PSALM 29 – REMINDERS
Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Memorial Day all serve as reminders of special people, both living and dead. Our Christian holidays of Christmas and Easter also serve as reminders of the special birth, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.
We need reminders, and tonight, I bring your attention to Psalm 29, which serves us a reminder of certain truths that we should never forget.
Psalm 29 is special among the Psalms because it praises God for a Thunder Storm. The storm to David was an expression of God’s voice and power. In 11 verses the title “the Lord” appears 18 times, seven of those times it is in the phrase, “the voice of the Lord”.
Our first reminder is:
THE PRAISE OF THE LORD – Vss. 1-2
It is important to note here that those being directly called on to praise God are heavenly beings, angels, if you will.
The word “mighty” refers to “mighty ones”, and literally means “sons of God”. Often the term “sons of God” refers to the angels.
David is calling on the angels to praise God. But they already do! Why would David call on them to do what is already being done? James Montgomery Boice answered that question: “It is because he feels that his praise and the praise of other mere human beings in not adequate. David is overwhelmed with the majesty of God revealed in the storm that he has witnessed is now going to describe. He feels that he needs help to praise God properly. To praise God adequately the entire created order must join in, and even then sufficient praise would be lacking.” James Montgomery Boice, Psalms Volume 1, (Grand Rapids Michigan, Baker Books, 1994
The word “give” in these verses means to “ascribe”. The angels were to give credit to the Lord for His glory and for His strength. They were also to give the Lord the glory due His name.
The angels do give the Lord the glory due His name. Isaiah 6:1-4
Of course, if angels are to praise the Lord, we are reminded that you and I should be doing the same thing.
Angels are far superior to us and they worship the Lord.
If we do what it says, it verse 2, give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name, we will never be silent.
How much glory is due His name? There’s no limit on what is due to Him.
Psalm 29:2 – Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
The angels before the throne of God are totally set apart from sin to serve God. They are able to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
To be holy is to be totally set apart from sin unto God.
That is more difficult for us. However, with God’s help we can do it.
That’s why a regular part of our prayers should be, thy kingdom come, thy will be done.
The word worship means to “bow down”. Although we may not always bow literally before God, we can bow figuratively by being totally submissive to Him.
The one who is totally submissive to God is the one who will be able to worship in holiness.
The Second Reminder:
THE POWER OF THE LORD – Vss. 3-10
There are two places that the Lord’s Power is seen:
1. The Thunderstorm Vss. 3-9
2. The Throne – Vs. 10
There are few things more powerful and glorious than a full-blown thunderstorm. This one that David probably viewed was a real “dilly”.
Vs. 3 – According to David, it was “the voice of the Lord”, and he was probably including the lightening right in with the thunder.
The storm started over the waters, or the Mediterranean Sea.
Vss. 4-5 – The storm comes inland and moves up into the mountains of Lebanon. I can imagine the lightning striking some of the trees and them coming down.
Vs. 6-7 – Imagine the mountains shaking and the lightning flashing!
Vs. 8 – The storm moves on into the wilderness around Kadesh, a town 75 miles north of Damascus and then was gone.
Vs. 9 – The deer gave birth prematurely because of the storm.
Leaves are stripped from the trees
The Voice of the Lord would be the thunder. God is expressing Himself. He is saying, “I am here and I am powerful.”
The all powerful God reminds us of His presence in the thunderstorm. We realize that when He speaks, things happen!
But we can also be thankful that our all powerful God is so powerful, that He doesn’t roar at us. He speaks with a still, small voice. Elijah learned that lesson. 1 Kings 19:11-12
Another thing we can be thankful for is that the same power that causes majestic thunderstorms and that raised Jesus from the dead is present in our lives to help us. Ephesians 1:18-21
When we face trials, His power is present.
When we face tragedy, His power is present.
When we need strength to face problems, do what is right, or witness, His power is present.
His Word is just as authoritative when He is speaking in our lives as when He is speaking in a thunderstorm.
Vs. 9 – And notice that in God’s temple, God is praised for His glory.
· I think of the temple in Heaven where God would be praised for the majesty of the thunderstorm.
· I think of the physical temple or tabernacle on earth where God would have been praised for majesty of a thunderstorm.
· And I think of the temple that is our bodies, where God should be praised for the majesty of the thunderstorm and every other way God shows His power.
2. The Throne Vs. 10
It is likely that David is referring to the world-wide flood.
God was in control of that.
It is a reminder of His kingship.
When I think of His kingship I also think of His sovereignty.
It is God who is in control of everything.
It behooves us to respond properly to His reign. Psalm 97:1, Psalm 99:1
Because the Lord reigns, we can say with David in Psalm 31:15, My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
The Third Reminder:
THE PROMISES OF THE LORD – Vs. 11
1. THE LORD PROMISES US STRENGTH
All through Scripture the Lord promises us strength. Deuteronomy 33:25, Psalm 118:14, Isaiah 41:10,
Acts 18:9-10, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Philippians 4:13
2. THE LORD PROMISES US PEACE
Psalm 29:11 – The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.
God does not intend us to be in turmoil, but in peace. Isaiah 26:3-4, Luke 10:38-42, John 14:27
THE PRAISE OF THE LORD
THE POWER OF THE LORD – in the storm and on the throne
THE PROMISES OF THE LORD – strength and peace