Ascribe To The LORD, O Heavenly Beings
Devotional
Companion to the Psalter
A Devotional Guide to the Psalms
Object:
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength ...
worship the LORD in holy splendor ...
the God of glory thunders ...
The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness ...
and in his temple all say "Glory!"
-- Psalm 29:1b, 2b, 3b, 8a, 9b
Theme: The voice of God in a great storm
Outline
1-2 -- The heavenly beings are called to praise Yahweh.
3-9 -- The occasion: the thunder of his voice convulses nature, proclaims his power, and the angels chant, "Glory!"
10-11 -- But his people need not fear. His strength is shown in blessing his people with peace.
Notes
• Creation
• "The waters ... mighty waters" probably meaning the ocean (vv. 3-4) are a symbol to Israel of great danger, even evil (the flood, Red Sea, and so on).
• Sirion was the old name of majestic Mount Hermon (v. 6).
• "Strip the forests bare" could also mean to cause the deer to go into labor (v. 9).
• Peace (Shalom) includes material and spiritual blessings (v. 10), "every good and perfect gift" (James 1:17) for the well-being of his people.
For Reflection
• This example of theological and poetic interpretation of a storm encourages us to see the Creator's power in all the awesome beauties and wonders of nature. And this gives us occasion to be praising God every day! (For violent storms we could read Psalm 27; 31; or 121.)
Prayer
O God, your heavenly beings sang one night to poor "shepherds abiding in the field," and their song was "Glory to God" and your shalom for the earth and its inhabitants. Through all kinds of storms, may we see you enthroned above them and bringing fullness of life to us in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
worship the LORD in holy splendor ...
the God of glory thunders ...
The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness ...
and in his temple all say "Glory!"
-- Psalm 29:1b, 2b, 3b, 8a, 9b
Theme: The voice of God in a great storm
Outline
1-2 -- The heavenly beings are called to praise Yahweh.
3-9 -- The occasion: the thunder of his voice convulses nature, proclaims his power, and the angels chant, "Glory!"
10-11 -- But his people need not fear. His strength is shown in blessing his people with peace.
Notes
• Creation
• "The waters ... mighty waters" probably meaning the ocean (vv. 3-4) are a symbol to Israel of great danger, even evil (the flood, Red Sea, and so on).
• Sirion was the old name of majestic Mount Hermon (v. 6).
• "Strip the forests bare" could also mean to cause the deer to go into labor (v. 9).
• Peace (Shalom) includes material and spiritual blessings (v. 10), "every good and perfect gift" (James 1:17) for the well-being of his people.
For Reflection
• This example of theological and poetic interpretation of a storm encourages us to see the Creator's power in all the awesome beauties and wonders of nature. And this gives us occasion to be praising God every day! (For violent storms we could read Psalm 27; 31; or 121.)
Prayer
O God, your heavenly beings sang one night to poor "shepherds abiding in the field," and their song was "Glory to God" and your shalom for the earth and its inhabitants. Through all kinds of storms, may we see you enthroned above them and bringing fullness of life to us in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.