Psalm 29: The Voice of the Lord, The Voice of Authority
Notes
Transcript
Psalm 29
Psalm 29
A psalm of David. 1 Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings; honor the Lord for his glory and strength. 2 Honor the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. 3 The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea. The God of glory thunders. The Lord thunders over the mighty sea. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. 5 The voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars; the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon’s mountains skip like a calf; he makes Mount Hermon leap like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the Lord strikes with bolts of lightning. 8 The voice of the Lord makes the barren wilderness quake; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks and strips the forests bare. In his Temple everyone shouts, “Glory!” 10 The Lord rules over the floodwaters. The Lord reigns as king forever. 11 The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.
Definition of Ascribe
Definition of Ascribe
Ascribe - to refer to for a cause, to attribute to a cause
What to attribute?
What to attribute?
The Name of the Lord
What is the cause?
What is the cause?
Glorify and honor His name.
1 Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in holy array.
The Voice of the Lord
The Voice of the Lord
3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; The God of glory thunders, The Lord is over many waters.
In the NLT it reads “The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea.”
It thunders over the seas.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful, The voice of the Lord is majestic.
It is powerful.
It is majestic.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; Yes, the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
It breaks the cedars in pieces.
The Cedars of Lebanon were use to build Solomon’s temple and Phoenician ships. Phoenicia became the world’s first sea-trading civilization.
They are strong thus Cedar trees symbolize resilience, immortality, strength, and elevation.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, And Sirion like a young wild ox.
Sirion is a name for Mt. Hermon.
The voice of the Lord is power that moves mountains.
7 The voice of the Lord hews out flames of fire.
Hews - chop or cut (something, especially wood or coal) with an axe, pick, or other tool.
The voice of the Lord is sharp enough to cut through flames.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
It shakes the wilderness specifically Kadesh.
Kadesh was the chief site of encampment for the Israelites during their wandering in the Zin Desert (Deuteronomy 1:46), as well as the place from which the Israelite spies were sent to Canaan (Numbers 13:1-26). The first failed attempt to capture Canaan was made from Kadesh (Numbers 14:40-45).
The description commemorates the conversation that probably took place between God and Moses as He instructs them to go and send spies to Canaan. (Number 13:1-2)
9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
It induces birth.
It strips the forest bare. As powerful as fire when it burns forest to the ground.
Upon hearing His voice everyone responds by crying “Glory!”
10 The Lord sat as King at the flood; Yes, the Lord sits as King forever.
The description of the power of His voice is and extension of His Kingship not according to world standards but divine. Earthly kings are just a speck or dust to His kingship.
11 The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.
A powerful God supplying power to His people. The focus is on the source of power and we have a glimpse of what that power can do and yet it is given to His people.
Knowing the source of power is an indicator to the potency of the power.
We discuss this in light of the shortcomings of Israel, hesitating when they were told by God that Canaan was handed to them.