Writer's Notes:
This new hymn is based on Psalm 29. In studying this Psalm, I discovered that much of the language used is very similar to poetry written at that time to false gods of various aspects of nature - the god of the sky, the god of the sea the god of the forest and so-on. It is argued that David, who is credited as the writer of Psalm 29, used some of this language to make a broad statement that there is only one true and Living God and that He is over all nature. After all, it is this one true God who created all things!
David declares that the mere "voice of God" can cause mountains to move in a dance if He so chooses. His voice can topple the mightiest trees. For centuries kings and all people were in awe of The Cedars of Lebanon. These trees were so large that noone who stood under them, viewing their gigantic base, could imagine anything blowing them over. In verse 5, David says:
5. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. (ESV)
There is no doubt that David wanted to declare that God is the only ultimate Voice and Power over all.
There is great beauty in the final verse of this great Psalm.
11. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace! (ESV)
In the New American Standard Bible, a word-for-word translation, it says:
11. The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace. (NASB)
This is a beautiful attribution to God of His great mercy and love for His people. Even though a mere breath from God carries this kind of overwhelming, crushing power, it is He who gives us strength and peace! This is something worth great praise and celebration and worship of the one true God! Thus, the declaration in verse 9, "...And in His temple everything says, Glory!"
Psalm 29 English Standard Version (ESV)
Ascribe to the Lord Glory
A Psalm of David.
29 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over many waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare,
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!