Praying Psalm 29

The Voice of YHWH

What is the title of Psalm 29? A Psalm of David.

 

Read Psalm 29:1-2

1 Ascribe to YHWH, O heavenly beings, ascribe to YHWH glory and strength.
² Ascribe to YHWH the glory due his name; worship/bow down to YHWH in the splendor of holiness.

What is “given” to YHWH?

Praise, honor, worship

Sons of God – heavenly beings - like angels. Their job is to praise God!

Read Psalm 29:3-4

³ The voice of YHWH is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, YHWH, over many waters.
⁴ The voice of YHWH is powerful; the voice of YHWH is full of majesty.

What does the voice of YHWH do?

Over water (think creation Genesis 1) He moved/separated the water to make land.

His voice is powerful!

Read 29:5-6

⁵ The voice of YHWH breaks the cedars; YHWH breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
⁶ He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.

What does the voice of YHWH do?

Breaks cedars? Lebanon is  Strong. They had great big trees that were very strong – but the VOICE can  CRUSH STRENGTH

Sirion is another name for the mountain range (Mt Hermon) Another strong BIG image – VOICE makes it skip playfully? It's almost silly...

Read 29:7-8

⁷ The voice of YHWH flashes forth flames of fire.
⁸ The voice of YHWH shakes the wilderness; YHWH shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

What does the voice of YHWH do?

Lightening, Shaking = real scary events happening in creation. (like 10 Commands Ex. 19:16-20) God shows up and creation reacts!

 

Wilderness – where the people were wandering for 40 years! This is not a happy place...

Read 29:9

⁹ The voice of YHWH makes the deer give birth And strips the forests bare, And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

What does the voice of YHWH do?

Nature is in pain and destroyed. It is so terrifying, pregnant deer go into premature labor!

BUT this causes a response from all in the temple... How can people see this terrifying picture and cry "Glory!"?

 

Read 29:10-11

¹⁰  YHWH sits enthroned over the flood; the YHWH sits enthroned as king forever.
^{11 Let} YHWH give strength to his people! Let YHWH bless his people with peace!

What does YHWH give?

Strength & peace

IN THE MIDST of  = “enthroned over the flood” – These are very scary images especially for Israel’s history. The FLOOD killed the whole world! Water saved the Israel, but brought death to the Egyptians pursuing them from Egypt.

YHWH is in control of all these unnerving times YET he is to be praised!

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?

Teach about voice of YHWH – destructive , powerful, no match for powers of this world

Find strength & comfort in it.

How does Christ fulfill this psalm?

The voice of YHWH is Christ. He is the Word made flesh. Humility, peace & blessings came in the manger. This gift of life was given for all.

BUT This voice of YHWH also breaks, flashes forth, destroys  - to come at the end of all things.. BOTH of these realities are part of YHWH's WORD!

How can we pray this?

The voice of YHWH is harsh & powerful BUT we find strength & glory in the voice.

 

WE PRAY:  

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is this done? When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.