Psalms 29

It is supposed that this Psalm was made upon the Occasion of some terrible tempest of Thunder, and Rain: which God might possibly send in the time of Battel to assist David, and discomfit his Enemies; as he had done formerly upon like Occasions. It contains an Admonition to the Potentates of the Earth, and especially to those who bordered upon the Land of Israel, that they would own and Worship the true God: which he presseth from the great Majesty, and Power of Israel's God above all other Gods, and particularly, from that great and glorious instance thereof in Thunder: which has struck the proudest Monarchs with the dread of that God, whom at other times they despised.

GIve unto the LORD, O ye mighty Ye Potentates and Rulers of the Earth. To these he addresseth his Speech; Partly, because they are most apt to forget and contemn God, and insolently to assume a kind of Deity to themselves: and Partly, because their Conviction and Conversion was likely to have a great and powerful influence upon their people. By an humble and thankful acknowledgment of it: for other ways we can give nothing to God., give unto the LORD b glory and strength (i. e.) The glory of his strength or power, which is the Attribute set forth in this Psalm: Or, his glorious strength..

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name (i. e.) The Honour which he deserves: which is to prefer him before all other Gods, and to forsake all others, and to own him as the Almighty, and the only true God.: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness Or, of the Sanctuary, which is commonly called by this Name; in his Holy and beautiful House, as it is called, Isa. 64. 11. the only place where he will receive Worship. So he exhorts them, to turn Pro... elytes to the Jewish Religion; which was their Duty and Interest..

The voyce of the LORD (i. e.) Thunder, as is manifest from the next Clause, and the following Effects: which is oft called the Lords voyce, as Exod. 9. 23. 28, 29. Iob. 37. 21. 4, 5. Psal. 18. 14. and 46. is upon the waters Either, 1. Upon the Seas; where its noise spreads, far and wide, and is very Terrible. But the following Verses speak of the Effects of it, upon the Earth only. Or rather, 2 Above in the Clouds, which are called Waters, Gen. 1. 7. Psal. 18. 11. because they are of a watry Substance. And this Circumstance is Considerable here, to magnifie the Divine power, which displayeth it self in those high places, which are far above the reach of all Earthly Potentates, and from whence he can easily and unavoidably smite all that dwell upon the Earth, and will not submit to him.: the God of glory thundreth, the LORD is upon many waters (i. e.) Upon the Clouds, in which there are vast Treasures of water, and upon which God is said to sit, or Ride, Psal. 18. 10, 11. and 104. 3..

The voyce of the LORD is powerful: the voyce of the LORD is full of majesty Is an evident Proof of God's glorious Majesty..

The voyce of the LORD breaketh the cedars By Thunder-bolts; which have oft thrown down Trees and Towers.: yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon A place Famous for strong and lofty Cedars, See 2 Chron. 2. 8. Cant. 3. 9. and 5. 15..

He maketh them The Cedars last mentioned: which being broken by the Thunder, the parts of them are suddenly and violently hurled about hither and thither. also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Syrion An high Mountain beyond Iordan, joyning to Lebanon: of which see Deut. 3. 9. and 4. 48. Lebanon and Sirion are here understood: Either, 1. Properly: and so they are said to skip, Or, leap both here, and Psal. 114: 4. by a poetical Hyper... ole very usual, both in Scripture and other Authors: Which is so known that it is needless to give any Instances of it. Or, 2. Metonymically for the Trees or people of them, as the Wilderness, v. 8. may seem to be taken; and as the Earth, by the same Figure, is frequently put for the people, which dwell in it. like a young unicorn Heb. Reem: Of which see on Numb. 23. 22. Psal. 22. 21..

The voyce of the LORD divideth Heb. Heweth out; (i. e.) It breaketh out of the Clouds, and thereby makes way for the Lightnings, which are suddenly dispersed over the face of the Earth. the flames of fire.

The voyce of the LORD shaketh the wilderness (i. e.) Either the Trees, or rather the Beasts of the Wilderness, by a Metonymy as before, v. 6. Compare this with the next Verse.: the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh Which he mentions as an eminent Wilderness, vast and Terrible, and well known to the Israelites, Numb. 20. 1. 16. and wherein possibly they had seen, and observed some such Effects of Thunder, as are here mentioned..

The voyce of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve Through the Terror which it causeth, which hastens the Birth in these and other places: See 1 Sam. 4. 19 He nameth the Hinds, because they bring forth their young with Difficulty, Iob 39. 1, 2., and discovereth Heb. maketh bare, Either of its Trees, which it Either breaks or strips of their Leaves: Or, of the Beasts, which it forceth to run into their Dens. the forests: and Or, but Having showed the Terrible effects of God's power in other places, he now shows the Blessed priviledge of God's people, that are praising and glorifying God, and receiving the Comfortable influences of his Grace in his Temple, when the rest of the World are Trembling under the Tokens of his Displeasure. By which he secretly invites and perswades the Gentiles, for their own safety and Comfort, to own the true God, and to Worship him in his Sanctuary, as he did exhort them, v. 2. Or, therefore, (i. e.) Because of these and such like Discoveries, of Gods excellent Majesty and Power, h... people fear and praise, and adore him in his Temple. in his temple does every one speak of his glory.

The LORD sitteth upon the flood He moderateth and ruleth (which is oft signified by sitting, this being the posture of a Judge, (or Ruler: of which see Psal. 9. 7, 8, 9. and 47. 9, Ioel 3. 12.) the most abundant and violent Inundations of Waters, which sometimes fall from the Clouds upon the Earth; where they would do much Mischief if God did not prevent it. And these are here fitly mentioned, as being many times the Companions of great Thunders. And this may be alledged as another Reason, why God's people did praise and Worship him in his Temple, because as he sendeth terrible Tempests and Thunders, and Floods, so he also restrains and over-rules them. But most Interpreters refer this to Noah's Flood, to whom the Word here used, is elsewhere Appropriated. And so the Words may be... endred, The Lord did sit upon, Or, at the Flood, in Noah's time. When it is probable those Vehement Rains were accompanied with terrible Thunders. And so having spoken of the Manifestation of God's power, in Storms and Tempests in general, he takes an occasion to run back to that Ancient and most dreadful Example of that kind, in which the Divine power was most Eminently seen. And having mentioned that instance, he Adds, that as God showed himself to be the King, and the Judge of the World at that time, so he does still sit and will sit as King for ever, sending such Tempests when it pleaseth him. And therefore his people have great Reason to Worship and serve him.: yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.

The LORD will give strength To support and preserve them in the most dreadful Tempests, and Consequently in all other Dangers, and against all their Enemies. unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace Though now he sees fit to exercise them with some Troubles..