. The arrows of lightning, the peals of thunder, the winds of gale velocity, the forests, the wildernessall join in telling forth the power, glory and majesty of God. 29:10, 11 The storm has gone; the LORD remains. His throne is unmoved by earth’s violent upheavals, including the great Flood. His sovereignty remains undisturbed by natural cataclysms. In all the tumults of life He is able to give strength and peace to His people. May He be pleased to do so! Some Bible students believe that this Psalm prefigures a military storm that will sweep down from the north on the nation of Israel during the Tribulation Period (vv. 3-9). Following that troubled time, the Lord Jesus Christ will reign as King over all the earth and bless His earthly people with strength and peace (vv. 10, 11). The idea deserves serious consideration. W. E. Vine sees the Psalm as picturing Christ in His Second Advent, appearing first at Har-Magedon (Rev_16:16), then sweeping down to the wilderness of Kadesh, the center of which is Bozrah (Isa_63:1). The Psalm thus describes poetically the complete overthrow of the nations that will have invaded Israel at that time. But then there is always the practical application for today and every day. God’s voice is heard in the storms of life as well as in the sunshine. He is working out His purposes. Nothing is beyond His control. For those who know and love Him, He is working all things together for good. Ironside says: It is a wonderful picture of the soul that has gone through its exercises, its stress, its trouble, but has learned that God is over all, that He is strong to save. And so the heart rests in Him and is at peace.