The Storms Belong To God

Psalm 29
Dr. Edwin P. Elliott, Jr.

I. God Is All Powerful vs1, 2

A. Life’s drama calls people to review the human purpose: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever. “A Psalm of David. Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.” (Psalm 29:1)

B. Everything in life must focus on God—the center of all which takes place. “Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Exodus 3:14)

C. Show God the respect which He deserves; holiness is true beauty. “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” (Psalm 29:2)

II. Providence Summons People to Glorify God vs3-9

A. The pagans and the secularists hear the sound but they do not understand the words. “The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.” (Psalm 29:3)

B. The non-believers are half right; God is always speaking in grand and terrible ways. “The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.” (Psalm 29:4)

1. All the great forces in the world of experience point to God but people who refuse to see become willfully misdirected in their imaginations. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” (Romans 1:18-20)

2. The world, which cannot comprehend the voice of God, becomes progressively more insane. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Romans 1:21)

C. It is not some impersonal force which man can manipulate which dominates reality but the personal intervention of God; Mother Nature is a misrepresentation of Providence. “The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.” (Psalm 29:5) David was using the words of the Pagans to direct them to God.

D. All the great forces of life ultimately obey God. “He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion [Mount Hermon] like a young unicorn.” (Psalm 29:6)

E. The mysterious and impossible serve God. “The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire.” (Psalm 29:7)

1. No mystery eludes Providence. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

2. The Bible repeatedly presents God as the consuming fire. “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:” (Matthew 3:11)

3. The flame which reveals is God; remember Moses’ encounter with the flame which presented itself without consuming the bush; the marvels summon the mind to the Creator. “And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.” (Exodus 3:2-4)

F. When great storms arise, anyone in God’s house will glorify Him. “The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovered the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.” (Psalm 29:8-9) “The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” (Joel 3:16)

III. Embrace Heaven’s Power vs10, 11

A. The great I AM is always king; do not expect Him to share His throne with His creatures. “The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.” (Psalm 29:10)

B. The marvelous works and wonders of God are capped by His loving mercy for His people. “The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11)