Psalms 29:1-11: a reflection

1Ascribe to the LORD, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 2Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name. Worship the LORD in holy array. 3The LORD’s voice is on the waters. The God of glory thunders, even the LORD on many waters. 4The LORD’s voice is powerful. The LORD’s voice is full of majesty. 5The LORD’s voice breaks the cedars. Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. 6He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young, wild ox. 7The LORD’s voice strikes with flashes of lightning. 8The LORD’s voice shakes the wilderness. The LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 9The LORD’s voice makes the deer calve, and strips the forests bare. In his temple everything says, “Glory!” 10The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood. Yes, the LORD sits as King forever. 11The LORD will give strength to his people. The LORD will bless his people with peace.

Psalm 29 is a hymn to the voice of the LORD, majestic and thundering over creation. The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders. His voice breaks the cedars, shakes the wilderness, strikes with flashes of lightning, makes the forests bare. It is a portrait of God's overwhelming majesty in the storm, a voice that shakes the earth and before which all creation trembles. And yet the psalm ends not with terror, but with peace: The LORD sits enthroned as King forever; the LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

Notice the movement of the psalm: from the storm to peace. It pictures God's majestic, thundering voice, shaking creation, an awesome, overwhelming greatness. And then it ends with the same LORD giving strength and peace to his people. The God whose voice shakes the wilderness and breaks the cedars is the very God who gives his people peace. Majesty and tenderness meet: the awesome God of the storm is also the giver of peace.

That holds together two truths worth holding. God is majestic and awesome, his greatness beyond our comprehension, a God before whom all creation trembles; we do well to stand in awe of him. And this same awesome God gives strength and peace to his people; his majesty is not a threat to us but a comfort, for the God of overwhelming greatness is on our side, giving us peace. When the storms of life shake you, remember the God of Psalm 29: majestic and thundering, yes, but also the giver of peace to his people. The God whose voice shakes the wilderness gives you strength and peace; rest in the awesome God who is also your peace.

Lord, Psalm 29 pictures your voice, majestic and thundering over creation, shaking the wilderness and breaking the cedars, and yet it ends with you giving strength and peace to your people. Help me hold both truths. You are majestic and awesome, your greatness beyond my comprehension, a God before whom all creation trembles; teach me to stand in awe of you. And thank you that this same awesome God gives strength and peace to his people; your majesty is not a threat to me but a comfort, for the God of overwhelming greatness is on my side. When the storms of life shake me, remind me of the God of the storm who is also the giver of peace. The God whose voice shakes the wilderness gives me strength and peace; help me rest in the awesome God who is also my peace.