Overview
The psalmist calls upon the great and mighty to give thanks unto God, and to worship him in the beauty of holiness, on account of a tempest that had taken place, Psalm 29:1, Psalm 29:2. He shouts the wonders produced by a thunderstorm, which he calls the voice of God, Psalm 29:3-9. Speaks of the majesty of God, Psalm 29:10; and points out the good he will do to his people, Psalm 29:11.
In the Hebrew, this is called A Psalm for David. The Vulgate says, “A Psalm of David, when the tabernacle was completed.” The Septuagint says: “A Psalm of David, at the going out or exodus of the tabernacle.” The Arabic states it to be “A prophecy concerning the incarnation; and concerning the ark and the tent.” Numbers 5:12. The Syriac, “A Psalm of David, concerning oblation.” The Psalm was probably written to commemorate the abundant rain which fell in the days of David, after the heavens had been shut up for three years; 2 Samuel 21:1-10.
Adam Clark Commentary
Psalm 29 (NKJV)
Praise to God in His Holiness and Majesty
A Psalm of David.
Give[a] unto the Lord, O you mighty ones,
Give unto the Lord glory and strength.
2 [b]Give unto the Lord the glory [c]due to His name;
Worship the Lord in the [d]beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
The God of glory thunders;
The Lord is 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,
Yes, the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes them also skip like a calf,
Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord [e]divides the 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 birth,
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood,
And the Lord sits as King forever.
11 The Lord will give strength to His people;
The Lord will bless His people with peace.
Poetry by Isaac Watts based on Psalm 29
Storm and thunder
Give to the Lord, ye sons of fame,
Give to the Lord renown and power,
Ascribe due honors to his name,
And his eternal might adore.
The Lord proclaims his power aloud
Over the ocean and the land;
His voice divides the wat’ry cloud,
And lightnings blaze at his command.
He speaks, and tempest, hail, and wind,
Lay the wide forest bare around:
The fearful hart and frighted hind
Leap at the terror of the sound.
To Lebanon he turns his voice,
And lo, the stately cedars break;
The mountains tremble at the noise,
The valleys roar, the deserts quake.
The Lord sits sovereign on the flood,
The Thund’rer reigns for ever king;
But makes his church his blest abode,
Where we his awful glories sing.
In gentler language there, the Lord
The counsels of his grace imparts;
Amidst the raging storm, his word
Speaks peace and courage to our hearts.
Prayer for yourself and people on your prayer list…
- Father, God of heaven and earth, we come humbly before you
- Your glory and greatness is evident for all to see
- Give strength to your people and bless your people with peace
Upward Ever... 