“The Voice of the Lord” (Ps 29)

“The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord is over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty” (vs3-4).

We're confident in God's blessing upon His elect, because God Himself accomplishes it by the word. He says, “The voice of the Lord is full of majesty”. The word is like God; it is Almighty and sure to get the job done.

First, we're confident in the beauty of holiness (vs1-2). We read, “Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness”. Holiness, the end result of faith, is the way that we praise and honor God. Romans 6:19 says, “For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness unto lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness unto holiness”. 1 Thess 4:3-4 says, “For this is the will of God, your holiness: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in holiness and honor”. Thus, receiving the gospel - that we're free by the death of Christ and alive to walk with Him in newness of life by His resurrection – we please God, walk by faith, and trust Him to work obedience and fruit in us.

Secondly, we're confident because of God's MIGHTY power (Ps 29:3-9). He says, “The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, yes, the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon...the voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire”. The Lord's voice has power to do as He pleases, and He will assuredly save His elect. He has power over Satan, power over sin inside of us, and He has power to SPEAK and it happens. He says, “The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, and strips the forests bare; and in His temple everyone says, 'Glory'”. Don't discourage yourself or add to His word; it is sufficient. All God has to do is speak, and the most rebellious sinner is liberated from bondage.

Thirdly, we are sure of God's blessings upon the elect because He has promised it (vs10-11)! He says, “The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace”! The Lord's voice has NO majesty, if it is a lie. It has NO majesty, if it is unjust. But, because Christ died and God promised, now He may speak, and we may receive His word in assurance (1 Pet 1:20). Likewise, in assurance, we speak His word to others, never trusting our adding or subtracting, never adding our spice or taking away the sweet offense of the gospel. Instead, speaking it as we've received it, it is sure to help others (2 Cor 2:17). Paul said, “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake” (1 Thess 1:5).

Don't fret, brothers. You and I are small and nothings before the multitude, but the Lord Jesus who ruled this world before becoming flesh, rules it now. He says, “The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood, and the Lord sits as King forever” (Ps 29:11). No one – no devil, no sin, nothing – has power to stop what He speaks and declares.