Psalm 29: The Victorious Kingship of Yahweh

A Hymn of Praise

There are seven basic types of psalms: hymn psalm, lament psalm, thanksgiving psalm, psalm of remembrance, psalm of confidence, wisdom psalm, and the kingship psalm. Some divide the kingship psalms into those that proclaim David as king and those that proclaim Yahweh as king. This psalm is called by some an enthronement psalm, and it fits in both the hymn and kingship categories. David wrote this Psalm and it is similar to the Song of the Sea (Exod 15:1–19), the oracles of Balaam (Num 23–24), and the Song of Deborah (Jdg 5). The Jews used this Psalm during the feast of Pentecost.

 I. Praise of Yahweh’s kingship vs 1–2

    A. It begins in heaven with encouragement for the mighty ones to give praise to Yahweh. vs 1

         (See Isa 6:1–4) The mighty ones are heavenly beings, the saints and angels together in an 

         assembly. Ascribe or give is an act of the mind and voice.

    B. Praise Yahweh for His glory (honor, great beauty) and strength (power) vs 1

    C. The name of Yahweh reveals who He is, His works, covenant, and words. vs 2

    D. Worship, bow down, show reverence to the sovereign King. An act of the will. vs 2  

    E. Proper dress for worship or specific praise for the majestic holiness of God. vs 2

    F. True worship responds to God with love, awe, wonder, adoration, and fear.

  

II. The glorious voice of Yahweh vs 3–9 (“voice” is used seven times)

    A. Yahweh’s voice is in the thunder storm clouds over the Mediterranean sea. vs 3

    B. Be quiet while God does His work in the thunder storm. Acts of God. vs 3

    C. God is Creator, Sustainer, and is active in His universe. Deism is wrong.

    D. This section is a description of God’s power and singing this praise like the hymn, “How 

         Great Thou Art.”

    E. Yahweh rules creation, not Mother Nature!  (See Isa 2:12–22)

    F. Behold the majesty and power of our awesome God. vs 4

    G. Yahweh’s voice is in the storm over Lebanon in the North. vs 5 (The thunder storm moves 

         from the Med. to north of Israel through Israel to the southern wilderness in this Psalm)

    H. The tall cedars are shatter by God’s lighting bolts. vs 5

    I. Mt. Lebanon and Mt. Hermon (Sirion, Deut 3:9) ten thousand feet above sea level are         shaken by Yahweh like jellow in a bowl (earthquakes) vs. 6

    J. Yahweh’s voice causes the lightening to fork. He is in charge. vs 7

    K. The heavenly assembly is praising Yahweh as He directs the storm.

    L. Yahweh’s voice moves with the storm to the southern desert. vs 8

    M. Yahweh’s voice causes the destruction of the oaks and underbrush of the wilderness. vs 9

    N. Back to heaven, everyone calls out, “Glory.” The worship of heaven is shown to us to give 

         us a pattern for worship on the earth. God voice is heard in heaven and on earth. When we 

         reflect on the mighty acts of God, we should worship Him.

III. Praise of Yahweh’s kingship vs 10–11

    A. While all nature seems to be coming undone, Yahweh reigns as King. vs 10

    B. Yahweh was enthroned during the Flood. The wicked were judged. Noah’s family was           saved by grace. vs. 10

    C. Yahweh is enthroned as King for all time. vs 10

    D. When God shows up to judge He always saves His own.

    E. God rules over sky, sea, land and wilderness.

    F. He has the power to answer your prayers.

    G. God protect His people. You can trust Him.

    H. Yahweh gives His people strength to endure. vs 11

    I. Yahweh gives His people peace. vs 11

    J. You can have joy and peace in the midst of the storm. Jesus slept during the storm. He said,          “Peace, be still” and the sea was like glass.

    K. Make sure you belong to God in a new covenant relationship. His power is awesome. His 

         words and works should cause us to praise Him, trust Him, and love Him.

    L. Bring your needs to this awesome God. He is on the throne. He rules and reigns. He is 

         active in His world.

Two Baptist Older Works on the Doctrine of Election

 Abstract of Principles, 1858 Southern Seminary

 

V.  Election

Election is God’s eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life — not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ — in consequence of which choice they are called, justified and glorified.

 

The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, adopted in 1744 as the Philadelphia Confession of Faith, latter adopted as the Charleston Confession of Faith.

 

1. God hath decreed in Himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever come to pass; ¹ yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein;² nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established; ³ in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree.⁴

 

1. Isa. 46:10; Eph. 1:11; Heb. 6:17; Rom. 9:15, 18.

2. Jas. 1:13; 1 Jhn. 1:5.

3. Acts 4:27-28; Jhn. 19:11.

4. Num. 23:19; Eph. 1:3-5.

 

2. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions,⁵ yet hath He not decreed anything, because He foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.⁶

 

5. Acts 15:18.

6. Rom. 9:11, 13, 16, 18.

 

3. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestined, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ,⁷ to the praise of His glorious grace;⁸ others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of His glorious justice.⁹

 

7. 1 Tim. 5:21; Mt 25:34.

8. Eph 1:5-6.

9. Rom. 9:22-23; Jude 4.

 

4. These angels and men thus predestined and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.¹⁰

 

10. 2 Tim. 2:19; Jhn. 13:18.

 

5. Those of mankind that are predestined to life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, out of His mere free grace and love,¹¹ without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving Him thereunto. ¹²

 

11. Eph 1:4, 9, 11; Rom. 8:30; 2 Tim 1:9; 1 Thes. 5:9.

12. Rom. 9:13, 16; Eph 2:5, 12.

 

6. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so He hath, by the eternal and most free purpose of His will, foreordained all the means thereunto; ¹³ wherefore they who are elect, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ,¹⁴ are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by His Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified,¹⁵ and kept by His power through faith unto salvation;¹⁶ neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.¹⁷

 

13. 1 Pet. 1:2; 2 Thes. 2:13.

14. 1 Thes. 5:9-10.

15. Rom. 8:30; 2 Thes. 2:13.

16. 1 Pet. 1:5.

17. Jhn. 10:26; 17:9; 6:64.

 

7. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men attending the will of God revealed in His Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election;¹⁸ so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise,¹⁹ reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility,²⁰ diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.²¹

 

18. 1 Thes. 1:4-5; 2 Pet. 1:10.

19. Eph 1:6; Rom. 11:33.

20. Rom. 11:5-6, 20.

21. Lk 10:20.

RL Dabney View on Volition Charted

What power does a temptation have on a human? What about a plea to do the right thing? What is inside a person determines the options available.