The Lord, The King Of Creation And Natural Wonders

The LORD, the King of Creation and Natural Wonders

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Text: Psalm 29

Psalm 29

A PSALM OF DAVID.

1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.

3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, 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; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of the LORD flashes forth 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 all cry, "Glory!"

10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.

11 May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!

Main Structure:

I. 1-2: Worship the LORD -- Addressed to angels (Heavenly Beings)

II. 3-9: The voice of the LORD

III. 10-11: The LORD is King, and a closing blessing for strength and peace

Introduction

On earth, there is natural beauty:

- Natural Wonders such as waterfalls -- you go to see the majesty and beauty of creation.

- Desert - you see ultimate dryness and heat, yet wonderful sand formations and land layouts.

- Rainforest - you see the pinnacle of the diversity of life

All these things were created by God's Words and Handiwork.

The Heavens

Psalm 19:1 - The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

In Psalm 29, though, the Psalmist was very likely seeing the frightening wonder of a thunderstorm, metaphorically seeing God's power and voice in the midst of rain and lightning.

1-2: Imperatives to Angels to Praise the LORD

Worship the LORD -- Addressed to angels (Heavenly Beings)

They are to praise the LORD with the following:

Glory and strength

Glory due His Name

Worship Him (bow yourselves to Him) with the adornment of holiness

The LORD is worthy of the worship of angels (compare with Psalm 8 and Hebrews 2 -- they are a form above humans, and messengers who do His Will)

3-9: The Power of the Voice of the LORD

The Psalmist (David) likely was in the midst of a lightning storm or recalled the heavy thunder & lightning in a powerful storm. Some of his observations:

3 The voice of the LORD is more powerful than the roaring of waters (see also Psalm 93)

4 His voice is powerful and majestic

5 It even breaks through trees!

6 Continuation of 5 -- Mountains as a symbol of strength -- the LORD's Power makes the mountains' strength seem like a joke!

Mountains seem very firmly rooted in the ground! Yet the LORD's power belittles the strength symbol of a mountain.

7 Flames of fire - A lightning bolt can singe a tree or even start a fire.

8 Shakes the wilderness - The crashing sound of a lightning bolt is LOUD. If you've ever been near a lightning bolt strike, it's often very sobering.

9 Miracle of birth - Yet in the midst of all this loud noise and power, we see that the LORD is also delicate and creative in His blessing of birth. He is the LORD of Creation!

10-11: The LORD is King, and may He give us strength and peace

Some observations:

- The LORD is more powerful than the flood and roaring of waters

- The LORD is King

- The LORD is Eternal

- The LORD is the source of all our potential strength

- The LORD blesses with peace

May we receive this blessing this week -- strength and peace -- knowing that the LORD is powerful, sovereign, and our majestic King of Kings!