Psalms 29 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Psalm 29

Ascribe to the Lord Glory

A Psalm of David.

29:1   Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,¹
    ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2   Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
    worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.²
3   The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
    the God of glory thunders,
    the LORD, over many waters.
4   The voice of the LORD is powerful;
    the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
5   The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
    the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6   He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
    and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7   The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.
8   The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
    the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9   The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth³
    and strips the forests bare,
    and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10   The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
    the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.
11   May the LORD give strength to his people!
    May the LORD bless⁴ his people with peace!

Footnotes

[1] 29:1 Hebrew sons of God, or sons of might
[2] 29:2 Or in holy attire
[3] 29:9 Revocalization yields makes the oaks to shake
[4] 29:11 Or The Lord will give . . . The Lord will bless

Commentary

The greatness and glory of God, following the themes of Ps 8; 18; declaring the attributes of God.

v1-4: Worship God in the beauty of holiness, taking time to worship Him. This is a challenge to us to by holy. God is worthy of worship, and such worship must be like Him, e.g: Neh 8.6, where the people bowed down to worship God.

The voice of the Lord is powerful, full of majesty; His voice is over the waters, a reference to creation, Ps 33.6-9. Whilst He speaks here in thunder, He can speak in any means He chooses, even a still, small voice.

v5-9: The vastness of creation is as nothing before Him; the cedars of Lebanon, Mount Hermon (Sirion), the Wilderness of Kadesh; each is shaken by the voice of the Lord.

The work "skip" (or jolt) appears in Nah 3.2; Joel 2.5.

v10-11: We respond, declaring 'Glory to the Lord.' The reference to the temple reminds us that God has given a means of access to Him. We see also that His concern is for His people; our part is not to concentrate on our own needs, but on His glory and greatness.

The picture appears to be that of a mighty thunderstorm, observed in its different effects, as it draws near to Lebanon and Israel, and impacts in a visible way. The "flood" (v10) probably refers to the torrent produced by the storm.