PSALMS TWENTY-NINE COMMENTARY

Contents

II. Psalm Twenty-nine Commentary Verses. 1

29:1-2- Bow Yourselves to Jehovah, in the Beauty of Holiness. 1

29:3-9-The Thoughts of Jehovah are on Peoples. 1

29:10-11-Jehovah Sits as King. 1

III. Illustrations and Tables. 1

Figure 1. Jehovah God Sits as King Forever. 1

Scripture Reference Legend. 1

Works Cited and References. 1

Notes. 1

I. Introduction

This blessed psalm is a Psalm of David. More than likely it was occasioned by a dramatic storm he witnessed, a storm with much wind, and awe-inspiring thunder and lightning. We are going to prayerfully study the verses from a predominantly spiritual perspective, with very little consideration given to their nature elements. We will follow this format:

Verse of Scripture utilizing the YLT text followed by an NASB mouse over of that verse. Key words in the YLT text will be footnoted with a link to a word study based on the Hebrew text, and/or a general discussion relative to the given word (we are not biblical Greek or Hebrew scholars, please consider our grammatical constructions with a critical eye).

Commentary We shall be commenting on this passage keeping before us at all times the crucial fact that every jot and every tittle comprising these verses came forth under the inspiration of the blessed Holy Spirit. We pray that He, by His grace, helps us along the way .

II. Psalm Twenty-nine Commentary Verses

29:1-2- Bow Yourselves to Jehovah, in the Beauty of Holiness

YLT TEXT: A Psalm of David. Ascribe[1] to Jehovah[2], ye sons of the mighty[3], Ascribe to Jehovah honour[4] and strength[5]. Ascribe to Jehovah the honour of His name[6], Bow[7] yourselves to Jehovah, In the beauty[8] of holiness. (Psa 29:1-2, Psa 29:1-2, NLT).

COMMENTARY: There is an undercurrent of stealing flowing through these verses. Do you sense it too dearest reader? Maybe telling in that regard is the particular object of this two-verse corrective, the so-called “sons of the mighty” (we find these aplenty in every generation). Thrice is utilized the verb “ascribe” in escalating, Hebrew (God-speak) fashion[9], and then duly qualified by way of the verb “bow” is that attribution which the former sought to reach at their pinnacle, that is, the pinnacle of ascribing to Jehovah supreme honor, the honor of His Name: “...ascribe to Jehovah the honor of His name...”, which honor we reckon had been stolen (hijacked) by certain deluded “sons of the mighty,” and summarily redirected to themselves as though worthy of said honor (we find this sort of stealing aplenty in every generation): ‘...Bow not before yourselves inwardly, or to one another, but bow yourselves to Jehovah...’. David (the Holy Spirit) goes further, and thoroughly explicates this good bowing before Jehovah—it is not primarily physical (as in a certain posture or lip service or whatnot), but consists of a spirit that has bowed itself, like so: in a manner consistent with the holiness of God per His stipulation of holiness, wherein (the holiness of God, that is), lies the honor of His Name: “...Bow yourselves to Jehovah, in the beauty of holiness...”. In our day that beauty is nothing short of a tight tether to the passport righteousness of Jesus Christ (Psa 149:4, “Be Holy”, “Righteous Faith”).

29:3-9-The Thoughts of Jehovah are on Peoples

YLT TEXT: The voice[10] of Jehovah is on the waters[11], The God of glory[12] hath thundered, Jehovah is on many waters. The voice of Jehovah is with power, The voice of Jehovah is with majesty, The voice of Jehovah is shivering cedars[13], Yea, Jehovah shivers the cedars of Lebanon[14]. And He causeth them to skip as a calf, Lebanon and Sirion[15] as a son of Reems[16], The voice of Jehovah is hewing fiery flames[17], The voice of Jehovah paineth[18] a wilderness, Jehovah paineth the wilderness of Kadesh[19]. The voice of Jehovah paineth the oaks[20], And maketh bare the forests, And in His temple every one saith, 'Glory[21].' (Psa 29:3-9, Psa 29:3-9, NLT)

COMMENTARY: As proposed in notes ten and eleven, the thoughts of God are on peoples (God is redundant here, and emphatic): “...The voice of Jehovah is on the waters, the God of glory hath thundered, Jehovah is on many waters...”. And it must needs be that these thoughts betray the self-understood capacity, and character, of the God to whom they belong (that is, His innate “I AM-ness,” if we may considerately and respectfully put it that way)—thus we are told that these thoughts are powerful, and majestic, respectively: “...The voice of Jehovah is with power, the voice of Jehovah is with majesty... (cf. Isa 40:26)”. And thoughts, even these thoughts of God, unequivocally betray purpose of one sort or another. In this context is betrayed the purpose of God with respect to certain peoples, fundamentally two kinds of people—the Godless proud, and the God-honoring meek. Consider the former; again our God is redundant: “...The voice of Jehovah is shivering cedars, Yea, Jehovah shivers the cedars of Lebanon...”. That thought presupposes unsurpassed power. God is against His enemies, the Godless proud (notice for example Godless, proud, Babylon in its day, Jer 50:31-32). In our context God reveals that His purpose is to expose and fell these wicked: “...He causeth them to skip as a calf [my, what a right fear can bring about suddenly], Lebanon and Sirion as a son of Reems...”, and again: “...The voice of Jehovah paineth the oaks, And maketh bare the forests...”. But no less in Jehovah’s thoughts, His people, the God-honoring meek, are specifically addressed at the end of the verse set as well. How so? These are they who honor Him by worshiping Him, for sure, but more so—it is they who honor Him by worshiping Him in the beauty of holiness—this is the finished work of Jesus Christ to which David (the Holy Spirit) alludes (in that thought of God is contained power and majesty). Please notice: “...And in His temple every one saith ‘Glory’...”. Glory? Amen, Glory (Psa 27:4), for in His Temple His Name is honored in the beauty of holiness. Thus do saints glorify Jehovah God, saints redeemed and sanctified by Jesus Christ. You see, expressed “Glory” is more than just a matter of the tongue (the Holy Spirit here anticipated the finished work of God the Son, our blessed Jesus, whose ministry reached back to cover David and beyond, and reached forward to cover you and me and beyond dear reader [“A Letter of Invitation”]). So we learn that God’s thoughts are very much on peoples, two kinds of people: (1) The Godless proud, His enemies; here His thoughts are as when considering an enemy (to fell and uproot [this is Salvation lost]), and (2) His people, who worship Him in the beauty of holiness (sanctified person, sanctified spirit, sanctified tongue, all alike shout “Gory!”); here His thoughts are as considering beloved kin (to plant and build up [this is Salvation gained]). And the Word of God, made lucid by the tangible Voice of God, even Jesus Christ (for in Him reside all the thoughts of God, Col 1:19), shall arbitrate perfectly between these two kinds of people in the end (He does already in fact).

29:10-11-Jehovah Sits as King

YLT TEXT: Jehovah on the deluge[22] hath sat[23], And Jehovah sitteth[24] king -- to the age, Jehovah strength to his people giveth, Jehovah blesseth His people with peace[25]! (Psa 29:10-11, Psa 29:10-11, NLT).

COMMENTARY: Our God Jehovah is Sovereign, and He is Able, able to carry out His Sovereign will. This formidable One certainly has the capacity and betimes the will to destroy life (witness the Flood, Sodom, Gomorrah, Hell), and He certainly has the capacity and more often than not the will to impart life (witness Creation, the Cross, Salvation [life eternal in His presence])—His Capacity, and the reality of both options, are on display in this verse set. But dearest reader, please notice something very carefully—when He chooses to impart life, it is specifically imparted to His people: “...Jehovah strength to his people giveth, Jehovah blesseth His people with peace ...” Thus it was with Adam and Eve, and in Noah’s day, and so it is in our day (“A Letter of Invitation”), and so it shall be in “the days of Noah” revisited by a Godless world (“Matthew Chapter Twenty-four Commentary”). He Jehovah sits as King, always, forever (Fig. 1).

Praised and feared be your Royal Name great Jehovah God, King. Amen. Glory!

III. Illustrations and Tables

Figure 1. Jehovah God Sits as King Forever.

Scripture Reference Legend

Gen-Genesis	Exd-Exodus	Lev-Leviticus	Num-Numbers	Deu-Deuteronomy	Jos-Joshua
Jdg-Judges	Rth-Ruth	1Sa-1^st Samuel	2Sa-2^nd Samuel	1Ki-1^st Kings	2Ki-2^nd Kings
1Ch-1^st Chronicles	2Ch-2^nd Chronicles	Ezr-Ezra	Neh-Nehemiah	Est-Esther	Job-Job
Psa-Psalms	Pro-Proverbs	Ecc-Ecclesiastes	Sgs-Song of Songs	Isa-Isaiah	Jer-Jeremiah
Lam-Lamentations	Eze-Ezekiel	Dan-Daniel	Hsa-Hosea	Joe-Joel	Amo-Amos
Oba-Obadiah	Jon-Jonah	Mic-Micah	Nah-Nahum	Hab-Habakkuk	Zep-Zephaniah
Hag-Haggai	Zec-Zechariah	Mal-Malachi
Mat-Matthew	Mar-Mark	Luk-Luke	Jhn-John	Act-Acts	Rom-Romans
1Cr-1^st Corinthians	2Cr-2^nd Corinthians	Gal-Galatians	Eph-Ephesians	Phl-Philippians	Col-Colossians
1Th-1^st thessalonians	2Th-2^nd thessalonians	1Ti-1^st Timothy	2Ti-2^nd Timothy	Tts-Titus	Phm-Philemon
Hbr-Hebrews	Jas-James	1Pe-1^st Peter	2Pe-2^nd Peter	1Jo-1^st John	2Jo-2^nd John
3Jo-3^rd John	Jud-Jude	Rev-Revelation

Works Cited and References

“A Letter of Invitation.”

Jesus, Amen.

< http://jesusamen.org/aletterofinvitation.html >

“Be Holy.’

Jesus, Amen.

< http://jesusamen.org/beholy.html >

Blue Letter Bible.

Linguistics and Study Tools.

< http://blueletterbible.org >

Henry, Matthew.

Commentary on Psalms Twenty-nine.

< http://blb.sc/003Aij >

“Isaiah Chapter Six Commentary.”

Jesus, Amen.

< http://jesusamen.org/commentaryisa6.html >

“John Chapter One Commentary.”

Jesus, Amen.

< http://jesusamen.org/commentaryjohn1.html >

“Matthew Chapter Twenty-four Commentary.

Jesus, Amen.

< http://jesusamen.org/commentarymat24.html >

McGee, J.V.

Commentary on Psalms Twenty-nine.

“O, That Name!’

Jesus, Amen.

< http://jesusamen.org/othatname.html >

“Revelation Chapter Thirteen Commentary.”

Jesus, Amen.

< http://jesusamen.org/commentaryrev13.html >

Young's Literal Translation.

The YLT is in the public domain.

Notes

(words under study are highlighted yellow)

[1] Ascribe [to Jehovah]-Strong’s H3051. Attribute is good in context. Give that which is most certainly warranted here. Verbal usage is Qal (simple action), imperative (direct address command). Note the imperative.

[2] [Ascribe to] Jehovah-Strong’s H3068. The great I Am, Yahweh, the Eternal One. The memorial name of our God (Exd 3:13-15). Matthew Henry points out that this great Name of our God is repeated eighteen times in this psalm (...“his sufficiency in himself, intimated in his name Jehovah-I am that I am, which is repeated here no fewer than eighteen times in this short psalm, twice in every verse but three, and once in two of those three; I do not recollect that there is the like in all the book of psalms...”, Henry).

[3] [Ascribe to Jehovah] ye sons of the mighty-Strong’s H1121. We are interested in the entire address here (yellow highlight). Probably the best alternative has in view dynasts in light of the further context. The powerful, the influential, persons of estate, nobility, the strong—physical and otherwise—and so on. The focus is this-worldly we think.

[4] [Ascribe to Jehovah] honor [and strength]-Strong’s H3519. Glory. Our God is honored when He is glorified. Our God is glorified in His holy ones, saints; saints through the finished work of Jesus Christ (Redemption-Salvation, Sanctification). Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory great Jehovah God. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, amen.

[5] [Ascribe to Jehovah honor and] strength-Strong’s H5797. An exceeding capacity to apply force/s and to withstand force/s. Our God’s strength is surpassing in this sense (as one would expect of deity). And what are we to say when He bares His holy right Arm? Nothing on the physical or spiritual plane can suppress His Arm when He impresses it this way or that (witness for example Salvation). Let us fear Jehovah God (this honors Him).

[6] [Ascribe to Jehovah honour and strength. Ascribe to Jehovah] the honour of His name (“O, that Name!”). The text suggests a priori knowledge and understanding of that great Name. This knowledge comes by way of God through His Word (this is Jesus Christ in Scripture), and understanding comes by way of His Spirit. Given such knowledge and understanding, a right honor of our God’s Name may follow. But what exactly qualifies this honor? It is holiness; the holiness in us which he requires (“Be Holy”). Again we have an imperative behind “ascribe” as in note one. O the defamation of our God’s Name in this twenty-first-century generation, fraught with a brazen dishonor of that beautiful Name, and no less taunting a long-standing imperative. One thing is certain here—Jehovah God never has been, nor shall He be, mocked; it always ends poorly for the mocker of God, either now, or later: Contemporary mockers of God can mark that one down. Turn while He allows your heart yet to beat friend (“A Letter of Invitation”).

[7] Bow [yourselves to Jehovah]-Strong’s H7812. “On your face” worship. Verbal usage is Hithpael (we like the intensive action of the Piel nuanced with reflexive [direct object same as subject] action), imperative. Again, note the imperative mood.

[8] [Bow yourselves to Jehovah in the] beauty [of holiness]-Strong’s H1927. Here is assessed the quality of worshiping Jehovah God: it is beautiful in His sight when it comes before Him as dressed in holiness. And why? Thus only does it honor Him (“Be Holy”). There is here a hard conclusion: thus only does the disciple of Jesus Christ and none other honor Jehovah God (worship of Jehovah God is worthless if it is not done in the Name of Jesus Christ is the point “Righteous Faith”), and thus only does the same and none other enter into the eternal, beatific | beautiful state, which is precisely Salvation (“A Letter of Invitation” as an invitation and for some background dear reader).

[9] From simple ascribe, to ascribe to Jehovah honor and strength, to quintessential attribution: ascribe to Jehovah the honor of His Name. All along the “sons of the mighty” are to do this.

[10] [The] voice [of Jehovah is on the waters]-Strong’s H6963. The carrier of words, which themselves express thought. Thus once-removed we might say: ‘...the thoughts of Jehovah are on the waters...’.

[11] [The voice of Jehovah is on the] waters-Strong’s H4325. We think that “peoples” is particularly apt in context.

[12] [the God of] glory [hath thundered]-same as note four.

[13] [The voice of Jehovah is shivering] cedars. H730. See also. Here are those lofty ones, mighty ones, even the sons of the mighty. But the voice of Jehovah searches them, and sobers them; He exposes and embarrasses their tenacious roots; they stand naked before Him, and are shown they are sore wanting, not so mighty after all.

[14] [Jehovah shivers the cedars of] Lebanon-Strong’s H3844. See also.

[15] [And He causeth them to skip as a calf, Lebanon and] Sirion-Strong’s H8303. See also.

[16] [Lebanon and Sirion as a son of] Reems-Strong’s H7214. See also.

[17] Probably lightning is meant. Thus are Jehovah God’s thoughts when they come usward.

[18] [The voice of Jehovah] paineth [a wilderness]-Strong’s H2342. The literal “paineth” is pretty good here (this word is used in several other places and we like the literal “paineth” each time). A wilderness flaunts itself as a hopeless place, but Jehovah our God can morph it—He can in fact make a pathway in the wilderness and create rivers in the dry wasteland (Num 20:10-13, Isa 43:19, Jhn 1:23-28). This too is the finished work of Jesus Christ. Praised be our God. Let everyone say Glory! Verbal usage is Qal, imperfect (incomplete action here in present time, which is significant). Note the imperfect.

[19] [The voice of Jehovah paineth a wilderness, Jehovah paineth the wilderness of] Kadesh-Strong’s H6946. See also.

[20] [The voice of Jehovah paineth the] oaks-Strong’s H437. See also. More of those mighty ones. Very often connected somehow or another with idolatry in Scripture.

[21] [in His temple every one saith], ’Glory’-same as note four.

[22] [Jehovah on the] deluge [hath sat]-Strong’s H3999. See also. The great flood in Noah’s day (Gen 6:1-8:22).

[23] [Jehovah on the deluge] hath sat-Strong’s H3427. Sitting is the posture of a dignitary. Kings reign seated for example. Thus seated all matters are brought before them because they are in charge; what they say goes, and pronto. God was in charge at the time of the great flood. He designed and assigned its particulars, and He let it unfold for a set time, and then He ended it. He was in charge. Now important here is the verbal usage, particularly the aspect; verbal usage is Qal perfect (the perfect relates the aspect, which is completed action in present time, present time being the time and duration of the Flood for this particular Flood-context). God simply sat at the time of Flood. He sat as a King, totally in charge of everything that transpired (completed action). God deemed it necessary to extinguish all life except Noah and his family and some select animals. This was His decree, and thus it unfolded; that is to say, our God sat at the Flood precisely in this way (cf. Isa 6:1-4, “Isaiah Chapter Six Commentary”).

[24] [And Jehovah] sitteth [king – to the age]-Strong’s H3427. Same as note twenty-three, with the important distinction that the aspect of the action | verb is now imperfect (incomplete action in past time). That is to say, while our God, sitting as a dignitary, completely in charge, completed the work of the Flood in its day, He still sits as a dignitary, even a King (a sovereign, in charge)—to the Age (forever), ruling over a universe, His universe, looking back to its Creation, yet awaiting the consummation of the Age (here is one application of the imperfect, a mundane one). All the while, He Jehovah is completing the great Work of Salvation for His people; this great Work too is ongoing; it is incomplete in past time only because it looks back to the Fall, yet ever forward to Jesus’ return for His Fall-redeemed Church (it was otherwise perfectly completed at Calvary) and again the attendant consummation of the Age (here is another application of the imperfect, a spiritual one).

[25] [Jehovah strength to his people giveth, Jehovah blesseth His people with] peace-Strong’s H7965. We like to reflect that He, our God, is that very peace. Jehovah blesses His people with Himself (Jhn 14:27, 16:33, Rom 5:1, Phl 1:2, 4:4-7; Scripture is literally packed with these blessed promises, too many to list here) . How good it is that we have you great Jehovah God.

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