September 2, 2025 • 10 mins
Psalm 29: God’s Powerful Voice Brings Peace in the Storms
Few experiences shake us like a thunderstorm. The lightning, thunder, and wind remind us how small and fragile we are. In Psalm 29, David takes this awe-inspiring force of nature and declares that it is not Baal, blind chance, or impersonal forces that command the storm, but Yahweh, the Lord of heaven and earth. His voice thunders over the waters, shakes the wilderness, and yet, for His people, His final word is peace.
In this episode of Counseling Through the Psalms, we’ll explore how God’s voice reveals His majesty, His sovereignty over creation, and His gift of strength and peace to His people.
Key Points from Psalm 29
- Heavenly Worship (vv. 1–2): All creation, even the angelic hosts, are called to ascribe glory to the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.
- The Voice of the Lord (vv. 3–9): Seven times the psalm repeats, “The voice of the Lord,” emphasizing God’s command over the storm, from the seas to the mountains to the wilderness.
- The King on the Throne (vv. 10–11): The psalm concludes with the Lord enthroned forever, giving strength and peace to His people.
- Christ-Centered Hope: Jesus Christ, the eternal Word, calmed storms with His voice, bore cosmic judgment at the cross, and now gives His peace to His people.
Resources & Next Steps
- Join the free Navigator Level of the Lessons for Life Community: https://jameslongjr.org/community
- Explore membership and coaching options: https://jameslongjr.org/signupnow
ABOUT JAMES and LESSONS FOR LIFE
Are you seeking hope, wisdom, and practical solutions to life’s challenges? Dr. James Long, Jr., pastor, counselor, and professor with over 30 years of experience, helps people discover God’s solutions to emotional, relational, and spiritual challenges. Each episode of Lessons for Life points you to the peace and freedom found in Jesus Christ.
Resources and Next Steps
- Join the free Navigator Level of the Lessons for Life Community: https://jameslongjr.org/community
- Explore full membership and coaching options: https://jameslongjr.org/signupnow
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Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello everyone, it's James Long Jr.
Do me a favor and turn in yourBibles to Psalm chapter 29.
Grab your Bible and a journal.
We are in our CounselingThrough the Psalms series and we
are up to Psalm chapter 29.
Now there are a few experiencesthat shake us like a
thunderstorm.
Lightning splits the sky,thunder rattles our bones and
(00:20):
wind strips trees bare.
Now, storms remind us how smalland fragile we are.
In Psalm 29, david takes thisawe-inspiring force of nature
and declares it's not Baal, it'snot blind chance that commands
the storm, but it is Yahweh, theLord of heaven and earth.
His voice thunders over thewaters, his voice shakes the
(00:43):
wilderness, and yet he givespeace to his people.
Now, if I were going to try tosummarize Psalm 29,.
Psalm 29 is pure praise.
It opens with a call forheavenly beings to ascribe to
the Lord of glory verses 1through 2.
It moves through a vividdescription of storms sweeping
across Lebanon in the wildernessverses 3-9.
(01:06):
And then it concludes with Godenthroned as a king, giving
strength to his people in verses10-11.
The psalm reminds us that thesame God whose voice shakes the
creation also blesses his peoplewith calm assurance.
Okay, let's look at verses 1-2.
David begins by summoning themighty ones, likely angelic
(01:26):
hosts, to join in giving glory.
Okay, let's look at verses 1through 2.
But David calls all creation toadd to their voice.
True worship is more thanadmiration.
It's bowing before God in thesplendor of his holiness.
(01:49):
The holiness of God demandsreverence, purity and awe-filled
praise.
Now, in verses three throughnine, we have a voice of the
Lord in the storm.
We see that this voice of theLord is there over the waters.
The heart of the psalm is itssevenfold repetition of the
voice of the Lord.
His voice thunders over thewaters and the storms as they
(02:12):
rise in the Mediterranean.
We see that in verses 3 through4.
The voice of the Lord is overthe waters.
The voice of the Lord ispowerful.
The voice of the Lord is fullof majesty.
Next we see the voice of theLord breaking the cedars in
Lebanon and shaking themountains.
Verse 5 and 6.
It says the voice of the Lordbreaks the cedars.
(02:33):
The Lord breaks the cedars ofLebanon.
He makes Lebanon to skip like acalf and Syrian like a young
wild ox.
And then, verses seven througheight, his voice flashes like
lightning and quakes like thewilderness in Kadesh.
In verses seven through eight,the voice of the Lord flashes
forth flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakesthe wilderness.
(02:55):
The Lord shakes the wildernessof Kadesh.
And then, in verse nine, hisvoice strips the forest bare and
causes creation to tremble.
Verse 9, the voice of the Lordmakes the deer give birth and
strips the forest bare.
And in his temple, all cry glory.
In every stage of the storm,it's not Baal that is the one
(03:17):
that's doing this.
It's Yahweh who speaks.
It's in his temple.
All cry glory to Jesus Christ,glory to God the Father, glory
to the Spirit.
Creation itself responds in awebefore its creator.
The storm's imagery here is notjust poetic, it's polemic as
well.
In the Canaanite religion, baalor Baal was the storm god.
(03:42):
But David insists it's the Lordalone who commands the storms,
he commands the lightning, hecommands the flood.
David insists it's the Lordalone who commands the storms,
he commands the lightning, hecommands the flood.
And it's the voice of the Lordthat is not only heard in the
storms, it's the commanding wordof God that creates, that
sustains and that rules over allthings.
And the Psalm ends with theLord enthroned forever, in
(04:02):
verses 10 through 11.
The Psalm concludes withlifting our gaze from the raging
storms to the eternal throne.
The Lord sits enthroned overthe flood.
The Lord sits enthroned as kingforever.
What an amazing thing.
Just as he reigned over thegreat deluge of Noah's day, he
reigns over every storm inhistory and in our lives.
(04:23):
And the same God who displaysthis overwhelming power gives
two priceless gifts to hispeople strength and peace.
And what begins with tremblingends with calm.
The storm passes, but Godremains.
His people walk away not infear, but in confidence that
their God, their King, rulesforever.
And now we end withChrist-centered hope.
(04:47):
Psalm 29 points us to JesusChrist, the living word of God.
John, chapter 1, verse 1.
He is the voice of the Lord inthe flesh, the one whom calmed
the storms and stilled them withhis word.
And at his crucifixion theskies were darkened and the
earth shook, bearing witness tohis cosmic authority.
Skies were darkened and theearth shook, bearing witness to
(05:08):
his cosmic authority.
And it is in his resurrectionthat he brings peace.
He said peace I leave with you.
My peace I give to you.
He said that in John, chapter14, verse 27.
The one who speaks galaxiesinto existence also whispers
grace to the fearful heart.
It's in him.
We know both the awesome powerof God and the gentle peace of a
(05:28):
shepherd.
Now let's consider some of thedoctrinal truths to remember
from Psalm 29.
Well, the first thing I wantyou to know is this the Lord
alone deserves all the glory andall the strength.
We see that in verses onethrough two here in Psalm 29,
but we also see that inRevelation 4.11.
(05:49):
We also see in verses 3-9 thevoice of the Lord is powerful in
creation and providence.
We see that in verses 3-9 here,but we also see that in Genesis
1.3, that God spoke this worldinto existence.
The third thing I want you toconsider is that God reigns as
king forever over all naturaland historic events.
(06:11):
We see that in verse 10, but wealso see that in Daniel,
chapter 4, verses 34 to 35.
We also see that the Lord giveshis people both strength to
endure and peace to rest.
We see that in verse 11, but wealso see that in Philippians,
chapter four, verses six throughseven.
The final thing I want you tosee is Christ.
(06:32):
Here, christ is the eternalword and commands creation and
grants his church peace.
We see that in John, chapterone, verses one through three,
and we also see that inColossians, chapter one, verses
16 through 17.
Now let let's consider livingthis psalm today.
How can we take these truthsand make it practical in our
lives?
Psalm 29 teaches us that God'shand is both in the storm and in
(06:57):
the stillness.
When creation roars, his poweris on display, and when calm
follows, his peace is beingpoured out is on display, and
when calm follows, his peace isbeing poured out.
For the believer, every storm,whether in nature or in life,
becomes a reminder that God isenthroned, his voice is
sovereign, his promises are sure, and the one who commands the
(07:20):
storm is also the one who givesstrength and steadies his people
.
So remind yourself of that.
Now, grab your journal andconsider some of these questions
as we reflect and respond.
Well, the first thing I wantyou to consider is this what
storms in your life right nowmake you feel small and afraid?
Because these are powerfulstorms.
What are the storms in yourlife?
The second thing I want you tosee is that Psalm 29 shapes the
(07:44):
way we view God.
How do you view God's power increation?
As see is that Psalm 29 shapesthe way we view God.
How do you view God's power increation as you look at Psalm 29
?
Third, what does it meanpersonally for you that the Lord
sits in throne forever?
Fourth, how has Christ spokenpeace into your heart during the
(08:05):
past trials?
Fifth, where do you need totrust the voice of the Lord
rather than the noise of fear orthe noise of culture?
Okay, well, let's pray.
Lord, your voice is powerful.
We see it in the storms.
We see it in the things thatshake, at times, our lives.
I pray that we wouldn't be socaught up in those things, but
(08:26):
be caught up in a God who'ssovereignly in control of all
those things.
Help us to trust you, help usto be filled with your presence,
help us to be filled with yourpeace, help us to know that
you're the God who is near usand loves us and is in sovereign
control of everything, and helpus to trust you.
In Jesus' name, we pray Amen,amen.
(08:48):
Well, psalm 29 reveals a Godwhose voice shakes the creation,
yet blesses his people withpeace.
The storms remind us of hispower.
The calm reminds us of hisgrace.
He is the king forever and ever, and his strength is there for
you.
If this has been helpful to you, would you consider joining our
free navigator level of ourLessons for Life community at
(09:10):
jameslongjrorg slash community.
There you'll be able to getdevotionals, meetups and other
content that will build yourfaith.
Now, if you want to exploresome full memberships and
coaching options, go tojameslongjrorg slash.
Sign up now to access moredevotionals, live meetups and
(09:32):
biblical life training to growemotionally, relationally and
spiritually.
Now, when the storms rage andfear rises, remember that the
voice of the Lord is yourstrength and your peace.
He will carry you through.
It's so great to have you.
Thank you so much for beingwith us today.
Until next time, be blessed,take care.
Hello everyone, it's James Long Jr.
Do me a favor and turn in yourBibles to Psalm chapter 29.
Grab your Bible and a journal.
We are in our CounselingThrough the Psalms series and we
are up to Psalm chapter 29.
Now there are a few experiencesthat shake us like a
thunderstorm.
Lightning splits the sky,thunder rattles our bones and
(00:20):
wind strips trees bare.
Now, storms remind us how smalland fragile we are.
In Psalm 29, david takes thisawe-inspiring force of nature
and declares it's not Baal, it'snot blind chance that commands
the storm, but it is Yahweh, theLord of heaven and earth.
His voice thunders over thewaters, his voice shakes the
(00:43):
wilderness, and yet he givespeace to his people.
Now, if I were going to try tosummarize Psalm 29,.
Psalm 29 is pure praise.
It opens with a call forheavenly beings to ascribe to
the Lord of glory verses 1through 2.
It moves through a vividdescription of storms sweeping
across Lebanon in the wildernessverses 3-9.
(01:06):
And then it concludes with Godenthroned as a king, giving
strength to his people in verses10-11.
The psalm reminds us that thesame God whose voice shakes the
creation also blesses his peoplewith calm assurance.
Okay, let's look at verses 1-2.
David begins by summoning themighty ones, likely angelic
(01:26):
hosts, to join in giving glory.
Okay, let's look at verses 1through 2.
But David calls all creation toadd to their voice.
True worship is more thanadmiration.
It's bowing before God in thesplendor of his holiness.
(01:49):
The holiness of God demandsreverence, purity and awe-filled
praise.
Now, in verses three throughnine, we have a voice of the
Lord in the storm.
We see that this voice of theLord is there over the waters.
The heart of the psalm is itssevenfold repetition of the
voice of the Lord.
His voice thunders over thewaters and the storms as they
(02:12):
rise in the Mediterranean.
We see that in verses 3 through4.
The voice of the Lord is overthe waters.
The voice of the Lord ispowerful.
The voice of the Lord is fullof majesty.
Next we see the voice of theLord breaking the cedars in
Lebanon and shaking themountains.
Verse 5 and 6.
It says the voice of the Lordbreaks the cedars.
(02:33):
The Lord breaks the cedars ofLebanon.
He makes Lebanon to skip like acalf and Syrian like a young
wild ox.
And then, verses seven througheight, his voice flashes like
lightning and quakes like thewilderness in Kadesh.
In verses seven through eight,the voice of the Lord flashes
forth flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakesthe wilderness.
(02:55):
The Lord shakes the wildernessof Kadesh.
And then, in verse nine, hisvoice strips the forest bare and
causes creation to tremble.
Verse 9, the voice of the Lordmakes the deer give birth and
strips the forest bare.
And in his temple, all cry glory.
In every stage of the storm,it's not Baal that is the one
(03:17):
that's doing this.
It's Yahweh who speaks.
It's in his temple.
All cry glory to Jesus Christ,glory to God the Father, glory
to the Spirit.
Creation itself responds in awebefore its creator.
The storm's imagery here is notjust poetic, it's polemic as
well.
In the Canaanite religion, baalor Baal was the storm god.
(03:42):
But David insists it's the Lordalone who commands the storms,
he commands the lightning, hecommands the flood.
David insists it's the Lordalone who commands the storms,
he commands the lightning, hecommands the flood.
And it's the voice of the Lordthat is not only heard in the
storms, it's the commanding wordof God that creates, that
sustains and that rules over allthings.
And the Psalm ends with theLord enthroned forever, in
(04:02):
verses 10 through 11.
The Psalm concludes withlifting our gaze from the raging
storms to the eternal throne.
The Lord sits enthroned overthe flood.
The Lord sits enthroned as kingforever.
What an amazing thing.
Just as he reigned over thegreat deluge of Noah's day, he
reigns over every storm inhistory and in our lives.
(04:23):
And the same God who displaysthis overwhelming power gives
two priceless gifts to hispeople strength and peace.
And what begins with tremblingends with calm.
The storm passes, but Godremains.
His people walk away not infear, but in confidence that
their God, their King, rulesforever.
And now we end withChrist-centered hope.
(04:47):
Psalm 29 points us to JesusChrist, the living word of God.
John, chapter 1, verse 1.
He is the voice of the Lord inthe flesh, the one whom calmed
the storms and stilled them withhis word.
And at his crucifixion theskies were darkened and the
earth shook, bearing witness tohis cosmic authority.
Skies were darkened and theearth shook, bearing witness to
(05:08):
his cosmic authority.
And it is in his resurrectionthat he brings peace.
He said peace I leave with you.
My peace I give to you.
He said that in John, chapter14, verse 27.
The one who speaks galaxiesinto existence also whispers
grace to the fearful heart.
It's in him.
We know both the awesome powerof God and the gentle peace of a
(05:28):
shepherd.
Now let's consider some of thedoctrinal truths to remember
from Psalm 29.
Well, the first thing I wantyou to know is this the Lord
alone deserves all the glory andall the strength.
We see that in verses onethrough two here in Psalm 29,
but we also see that inRevelation 4.11.
(05:49):
We also see in verses 3-9 thevoice of the Lord is powerful in
creation and providence.
We see that in verses 3-9 here,but we also see that in Genesis
1.3, that God spoke this worldinto existence.
The third thing I want you toconsider is that God reigns as
king forever over all naturaland historic events.
(06:11):
We see that in verse 10, but wealso see that in Daniel,
chapter 4, verses 34 to 35.
We also see that the Lord giveshis people both strength to
endure and peace to rest.
We see that in verse 11, but wealso see that in Philippians,
chapter four, verses six throughseven.
The final thing I want you tosee is Christ.
(06:32):
Here, christ is the eternalword and commands creation and
grants his church peace.
We see that in John, chapterone, verses one through three,
and we also see that inColossians, chapter one, verses
16 through 17.
Now let let's consider livingthis psalm today.
How can we take these truthsand make it practical in our
lives?
Psalm 29 teaches us that God'shand is both in the storm and in
(06:57):
the stillness.
When creation roars, his poweris on display, and when calm
follows, his peace is beingpoured out is on display, and
when calm follows, his peace isbeing poured out.
For the believer, every storm,whether in nature or in life,
becomes a reminder that God isenthroned, his voice is
sovereign, his promises are sure, and the one who commands the
(07:20):
storm is also the one who givesstrength and steadies his people
.
So remind yourself of that.
Now, grab your journal andconsider some of these questions
as we reflect and respond.
Well, the first thing I wantyou to consider is this what
storms in your life right nowmake you feel small and afraid?
Because these are powerfulstorms.
What are the storms in yourlife?
The second thing I want you tosee is that Psalm 29 shapes the
(07:44):
way we view God.
How do you view God's power increation?
As see is that Psalm 29 shapesthe way we view God.
How do you view God's power increation as you look at Psalm 29
?
Third, what does it meanpersonally for you that the Lord
sits in throne forever?
Fourth, how has Christ spokenpeace into your heart during the
(08:05):
past trials?
Fifth, where do you need totrust the voice of the Lord
rather than the noise of fear orthe noise of culture?
Okay, well, let's pray.
Lord, your voice is powerful.
We see it in the storms.
We see it in the things thatshake, at times, our lives.
I pray that we wouldn't be socaught up in those things, but
(08:26):
be caught up in a God who'ssovereignly in control of all
those things.
Help us to trust you, help usto be filled with your presence,
help us to be filled with yourpeace, help us to know that
you're the God who is near usand loves us and is in sovereign
control of everything, and helpus to trust you.
In Jesus' name, we pray Amen,amen.
(08:48):
Well, psalm 29 reveals a Godwhose voice shakes the creation,
yet blesses his people withpeace.
The storms remind us of hispower.
The calm reminds us of hisgrace.
He is the king forever and ever, and his strength is there for
you.
If this has been helpful to you, would you consider joining our
free navigator level of ourLessons for Life community at
(09:10):
jameslongjrorg slash community.
There you'll be able to getdevotionals, meetups and other
content that will build yourfaith.
Now, if you want to exploresome full memberships and
coaching options, go tojameslongjrorg slash.
Sign up now to access moredevotionals, live meetups and
(09:32):
biblical life training to growemotionally, relationally and
spiritually.
Now, when the storms rage andfear rises, remember that the
voice of the Lord is yourstrength and your peace.
He will carry you through.
It's so great to have you.
Thank you so much for beingwith us today.
Until next time, be blessed,take care.
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