Psalm 29
For when you need to be reminded of God's power
Have you ever found yourself captivated by the grandeur of a moment? Maybe the miraculous arrival of a newborn, the vast expanse of the Grand Canyon, the looming majesty of a fjord in Alaska, or a brilliant display of lightning declaring its power across the night sky. These moments, whether as powerful as lightning or grand as a fjord, can humble us. They serve as poignant reminders of our smallness and powerlessness in the face of the extraordinary.
I felt that the first time I read through the book of Job. While I was inspired by Job’s response to suffering in the first few chapters, the following thirty-four chapters of dialog between him and his friends were a slog. But then I got to chapters thirty-eight through forty-two, and I was overcome by the enormity of God’s power and the expansive breadth of his reach.
Glimpsing the magnificence of God transforms you. Perhaps David desired to accomplish that when he penned Psalm 29, reminding Israel of God’s grandeur and calling them to worship.
Vs. 1-2: “Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.”
David uses repetition throughout this psalm, which is a powerful rhetorical tool. Repetition creates a sense of emphasis and importance and captures your attention. That emotional intensity begins right away through the repeated call to worship. Three times, David says, “Ascribe to the Lord,” and one time, he similarly says, “Worship the Lord”. To ascribe is to credit, to give someone their due, to attribute a quality or characteristic to something. So right away, David directs the listener to give Yahweh the honor and glory due to him.
However, David's initial call to worship isn’t directed specifically toward us or even the original listener. Instead, he begins his psalm by addressing heavenly beings—angels and spiritual beings above our wildest imaginations, beings we would be tempted to fall and worship if we encountered them (Revelation 19:10, 22:8-9). And yet, David calls them to acknowledge Yahweh’s glory, strength, splendor, and holiness.
As majestic as heavenly beings are, they are lowly compared to the all-surpassing majesty of the Lord. So by calling them to ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name, David reminds us that we are in the presence of a God so holy and mighty that even the angels worship! This should lead us to respond in worship—bowing before him in humility and wonder.
David then builds his case with a poetic display of God’s incredible power in the following verses,
Vs. 3-9: “The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, ‘Glory!’”
The “voice of the LORD,” a phrase repeated seven times in these seven verses, symbolizes God’s sovereign power and majesty over even the most fearsome things.
The Lord’s voice:
Is over the waters
What is more powerful and chaotic than the gathered waters of the seas that toss even the largest vessels around like a child’s toy?! And yet, the voice of the Lord rules powerfully over them. He is the one who shuts the sea behind doors, fixing its limits and saying to it, “This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt” (Job 38:8-11).
Breaks the cedars
The cedars of Lebanon can live up to 2,000 years and grow up to 8 feet in diameter and 131 feet tall. These trees, sometimes referred to as the glory of Lebanon, symbolize strength and power. But the voice of the Lord snaps and splinters them like twigs.
Flashes forth flames of fire
Lightening cannot be harnessed or controlled. It is a most powerful and fearsome display. And the voice of the Lord flashes forth like lightning—fearsome and powerful and uncontrollable.
Shakes the wilderness
His voice thunders out, causing that which is wild and untamed to quake and tremble at the sound.
Makes the deer give birth
Perhaps there is no more remarkable display of God’s creative power than the miracle of life. He speaks, and creation responds. At his command, life springs forth!
Strips the forests bare
What has the power to strip a forest bare? No unaided human power has that ability. Only something as powerful as a hurricane or tornado can leave an entire forest floor barren. And yet, the Lord’s voice possesses more power than the fiercest of storms.
This God rules and reigns over the most powerful aspects of all creation, things far more powerful and unshakable than we are, and yet all these things shake in his presence and are laid bare before him. And as a result of God’s remarkable display of power, all in his presence cry, “Glory!” (V9b).
As if that weren’t enough to put you on your face before the Lord, David concludes his remarkable illustration of Yahweh’s power with a verbal exclamation mark:
Vs. 10: “The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.”
This verse reminds me of the story in Matthew 8 when Jesus calms the storm:
And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” (Vs. 23-27).
What sort of man is this that even the winds and sea obey him? He is the Lord who sleeps peacefully during the storm. He is the Lord who restores calm where there was previous chaos. He is King over the flood, the wilderness, the lightning, the wild beasts, the storms, and the heavenly beings.
This is the culmination, the ultimate climax of the previous verses. The Lord reigns as king forever! When I rightly see the tremendous power of God, it will lead me to:
Humility
Because I am aware of my limited strength and inability to control much of what happens in this world.
Reverence
Because I am aware of his fearsome and limitless power over all things.
Worship
Because a God this powerful and mighty is worthy of all praise, honor, and glory.
Trust
Because he is strong and mighty and ruling and reigning even now, I can trust that all things, including my enemies and my circumstances, are under his sovereign hand.
Peace
Because I can trust that he is in control of all that threatens me, I can experience true peace and rest from fear and striving for control.
David concludes this call to worship with a benediction over the people of God:
Vs. 11: “May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!”
When we are reminded of our smallness, may we know this God. When we are reminded of our powerlessness, may this God give us strength. When we are afraid of our circumstances, may this God—who sits enthroned over all things far more powerful than we are—give us peace no matter what we face.
Love you guys,
CC
P.S. If you want to encounter Jesus in a more meaningful way this Christmas, be sure to check out the brand-new Advent Study, available now! You can read more about it below, or you can click here to get the study.
If you’d like to engage Psalm 29 further, schedule some time to work through the following exercises.
Engage Scripture:
Read Psalm 29 in a couple of different translations. Then answer the following questions:
What is the main focus of this psalm?
Why do you think David chose things like lightning, water, or the wilderness to illustrate God’s power?
Explore Your Story:
What circumstances in your life currently make you feel small, powerless, or vulnerable?
What part of Psalm 29 brings you the most comfort, peace, or strength? Why do you think that is?
Encounter Jesus
Read Matthew 8:23-27, then do the following:
List some things the disciples might have felt or thought while Jesus was sleeping and the storm was raging.
Next, write out how you feel and what you think when life feels out of control.
Now, compare the two lists. What insights do you gain, if any?
When the disciples cried out to Jesus, he said, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?”
Why do you think Jesus questions the disciple’s fear?
How do you feel seeing Jesus’ response to the disciples in spite of their fear?
Write a letter to Jesus, the one who continues to still the seas and wind. Tell him what you currently feel and fear. Then conclude your letter with a statement of faith.
For example: “My life is out of control. I am afraid and alone. But you are king. Even the wind and waves obey you. So I will rest, knowing that you have me securely in your hand.”
A New Resource for Advent
I am excited to share the new Advent study, Encountering Jesus in John! Advent begins on Sunday, December 3rd, and concludes on Sunday, December 24th.
The study comprises four lessons, aligned with the four weeks of Advent, and explores four ways we encounter Jesus in the Gospel of John: Lamb of God, Bread of Life, Good Shepherd, and Great High Priest.
It is a self-paced, video-based resource, accompanied by 12 instructional videos that will walk you through the biblical narrative of God’s provision for us in Christ. Additionally, you will receive a comprehensive 60-page downloadable workbook to help you further engage the Scriptures and encounter Jesus.
Sharing the hope of Jesus and the beauty of the Scriptures is something I never tire of. I hope you’ll consider joining me this Advent as we look at God’s provision for us in Christ!
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