The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 29:1-11

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

The thunderstorm.

Compare this with the nineteenth and eighth psalms—all nature psalms. This is a wonderful description of a thunderstorm.

I. THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD IN NATURE INSPIRES THE DEVOUT MIND WITH THE SPIRIT OF WORSHIP. Inspires the common mind with fear. The scientific mind with inquiry. Inflames the imagination of the poetic mind. But fills the devout mind with the spirit of worship of the great invisible Creator. "Give unto the Lord the honour [or, 'glory'] due unto his Name." Every manifestation of God is interesting to the religious man.

II. THAT THE DEVOUT MAN SEEKS FOR SYMPATHY AND FELLOWSHIP IN HIS WORSHIP. (Psalms 29:1, Psalms 29:2.) He calls upon the whole invisible world of the sons of God to give glory to God in the "beauty of holiness," or in holy apparel, i.e. dressed as priests in spotless attire.

1. Human praise is poor and inadequate. And he would have the angelic choir give full-voiced utterance to God's glory in higher strains than he could reach.

2. The spirit of worship brings man into closer sympathy with his fellow-man. Hence the necessity of public worship, because all our best emotions become deepened when shared with others. We are made for fellowship in all the highest good of life.

III. THE GOD WHO IS MIGHTY IN NATURE WILL GIVE STRENGTH UNTO HIS PEOPLE. The crashing thunderstorm which awakens fear in ordinary minds awakens trust and confidence in the devout mind.

1. He who by his might raises the storm will give strength to the weak and persecuted. He sits above the storm, is Master and King over it; and he sits above the storms of the mind and heart, to control them.

2. lie who quells the storm is able to quell the tumults of the mind, and to give us peace. Christ gave his peace to the disciples; and "the peace of God which passeth all understanding is able to keep [guard] our hearts and minds." It is inward trust and rest, and not outward tranquillity.—S.

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Matthew Henry on Psalms 29:1-11Psalms 29:1-11 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryThe mighty and honourable of the earth are especially bound to honour and worship him; but, alas, few attempt to worship him in the beauty of holiness. When we come before him as the Redeemer of sinners, in repentance f…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 29:1-11Psalms 29:1-11 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION THIS is a psalm of praise to God, and at the same time one intended to comfort and cheer his people. It consists of three parts:The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 29:1Psalms 29:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryGive unto the Lord, O ye mighty; literally, ye sons of the mighty. It is disputed who are meant. Most commentators suggest the holy angels (Rosenmuller, Hengstenberg, 'Speaker's Commentary,' ' Four Friends,' Professor A…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 29:1-11Psalms 29:1-11 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe glorious sceptre of universal power. There are many productions of poets and poetesses, celebrating the grandeur of nature, and the glory of God as manifested in the works of his hands; but there are none which, eve…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 29:1-11Psalms 29:1-11 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe works and the Word of God should not be separated. They are both revelations, and the one is necessary to the right interpretation of the other. If we study God's works by themselves, we are apt to forget God's Word…

commentaryMatthew Henry on Psalms 29:1-11The mighty and honourable of the earth are especially bound to honour and worship him; but, alas, few attempt to worship him in the beauty of holiness. When we come before him as the Redeemer of sinners, in repentance f…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 29:1-11EXPOSITION THIS is a psalm of praise to God, and at the same time one intended to comfort and cheer his people. It consists of three parts:Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 29:1Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty; literally, ye sons of the mighty. It is disputed who are meant. Most commentators suggest the holy angels (Rosenmuller, Hengstenberg, 'Speaker's Commentary,' ' Four Friends,' Professor A…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 29:1-11The glorious sceptre of universal power. There are many productions of poets and poetesses, celebrating the grandeur of nature, and the glory of God as manifested in the works of his hands; but there are none which, eve…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 29:1-11The works and the Word of God should not be separated. They are both revelations, and the one is necessary to the right interpretation of the other. If we study God's works by themselves, we are apt to forget God's Word…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 29:2The beauty of holiness. To every devout Israelite Jerusalem was "the perfection of beauty," "the joy of the whole earth" (Psalms 48:2; Psalms 50:2); because the temple of the Lord was there. Its gorgeous ritual, white-r…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 29:2Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his Name (comp. Psalms 96:8); literally, the glory of his Name; i.e. the glory properly belonging to it. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (comp. Psalms 96:9). This is gene…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 29:3The voice of the Lord is upon the waters. The description of God's might in the thunderstorm now begins with one of the sudden transitions which David loves. "The voice of the Lord"—already identified with the thunder i…Joseph S. Exell and contributors