Psalms 29

David extorteth the Mighty ones of this world, to honour and serve the true God, together with his Church, who manifests his Majesty and power, by thunder, lightening and floods of water: whereof he receiveth his due honour and praise, onely in his Church, the which he also blesseth and preserveth.

1. A Psalm of David. Give unto the LORD, ye children of the mighty, [i.e. You great and mighty ones, which are exalted above others here on earth in power and authority. So likewise Psalms 89:7.] give unto the LORD honour and strength.

2. Give unto the LORD the honour of his name; worship the LORD [Or, bow your selves before the LORD. See Gen.24.on verse 26.] in the glory of the Sanctuary. [i.e. in his Tabernacle, which the great God himself hath adorned with the glorious Testimonials of his grace and Favour. Some are of opinion that David indited this Psalm, as he was fetching home the Ark of the Covenant, with great Joy into Zion 2 Sam.6. to humble the great ones in the world, (who commonly are insolent and haughty) under the mighty hand of this onely true God, that had his habitation in Zion; and to exhort them by his own example, that they should come and honour this God in his habitation with all humility: for which end also he useth and introduceth the description of the Thunder of this God, of which the greatest Potentates on earth must stand in fear and tremble, and ought therefore to acknowledge the author thereof, and to honour him according to his institution. Oth.in, (or, with) Ornament of holiness, etc.]

3. The voice of the LORD [Understand the thunder and the terrible sound thereof, as Psalms 18:14. and 2 Samuel 22:14. Job 28:26. and 37.2,4,5. Psa.46.7. and 68,34. Isaiah 30:30,31.] is upon the Waters, [This may be understood of the uppermost waters, viz. The clouds, and also of the nethermost, whereon the thunder makes a fearful sound. Oth. Above the waters, i.e. makes a stronger and greater sound, then the roaring of the waters. See hereof Ezek.1.24. and 43.2. Rev.1.15. and 14.2. and 19.6.] The God of honour [i.e. the honourable, glorious God, as 1 Cor.2.8.] thundereth: the LORD is upon the great [or, the many, mighty] waters.

4. The voice of the LORD is with power: the voice of the LORD is with glory.

5. The voice of the LORD breaketh the Cedars; yea the LORD breaketh the Cedars of Libanon. [A very famous mountain often mentioned in Scripture, lying on the North-borders of Canaan, renowned for goodly Cedar-trees. See Judges 9.on verse 15.]

6. And he makes them to skip like a calf: the Libanon and Sirion [See Deut.3.9.] like a young Unicorn. [Heb. A son of the Unicorns.]

7. The voice of the LORD heweth forth [Or, striketh, the Hebrew word is properly used of hewing or cutting stone or wood] flames of fire. [Understand the flames of lightening, which God doth spread abroad by the thunder, as if he were striking or hewing them out of the clouds, that the flashes fly and scatter every where about.]

8. The voice of the LORD makes the wilderness to shake: [Oth. Maketh that it comes into pangs, (or labour) i.e. so frighteth the savage Beasts of the Desert, that their travail comes upon them before the time.] The LORD maketh the wilderness of Kades to shake. [by Kades, which was well known to the Jews, he understandeth likewise other wildernesses and desert places. See Num.33.36,37. And elsewhere.]

9. The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to cast (their) young ones, [Which otherwise (as appears Job 39.verse 4,5,6. And Naturalists also testify) they do cast with much difficult, or maketh the hinds to come in labour] and maketh bare the woods; [viz. Of trees, which by thunder, lightening and tempests are made bare of their leaves, burnt, rooted up out of the ground, and felled down: and again; of beasts, whom the thunder chaseth into Dens and Holes, that they dare not continue their courses and roarings in the woods] but in his Temple every-one-saith (or speaketh) (him) honour, [or Palace, i.e. Tabernacle, as above Psalm 27.ver.4. as if he said, God causeth his voice by thunder to be heard every where, but in his church and habitation, there every one of his, namely of the faithful, doth praise him, by reason of all his great and mighty acts in general, and in particular before rehearsed; whither David also had invited the Great ones to repair, ver.2 Oth. Every one speaketh of (his) honour (or, glory) Oth. All that therein is, viz. In the Temple, speaketh (his) honour.]

10. The LORD hath sat over the flood of Waters: [Or, sitteth in the water-flood, viz. In the time of the flood. This many do understand of the Deluge, or Noah’s-flood, the Hebrew words whereof is no where used but in the holy Scripture; over which the LORD did sit as judge, Governor and President; yet it may well be further extended, to all manner of floods, and inundations, all which are governed and steered by God] yea, the LORD sitteth King in Eternity.

11. The LORD shall give strength unto his people: the LORD shall bless his people with peace. [i.e. with all manner of prosperity, especially in Christ, who is our peace. See Jud.6.on verse.24.]