The Book of Psalms
Psalm 29
Psalm XXIX · Vol. II, p. 1003
1 David exhorteth princes to give glory to God, 3 by reason of his power, 11 and protection of his people.
A psalm of David.
1 Give untoa the LORD, O ye mighty,1 give unto the LORD glory and strength.
a 1 Ch.16.28,29. Ps.96.7-9; 115.1. Ac.12.23. Re.5.11-14.
1 Heb. ye sons of the mighty, Ps.89.6.
3 The cvoice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many4 waters.5
c Job 37.4,5. Ps.18.13,15; 77.17,18. Ex.9.28.
4 Or, great.
5 It appears that on this occasion the psalmist's religious fervour was awakened by one of those terrible storms which sometimes visit the shores of Palestine. His description of it is most graphic. It first appears upon the sea, where its roar is heard as it sweeps along from the west. It approaches the land. The thunder-clouds ascend the lofty sides of Lebanon, and the lightning and tempest rend the great cedar forests. It passes on eastward to the wilderness of Kadesh, where its fury is at length exhausted.—P.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;6 the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.7
6 Heb. in power.
7 Heb. in majesty, Ps.102.3.
5 The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.
8 The voice of the LORD hshaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
A.M. cir. 2984. B.C. cir. 1020.
h Ne.9.19,21. Ps.78.40,52; 107.4. Je.2.2. De.1.19; 32.10.
9 The voice of the LORD maketh the ihinds to calve, and discovereth the forests;1 and jin his temple doth every one speak of his glory.2
9 Or, to be in pain, and so bring forth, Job 39.1-3.
1 'The voice of the Lord maketh the oaks to tremble, and layeth bare the forests.'—Lowth, &c.
j Ps.63.2; 48.9; 134.1,2; 135.1,2.
2 Or, every whit of it uttereth, &c.
Notes
Ver. 2. Beauty of holiness. A call to worship either in the beauty conferred by holiness, that is, by separation from worldly defilement, Ja. 1. 27; Ro. 12. 2, and dedication of body and spirit to God, Ro. 12. 1; or to worship him amidst the emblematic beauties of the holy place, in a ritual every jot of which was of divine appointment. C.
Ver. 3. Voice. Any voice in nature that God employs to manifest his power, may truly be called his, because all creation and its laws are his—a mere emanation of his will, sustained by the energies of eternal power. C.
Ver. 9. The worship and temple here are the same as in ver. 2: and the reference seems to be to the influence of storms, irresistibly to lead man to the only refuge of a weak creature—the bended knee, the earnest cry, the throne of grace, the arm of the Almighty. C.——By the 'temple' is here probably meant the world, which is God's habitation. Everything in it declares the glory of his wisdom and power. P.
Ver. 11. The Lord will bless his people with peace. Life at best is a variable climate, and visited by many storms. Still the man justified by faith enjoys peace of conscience, and when the storms of life are over, all will be calm in heaven. C.
Reflections.—Alas! how shameful it is that we should need repeated calls to the solemn worship and service of God; and that great men are but seldom shining examples of devotion! Formal ceremony of words is too often the whole of our worship, which is neither performed in Jesus' holy name, nor in beautiful holiness of heart. But infinitely great is the glory of Jehovah! His voice in thunder, in stormy tempests, is not more awful and effective than his voice in his word is on my heart, and hath been, or shall be, in the gospel church. There he speaks to multitudes numerous as the waters; he awakens and seeks to convert the sinner, humble the proud, and draw the obstinate, fast rooted as the mountains, dart light and love into their heart, and bring forth many sons and daughters to glory, for the advancement of his own honour. He strengthens them against every danger and enemy, and blesses them with that peace which passeth all understanding.