Psalm 29:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

NIV: The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.

NASB: The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

CSB: The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

NLT: The voice of the Lord makes the barren wilderness quake; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

KJV: The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness; the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.

NKJV: The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; The Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh.

To depict God's incredible power, David speaks of the Lord's voice as a raging thunderstorm or an earthquake (Psalm 29:3–7). This verse seems to blend both images. God's "voice" is not merely a matter of speech or communication. What God "speaks" is that which He wills (Genesis 1:1–3; Psalm 33:6). God's voice, per this psalm, shatters mighty trees and makes mountains leap like playful calves.

Here, David refers to the wilderness of Kadesh. This was desert territory near a town about 75 miles or 120 kilometers north of Damascus. "Shaking" could mean the emotional impact of desert-dwellers seeing divine power, or a literal physical experience (Acts 4:31). It could also refer to the results of a huge storm or earthquake (Acts 16:26).

Those who have been in earthquake zones are aware of the devastation an earthquake can cause. However, nothing happens by chance. The Lord commands weather and nature, and He uses both to accomplish His purposes. He allowed lightning to fall (Job 1:16) as part of the testing Job endured to demonstrate the genuineness of his faith in the Lord. The apostle Peter writes: "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:6–7).

Psalm 29:3–9 uses the phrase "the voice of the LORD" seven times. Each time, the designation precedes an example of God's power over nature. God's speech represents His will: that which He commands to happen will always happen. These examples offer a strong reason to associate God with glory and to give Him worship. Psalm 8 also expresses wonder at God's creative power.

David depicts the power of God's will—referred to as His "voice"—using imagery from thunderstorms and earthquakes. He calls on heaven to praise God. The Lord's voice has the power to shatter great trees, uproot mountains, shake deserts, strip forests, and strike terror into all living things. None of these events are mere change, but God is control of them all. David asks God to provide confidence and strength to Israel as they remember His omnipotent power.

This psalm of David magnifies the Lord's attribute of omnipotence. David draws pictures from nature to illustrate God's power. The psalm parallels Psalm 8 in its revelation of God through nature. Based on the imagery, David may have witnessed a potent thunderstorm moving from the Mediterranean Sea across the region. The theme of trust in God, thanks to His demonstrated power, is common in Scripture (Hebrews 11).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.