PSALM XXIX _The psalmist calls upon the great and mighty to give thanks_ _unto God, and to worship him in the beauty of holiness, on_ _account of a tempest that had taken place_, 1, 2. _He shouts the wonders produced by a thunderstorm, which he_ _calls the voice of God_, 3-9. _Speaks of the ma... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 29:2. _THE GLORY DUE UNTO HIS NAME_] Rather, _the glory of his_ _name_. His name is _Mercy_; his nature is _love_. Ascribe _mercy,_ _love, power_, and _wisdom_ to him. All these are implied in the name _Jehovah_. _IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS._] בהדרת קדש _behadrath kodesh_, "the beautifu... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 29:3. _THE VOICE OF THE LORD_] THUNDER, so called, Exodus 9:23, Exodus 9:28-2; Job 37:4; Psalms 18:13; Isaiah 30:30. On this subject see the note on Job 37:4, where there is a particular description of the nature and generation of thunder; and of the _lightning, clap, rain_, and other _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 29:4. IS _POWERFUL_] There is no agent in universal nature so powerful as the electric fluid. It destroys life, tears castles and towers to pieces, rends the strongest oaks, and cleaves the most solid rocks: universal animate nature is awed and terrified by it. To several of these effec... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 29:5. _BREAKETH THE CEDARS_] Very tall trees attract the lightning from the clouds, by which they are often torn to pieces. _Woods_ and _forests_ give dreadful proof of this after a thunderstorm.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 29:7. _DIVIDETH THE FLAMES OF FIRE._] The forked zigzag lightning is the cause of _thunder_; and in a thunder-storm these lightnings are variously dispersed, smiting houses, towers, trees, men, and cattle, in different places.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 29:8. _THE WILDERNESS OF KADESH._] This was on the frontiers of Idumea and Paran. There may be a reference to some terrible thunder-storm and earthquake which had occurred in that place.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 29:9. _MAKETH THE HINDS TO CALVE_] Strikes terror through all the tribes of animals; which sometimes occasions those which are pregnant to cast their young. This, I believe, to be the whole that is meant by the text. I meddle not with the _fables_ which have been published on this subje... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 29:10. _THE LORD SITTETH UPON THE FLOOD_] יהוה למבול ישב _Jehovah lammabbul yasheb_, "Jehovah sat upon the deluge." It was Jehovah that commanded those waters to be upon the earth. He directed the storm; and is here represented, after all the confusion and tempest, as sitting on the flo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 29:11. _THE LORD WILL GIVE STRENGTH_] Prosperity in our secular affairs; success in our enterprises; and his blessing upon our fields and cattle. _THE LORD WILL BLESS HIS PEOPLE WITH PEACE._] Give them victory over their enemies, and cause the nations to be at peace with them; so that... [ Continue Reading ]