The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord is enthroned as King forever.
The Lord gives strength to his people;
the Lord blesses his people with peace.
Let's look at some brief observation and interpretation of this Psalm, starting with the opening verses:
- Ascribe simply means give, attribute something to. Creation is to give and attribute the worth due this God.
- This God is so great that He is to be honored for who He is, not just by people or animals or earthly things, but specifically here by even the angels.
- We learn that this God is full of glory, strength, and holiness (like no other).
Then in verses 3-10, the psalmist describes some of the actions and abilities that set God apart and make Him deserving of awe.
- The power of the mere voice of God to cause lightning, earthquakes, floods, and other massively powerful acts.
- Pay attention to some of the verbs here: thunders, breaks, makes leap, strikes, shakes, twists, strips bare, and sits enthroned. The imagery is so powerful. The God of the Bible is King over the flood, the forest, and the skies.
- The only appropriate response is given in verse 9 by those in His presence, crying out, "Glory!" Imagine your heart jumping in your chest when you are amazed by something or someone, when you just want to scream in awe or tell someone else about it.
And then there is verse 11. Psalm 29 closes with an encouragement and truth about where God's affections lay and how He interacts with those recipients of His affections.
- God... gives (I thought all giving was due Him?!)...
- He gives strength (the Source of all power and might gives of His strength?!)....
- To His people (this worthy God associates with simple, broken, messed up people?!). The Lord gives strength to His people. To those who trust in Him and not in themselves. To those who know their own weakness and rely on His power to save them and help them. Yes, God is a generous God and He shares strength with His people.
- There's more. In contrast yet not contradiction, verse 11 goes on to say that this same God blesses those same people with peace. The same God whose spoken word can shake the earth and snap a redwood tree, also gives peace, comfort, and wholeness to His children.
We are told in Hebrews that if we want to know more about what God is like than we can look at the person of Jesus.
Psalm 29 reminds me of Jesus' power and authority over creation, when He displayed control over winds and waves with just His words, when He made eyes that were blind able to see clearly again, when He raised a dead man back to life again, and ultimately when He conquered sin and death on the cross.
Psalm 29 also reminds of Jesus' gentleness and care, when He stretched out His clean hand to love and heal the untouchable leper, when He gave comfort and hope to the criminal on the cross beside Him, and when He ultimately made peace between sinful man and a holy God by sacrificing Himself.
Psalm 29 describes God as both all powerful and peace-giving.
He is enthroned above all acts of nature, and He cares about the storms of our hearts and minds.
Through Jesus, we have access to the strength and peace of God.
For me, this Psalm has specifically encouraged me about pregnancy and childbirth (Lord willing, Brandon and I will meet our baby boy in November!). Honestly, I am scared and feel out of control. I can't keep this baby alive and I seriously can't imagine pushing this kiddo out of my body in a few months! What I need that is beyond myself is strength. And peace. Both. Not just one or the other. Strength for the journey and the task, and peace for my fears along the way. The God who made all of creation made me. Jesus is willing and able to give me strength and peace. I need it!!!
For most, if not all of you, pregnancy and childbirth aren't readily on your stress-list! What about you though? Are you living afraid of something? Are you feeling especially weak or unable for something you know is ahead? A new semester is about to begin - new classes, perhaps a new roommate, possibly new hardships, and also fresh joys. Pause and reflect on this reminder that in the midst of all that is ahead, God is God, and you are not, and that is very good. He gives strength and He gives peace.