DAWN

     Explanation: In Psalm 29 David extols the greatness of the LORD and invites us to worship him. The occasion for the Psalm could have been any (or many) of the thunderstorms which David witnessed; or it may have been the rain which ended a long drought and famine recorded in 2 Samuel 21.
     The first painting above shows the landscape upon which the power of the LORD was displayed. The second shows musical instruments similar to those upon which David played his song about the LORD's power.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: 2 Samuel 21:1-14. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: General. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). Psalm 29 - #1. Psalm 29 - #2. Psalm 29 - #3. Psalm 29 - #4. Psalm 29 - #5. Psalm 29 - #6. ]

     David begins his Psalm with an exhortation to the mighty ones to give (or ascribe) glory to God for his strength and to worship him in the beauty (adornment) of holiness (1-2). He follows this exhortation with a series of images which focus on the power and majesty of God which is revealed by his voice. The LORD's voice thunders upon the waters. It is powerful and majestic. It breaks even the mighty cedars of Lebanon. It makes them and the mountains in which they grow skip like calves. It divides the flames (flashes) of fire (i.e., it splinters the lightening). It shakes the wilderness. It induces birth bangs in the deer, causing them to give birth to their calves. It strips the forests bare. In his temple everyone speaks of his glory (3-9). The LORD sits as the everlasting King upon the flood. He will give strength to his people and bless them with peace (10-11).

¹ A Psalm of David. *

Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty,
give unto the LORD glory and strength.
² Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name;
worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

³ The voice of the LORD is upon the waters:
the God of glory thundereth:
the LORD is upon 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 breaketh the cedars;
yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.
⁶ He maketh them also to skip like a calf;
Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.
⁷ The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire.
⁸ The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness;
the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
⁹ The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve,
and discovereth the forests:
and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.

¹⁰ The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.
¹¹ The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]