Did you know that no two voices are the same? Everyone has a distinct voice. Some are strong and commanding, while others can be soft and soothing. In addition to their acting ability, often actors are chosen for their role because of their voice. Who can forget the voices of the great James Earl Jones and Orson Welles? There is a voice that stands out above all of the rest, and that is the voice of the Lord. We read about the voice of the Lord in our psalm for this week.
Psalm 29 was one written by King David, possibly as he remembered some of the storms that he witnessed during his years in the wilderness on the run from King Saul. This psalm is a powerful declaration of God’s majesty, glory, sovereignty and supreme authority over creation. This is a hymn of praise that exalts the Lord’s power, particularly through His voice.
Though God speaks to His children through His Word the Bible, in their hearts, and sometimes through what other people may say to us, very few people have actually heard His literal voice. We don’t know whether David ever did or not, however he described it in very poetic ways, especially how it impacts all creation, particularly through storms (vs. 3-9).
David describes how the voice of the Lord is like thunder, is powerful, and full of majesty. He even seemingly gives a comparison of God’s voice to being like a bolt of lightning which strikes a tree, breaking it into pieces (vs. 3-5). Lightning and thunder in the Bible are often symbols of God’s voice (Job 37:4). To describe God’s voice as being like a bolt of lightning is to compare it with one of the most powerful things in creation. A bolt of lightning can contain up to one billion volts of electricity. That bolt of lightning can travel to earth at 200,000 miles per hour, and heats the air to 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun. Many of the pagan cultures around the world have worshiped storm deities - the Canaanites had Baal, the Babylonians had Marduk, and the Assyrians with Asshur. The Greeks had Zeus, and the Norse had Thor. Thunderstorms demonstrate the Lord’s power, and should not be attributed to Baal or any other god.
There are four statements that David makes about the voice of the Lord. The first is that His voice thunders over the waters (vs. 3). Storms would often brew over the Mediterranean or the Sea of Galilee, and then move over the land. Jesus calmed the storms on the Sea of Galilee several times. Second, the Lord’s voice breaks the cedars of Lebanon (vs. 5). Even the strongest trees, which sometimes symbolize human pride in the Bible, are shattered by His power. Third, the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness (vs. 8). His voice reaches even the most desolate places, places David knew well. And lastly, His voice causes the deer to give birth (vs. 9). It is both powerful and life-giving. It was the voice of Jesus that brought Lazarus back from the dead, calling him out of his tomb (John 11:40-44), and raised Jairus’ daughter to life (Mark 5:35-43).
Continuing on, we read that the Lord is enthroned at the Flood. This could be a reference to the flood of Noah, which would be emphasizing both God’s judgment and His control over history. God rules over the floods, both literal and figurative, and over the hard ugly aspects of our lives. Even when we are overwhelmed, God is not.
As we close, we read that the Lord will bless His followers with a promise of divine empowerment and peace (vs. 11). We can trust that the Lord rules over all circumstances in our life, and will grant peace to those who follow Him. He rules over nature, nations, and history. His voice is powerful, just as His written Word, the Bible, is authoritative.
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