Psalm 29 has a natural (and profoundly theological) progression: it begins by summoning the “sons of Elohim” (heavenly beings) to worship God, and this seems to be a way of getting all humans to see that the idols must turn in their work to YHWH.
Everyone in his temple says, “Majestic!”
29:10 The Lord sits enthroned over the engulfing waters,
the Lord sits enthroned as the eternal king.
Now it turns to the value of the enthronement for humans. Because YHWH is enthroned over all, YHWH provides strength and that strength gives YHWH’s people, Israel, security.
29:11 The Lord gives his people strength;
the Lord grants his people security.
29:1 Acknowledge the Lord, you heavenly beings,
acknowledge the Lord‘s majesty and power!
29:2 Acknowledge the majesty of the Lord‘s reputation!
Worship the Lord in holy attire!
29:3 The Lord‘s shout is heard over the water;
the majestic God thunders,
the Lord appears over the surging water.
29:4 The Lord‘s shout is powerful,
the Lord‘s shout is majestic.
29:5 The Lord‘s shout breaks the cedars,
the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
29:6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf
and Sirion like a young ox.
29:7 The Lord‘s shout strikes with flaming fire.
29:8 The Lord‘s shout shakes the wilderness,
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
29:9 The Lord‘s shout bends the large trees
and strips the leaves from the forests.
Everyone in his temple says, “Majestic!”
29:10 The Lord sits enthroned over the engulfing waters,
the Lord sits enthroned as the eternal king.
29:11 The Lord gives his people strength;
the Lord grants his people security.
Read Previous Post