Psalm 29, The Voice of the Lord

A psalm of David.

Psalm 29: 1-2, Ascribe

Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, 

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; 

worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

What does "ascribe" mean?  Assign, testify, give quality to...?  David answers that question by modeling this type of praise.  In the next few verses David actively describe characteristics of God and urges others to join him in this description.

As David speaks out here, in parallel, he emphasizes God's actions as attributed to God's "voice."

This passage certainly recalls the creative voice of God ("and God said...") from Genesis 1.  A number of verses are reminiscent of the creation story, building land and life out of the chaotic waters.

The "mighty ones" in verse 1 may represent the "angels", divine beings around God.

The command "worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness" could also be translated "because of His holiness"; regardless, the worshipper is immersed in God's character and surrounded by God's righteousness and splendor.

Psalm 29: 3-4, Voice of YHWH

The voice of the LORD is over the waters; 

the God of glory thunders, 

the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.

The voice of the LORD is powerful; 

the voice of the LORD is majestic.

The word translated LORD throughout this passage (in the NIV version) is the Hebrew word Yahweh (YHWH).  It is emphasized through repetition.

Psalm 29: 5-6, The land skips

The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; 

the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, 

Sirion like a young wild ox.

Sirion is apparently Mt. Hermon.

Alter suggests that as the cedars of Lebanon were on the northern border of Israel and the desert of Kadesh (below) were in the south, David sees God's Voice sweeping over Israel.

Psalm 29: 7-9, "Glory!"

The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning.

The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; 

the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.

 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. 

And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"

"Twists the oaks" in verse 9 is an attempt at interpreting an unclear Hebrew phrase.

Psalm 29: 10-11, Enthroned

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.

David ends the psalm, as he often does, with a thought that extends beyond himself, to the Jewish nation that he rules.

This psalm is reminiscent of other Old Testament songs, the Song of Moses in Exodus 15 and the Song of Deborah in Judges 5.  It is a song of repetitive, building praise, in which God's name, YHWH, is a drumbeat of adoration.