Psalm-29
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Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF).
Colour coded details of the - TaNaKh:
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Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and
history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Please
Note: Some
alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’
of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth
from our beloved Torah!
“Ye
shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have completly disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ - ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’
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(JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven
Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Foreword:
Tehillim - Psalm 29 is often called the “Song of the Seven Thunders” because the phrase קוֹל יְהוָה - “Kol YHVH” (“The Voice of יְהוָה - the LORD”) appears exactly seven times.
In our liturgy, we recite this Psalm on Shabbat as we return the Torah to the Ark. It is a majestic description of a thunderstorm moving from the Mediterranean Sea, across the mountains of Lebanon, and into the wilderness, symbolizing the overwhelming power of the “Divine Voice”.
Introduction: “The Symphony of Sovereignty”.
Psalm 29 is a polemic of power. In the ancient world, many nations’ worshipped gods of the storm (like Baal). David takes that imagery and declares that the storm does not belong to a nature deity, but “to the One True אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God)”.
The Psalm is structured like a ‘chiasm’: it begins in the heavens (v. 1-2), moves down to earth through the storm (v. 3-9), and returns to the Eternal Throne (v. 10-11). It teaches us that the same “Voice” that shatters cedars is the “Voice” that gives strength and peace to His people.
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Let us read Tehillim - Psalm 29: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
1. A Psalm of David. Ascribe unto יְהוָה - the LORD, O ye sons of might, ascribe unto יְהוָה - the LORD glory and strength.
2. Ascribe unto יְהוָה - the LORD the glory due unto His Name; worship יְהוָה - the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
3. The voice of יְהוָה - the LORD is upon the waters; the אֱלֹהִים - Elohim of glory thundereth, even the LORD upon many waters.
4. The voice of יְהוָה - the LORD is powerful; the voice of יְהוָה - the LORD is full of majesty.
5. The voice of יְהוָה - the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, יְהוָה - the LORD breaketh in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6. He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild-ox.
7. The
voice of יְהוָה
- the LORD heweth out flames
of fire.
8. The voice of יְהוָה
- the LORD shaketh the
wilderness; יְהוָה
- the LORD shaketh the
wilderness of Kadesh.
9. The voice of יְהוָה - the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and strippeth the forests bare; and in His temple all say: ‘Glory’.
10. יְהוָה - the LORD sat enthroned at the flood; yea, יְהוָה - the LORD sitteth as King for ever.
11. יְהוָה - the LORD will give strength unto His people; יְהוָה - the LORD will bless his people with peace.
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Let
us look at the “verse by verse” with Commentary:
The Call to Worship (Verses 1-2).
Verse 1: “Ascribe unto יְהוָה - the LORD, O ye sons of might...”
David calls upon the “mighty” (the angels or the leaders of nations) to acknowledge that their power is borrowed.
Verse 2: “Ascribe ... the glory due unto His Name; worship יְהוָה - the LORD in the beauty of holiness” In Hebrew, this is בְּהַדְרַת־קֹדֶשׁ (B’hadrat Kodesh).
This is the “proper” orientation of a soul, recognizing that holiness has its own unique, spiritual “beauty”.
Teaching: The word ‘Hadrat’ refers to “splendor” or “ornament”. It suggests that when we approach the Almighty, we should do so, not just with fear, but by “clothing” ourselves in holy conduct. This is why we wear our best garments for Shabbat, it is a physical reflection of the “splendor” whch David describes.
The Seven
Thunders: The Voice of Power (Verses 3-9).
Verse 3: “The voice of יְהוָה - the LORD is upon the waters...”.
(1). The storm begins over the Great Sea.
Verse 4: “The voice of יְהוָה - the LORD is powerful; the voice of יְהוָה - the LORD is full of majesty”.
(2 & 3). Note the transition from raw power to “majesty” (beauty).
Verse 5: “The voice of יְהוָה - the LORD breaketh the cedars...”.
(4). The cedars of Lebanon were the strongest, most stable things in the ancient world. אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s word is stronger than the world’s stability.
Verse 6: He makes the mountains “skip like a calf”.
Even the earth’s foundations tremble at His Word.
Verse 7: “The voice of יְהוָה - the LORD heweth out flames of fire”.
(5). This refers to the lightning that accompanies the thunder.
Verse 8: “The voice of יְהוָה - the LORD shaketh the wilderness...”.
(6). The storm moves from the heights of Lebanon down to the desert of Kadesh.
Verse 9: “The voice of יְהוָה - the LORD maketh the hinds to calve... and in His temple all say: 'Glory!'"
(7). Nature reacts with awe, but in the Temple, the people respond with “Kavod” (Glory).
The King Enthroned (Verses 10-11).
Verse 10: “יְהוָה - the LORD sat as King at the ‘Flood’ - מַבּוּל(Mabbul); yea, יְהוָה - the LORD sitteth as King for ever”.
This is a crucial reference to the מַבּוּל - Mabbul (The Great Flood). Even in the ultimate chaos, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim was in control.
Teaching: This specific word מַבּוּל - Mabbul is used
nowhere else in the Tanakh except in the story of Noah (Genesis 6-11).
The Insight: By using this word, David is reminding us that
even during the greatest upheaval in human history, the “Mabbul”
יְהוָה
- the LORD was “Enthroned”. He is
King over the chaos. This is a powerful comfort for anyone facing personal “floods”
of illness or trouble.
Verse 11: The Climax. “יְהוָה - the LORD will give strength unto His people; יְהוָה - the LORD will bless His people with peace (Shalom)”.
This is the goal of the storm, not destruction, but the bestowal of עֹז - Oz (Strength) and a wonderful “Shalom” (Peace).
Please Note: whilst the world sees a storm as a “natural disaster”, we Hebrews see it as a “Divine Performance”. The storm ‘is loud’, but the conclusion ‘is quiet’. אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ - ‘Blessed be His Holy Name’, it is He who breaks the cedars is the same יְהוָה - LORD who blesses His people with peace.
My
Conclusion: The Peace After the Storm.
The world is often loud and frightening, it is like a great storm that breaks the strongest trees. However, this Psalm ends not with a crash, but ‘with a blessing’. The “Voice” that can shake the wilderness, is the same “Voice” that whispers “Peace” (Shalom) to the heart of the believer. אֱלֹהִים - Elohim does not use His power to overwhelm us, but to provide us with the “Strength” (Oz) to endure.
May the “Voice” that sits above the flood sit beside us all, giving you strength and the blessing of peace (Shalom).
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem;
walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances,
and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and
you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
- the LORD your Eloheichem”.
Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as
follows;
“The More Torah, the More Life”
For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim,
Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He
is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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