Psalms 29
Big idea: A thunderstorm crossing the country from sea to desert, described entirely as a voice. Seven times: Yahweh's voice is on the waters, powerful, full of majesty, breaking cedars, striking lightning, shaking the wilderness, making the deer calve. The storm moves from the Mediterranean across Lebanon's mountains and down into the Kadesh wilderness, stripping the forests as it goes. And in the temple, while all that is happening outside, everyone says one word: Glory. The last verse is the surprise — the God of that voice gives his people peace.
Psalm 29 is a voice in the storm. Psalm 30 is a voice from a sickbed that got up.
29:1–11 — The voice of Yahweh
A thunderstorm tracked across the map. 'The voice of Yahweh' sounds seven times, and if you follow the geography the storm moves from the Mediterranean inland over Lebanon and then south into the desert — the poem is a weather report used as liturgy. What makes it more than that is the ending. After a storm violent enough to strip forests, the last word given to the people is peace.
1 A Psalm by David. Ascribe to Yahweh, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Worship Yahweh in holy array. 3 Yahweh’s voice is on the waters. The God of glory thunders, even Yahweh on many waters. 4 Yahweh’s voice is powerful. Yahweh’s voice is full of majesty. 5 Yahweh’s voice breaks the cedars. Yes, Yahweh breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young, wild ox. 7 Yahweh’s voice strikes with flashes of lightning. 8 Yahweh’s voice shakes the wilderness. Yahweh shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 Yahweh’s voice makes the deer calve, and strips the forests bare. In his temple everything says, “Glory!” 10 Yahweh sat enthroned at the Flood. Yes, Yahweh sits as King forever. 11 Yahweh will give strength to his people. Yahweh will bless his people with peace.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).