Well, please take your Bibles and open them up this morning to Psalms chapter 29.
! Psalms chapter 29 is our passage this morning.
We've been in the Psalms for the summer.
We took a break from our series in Genesis to spend a few weeks over the summer months in the Psalms,
and we've come to Psalm chapter 29.
Now, if you don't have a copy of God's Word,
you are welcome to take one from the seat back in front of you nearby.
Use one of those.
And when you found it, let's stand in honor of the reading of God's Word from Psalm chapter 29.
And as you find it, as you stand, you know, every now and then as you study the Word,
you realize that there are some translation options,
and normally your footnotes in the Bible will indicate some of those options.
This is one of the times where I actually prefer some of the footnotes,
and so as you read along with me, you'll notice just a couple of differences,
but I promise as we get going, I'll try and explain what we're doing here.
So listen along as I read Psalm 29.
It's the Psalm of David.
He writes,
Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of God.
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
The voice of the Lord is over the waters.
The God of glory thunders.
The Lord over many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful.
The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars.
The Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness.
The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord makes the deer shake,
and strips the forest bare.
And in His temple all cry, Glory!
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood.
The Lord sits enthroned as King forever.
May the Lord give strength to His people.
May the Lord bless His people with peace.
Father, once again we pray,
Lord, would You give us ears to hear,
would You give us eyes to see,
would You give us minds to grasp the truth of Your Word,
and would You give us hearts to love the truth of Your Word this morning?
We pray in Christ's name.
Amen.
You may be seated.
About 250 years ago,
August 23rd, 1775,
King George III issued what is now known as the Proclamation of Rebellion.
And this is his response to the Battle of Bunker Hill at the beginning of the Revolutionary War.
And in it, he declared the American colonies to be in a state of, quote,
open and avowed rebellion against the king and his kingdom.
And so he ordered any and all officials to, quote,
use their utmost endeavors to withstand and suppress such rebellion.
His reason was that he believed the Americans desired to, quote,
create an independent empire.
And so the king sent a very clear message to the rebels.
Come back.
Honor the king.
Heed my voice.
Listen to my warning.
Stop rebelling against the king.
And, of course, less than a year later,
the Americans signed the Declaration of Independence to make our rebellion official.
And now every year we celebrate it with fireworks and hot dogs.
Earthly politics aside,
the reason that I share that little history lesson is because our psalm this morning,
Psalm chapter 29,
could be understood as a divine proclamation of rebellion.
King David is concerned that there are some in the kingdom who are rebelling against the king,
not against King David as an earthly king,
but against the Lord, the king of kings.
And so he writes this psalm urging them to come back,
to give the king the honor that he's due,
to heed his voice,
to remember that God is king and we rightfully belong to him.
So come and enjoy the peace and the blessing that can only be found in him.
This psalm is a warning to rebels.
Let's take a look together and we'll see three commands to rebels.
This will be our outline this morning.
If you're taking notes and trying to make it easy for you to follow along,
three commands to rebels.
First, he says,
Give God the glory he's due.
Now this is the first command that he gives here to rebels here in verses 1 to 2.
But I do realize before we get too far,
I think I need to explain why I think we're dealing with rebels here
because it's not immediately clear from the passage that that's what's going on, is it?
Sometimes we've noticed this, haven't we?
As we've gone through the psalms,
sometimes the context is kind of hard to pull out from some of these psalms, isn't it?
Sometimes it's explicitly clear and it tells us in a subscript or a heading what's going on.
Other times we've got to do a little bit of digging, don't we?
But that digging is hard work,
but it's worth it because that context helps us to understand what's happening in the passage.
And often we get there by asking some really good questions of the passage.
The questions like, well, who is David speaking to here?
Who is David speaking to?
Who is he talking to?
This psalm is a little bit unique in this section of the psalms
in the sense that David is not speaking directly to God, is he?
This is not a prayer.
He's not directly asking the Lord to do anything in this psalm, is he?
Verse 1 tells us who he's talking to.
What does it say?
He says,
Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
And you'll notice, again, that in our reading,
this is one where I follow the footnote.
Your Bible should have a footnote down there at the bottom
that says the Hebrew there says,
Sons of God.
So read it again with me.
Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of God.
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
That's one clue for our context.
And another question that we might ask would be,
well, what does David seem to be describing here?
What's the picture that he's painting?
What does he want us to be thinking about
as we read the psalm?
Did you notice how he keeps talking about the waters here?
The voice of the Lord is over the waters.
Verse 3.
The God of glory thunders the Lord over many waters.
It seems like he's describing a storm, doesn't it?
The Lord is breaking cedars and he's flashing forth flames of fire.
That sounds like lightning to me.
Down in verse 10, he says,
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood.
This is interesting.
There's 13 times in the entire Old Testament
where that word flood appears.
All 12 of them show up in Genesis chapter 6 through 11.
The 13th, you know where it is?
It's right here in Psalm chapter 29.
You put it all together here.
All of this leads me to think that David is writing this psalm
reflecting on the events of the flood.
And if you remember what provoked the flood, what was it?
He's thinking back on the time when the sons of God
intermarried with the daughters of man.
They rebelled against the Lord
and the Lord punished that rebellion with this global flood.
He's reflecting on this whole event,
reflecting on this rebellion then,
and as king of God's people,
he looks out to those under his reign,
to the sons of God in his time,
and he says,
Don't make that same mistake.
Don't rebel as they did.
And his first instruction to rebels
and would-be rebels,
to people like you and I
who are so prone to wonder against the Lord,
is this.
Give God the glory that he is due.
Ascribe to the Lord,
you sons of God.
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
We need to realize,
all sin
is a failure
to give God the glory that he's due.
All sin
is a failure
to worship God
as he deserves.
At the heart of all sin
and all rebellion against the Lord
is a failure to honor him
as God.
Isn't that what the Apostle Paul
told us in Romans chapter 1?
He looks out at the Gentiles
and he says that although
they all know God
in a general way
because creation has revealed him
to them,
to all people,
they did not honor him as God
or give thanks to him,
but they became futile
in their thinking
and their foolish hearts
were darkened.
You realize,
our fundamental duty
as God's creatures,
the reason that we exist
and the reason that you have
breath in your lungs
this very moment
is that you might
give God
the glory
that he's due.
Our God
is the most
glorious,
most
infinitely
perfect,
most
beautiful thing
in all the universe.
And we believe
that he is
good
and holy
and
perfectly just
and
gracious to sinners
and merciful.
And because
he is infinitely
good
and infinitely
holy
and infinitely
strong,
because he is
who he is,
we believe
he is worthy
of all praise,
worthy
of all
honor,
worthy
of all
worship.
We read from our
catechism this morning,
didn't we?
Who is the first
and best
of all beings?
And the answer,
God
is the first
and best
of all beings.
And we read,
what is the chief
end of man?
What is my purpose
here on earth?
Man's chief end
is to glorify
God
and to enjoy
him
forever.
Our God
is king
of all the universe
and we
as his
royal subjects
are called
to ascribe
to the Lord
glory.
Now,
what does
this mean?
We have a mission
statement
as a church.
Do you remember
what it is?
We exist
to magnify
the glory
of God
in the gospel
of Jesus Christ.
That's our mission
as a church.
We exist
to magnify
the glory
of God
in the gospel
of Jesus Christ.
We want to
magnify
the glory
of God.
John Piper
points out
that there's
two kinds
of magnifying
and it's important
that we know
which one
we're trying
to do.
There's
microscope
magnifying
and there's
telescope
magnifying.
Do you know
the difference?
Microscope
magnifying
on one hand.
It seeks
to take
something
really,
really small
and make
it look
bigger
so that we
can understand
it
and study
it
and see
its inner
workings
and understand
what's going
on.
But telescope
magnifying
on the other
hand,
that seeks
to take
something
really,
really big
like the
moon
and the
stars,
the Milky
Way.
It takes
something
really,
really big
and it seeks
to allow
us to see
it for as
big and
as glorious
and beautiful
as it
really is.
That's what
we're seeking
to do when
we say we
want to
magnify
his glory.
We want
to take
this big,
glorious,
good,
infinitely
worthy God
and see
him for
who he
is and
declare
him to
be as
glorious
as he
is with
all of
our
being.
That's
what it
means to
ascribe
to the
Lord
glory
and
strength.
Do you
see him?
Sons of
God,
do you
see him
as first
and best
of all
beings?
do you
see him
as
glorious
and more
glorious,
more infinitely
worthy of
your life
than sex
and money
and influence
and popularity?
Do you see him
as more worthy
of your life
than sports
and politics
and entertainment?
do you see
him as
strong
and capable
and strong
to provide,
strong to
save,
strong to
carry your
burdens and
sorrows?
Do you
see him
as infinitely
holy,
infinitely
just,
infinitely
glorious?
Do you
see him
as worthy
of your
life?
Do you
see him
as worthy
of your
total
worship?
that's
what it
means
to
ascribe
to
the
Lord
glory.
David
knows
that
to
see him
in this
way
and to
ascribe
this
to him
not just
with our
lips
but with
our
heart,
this
type
of
seeing
and
believing
is the
antidote
to
all
rebellion.
Do you
want to
know how
to fight
against
sin
in your
life?
The
answer
ought
to
be
yes.
I'll
give you
a strategy.
Fix
your
heart
on the
worth
and the
glory
of
God.
Ascribe
to the
Lord
the
glory
due
his
name.
Magnify
the
glory
of
God
in
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ.
When
you
begin
to
see
how
good
God
is,
the
allure
of
rebellion
is
squashed
in our
hearts.
Sin
becomes
less
appealing
when you
see
how
worthy
God
is.
So
David
calls
us
rebels
see
him
as
he
is
give
him
the
glory
that
he
is
due
but
not
only
this
second
command
he
says
heed
his
voice
heed
his
voice
look
there
to
verses
three
through
nine
seven
times
in
these
verses
he
reflects
on
the
perfect
and
powerful
voice
of
the
Lord
and
again
I
want
us
to
get
this
imagery
of
the
flood
back
in
our
minds
!
this
morning
he
says
the
voice
of
the
Lord
is
over
the
waters
verse
three
the
God
of
glory
thunders
the
Lord
over
many
waters
the
voice
the
voice
of
the
Lord
is
powerful
the
voice
of
the
Lord
is
full
of
majesty
the
voice
of
the
Lord
breaks
the
cedars
the
Lord
breaks
the
cedars
of
Lebanon
you
all
know
that
the
upstate
they're
still
recovering
from
hurricane
Helene
and
just
a
terrible
storm
nobody
was
ready
for
it
just
mountains
of
water
the flood
waters
came
nobody
was
expecting
that
much
water
and
especially
to come
that
quickly
Amanda
and I
went up
there
last fall
and it
was so
strange
to look
up on the
hillside
at the
mountains
and see
just rows
of trees
laying down
if you've
been up
there
you know
what I'm
talking
about
trees
are
just
horizontal
when they're
supposed
to be
vertical
it's
very strange
to see
the waters
had
rushed
through
and laid
them
all
out
that
seems
to be
what
David's
describing
here
I don't
know
much
about
trees
Treg
would
know
a lot
more
than
I
would
but
I
do
know
that
some
cedar
trees
can
grow
over
100
feet
tall
these
are
very
strong
very
sturdy
trees
the cedars
of
Lebanon
in particular
were very
sturdy
very strong
they were
famous
in the
ancient
world
it was
these
trees
that Solomon
requested
to be
used
to build
his
temple
it was
these
cedars
of
Lebanon
that the
Phoenicians
used
to construct
their
famous
ships
they're
a symbol
of
strength
and
stability
but here
David says
the voice
of the
Lord
goes
forth
the
waters
rush
through
and these
trees
they snap
like a
twig
just imagine
the flood
waters
going
through
all the
earth
you've
all seen
videos
I'm sure
of ships
out in the
middle of
the ocean
in a
storm
and the
waves are
ebbing and
flowing
they're rising
and falling
and that
ship is
just bouncing
on the
waters
you know
what I'm
talking about
up and
down
up and
down
up and
down
the boat
is tossed
up and
down
David says
in verse
6 that
this flood
is so
great
it makes
entire
areas of
the earth
Lebanon
Sirion
which is
another name
for a
mountain
Mount Hermon
it makes
them look
like they're
skipping like
a calf
or a
wild ox
up and
down
up and
down
the earth
itself
the mountains
are swelling
and ebbing
and flowing
like a boat
on the
waves
we can
hardly
imagine
this type
of power
and destruction
and it's
funny
in God's
providence
as I
was reading
this passage
this week
started to
storm
this was
Tuesday
afternoon
and it
was raining
and then off
in the distance
we saw some
lightning
a flash of
lightning
and one of
the boys
was in the
kitchen
and he
started timing
it to see
how far
away it
was
one
Mississippi
two
Mississippi
three
Mississippi
and at
first it
took several
seconds
so we
knew it
was
several miles
away
it was
kind of
far
off
but
eventually
it got
closer
and closer
to the point
where it
was almost
instant
you saw
the flash
and you
heard the
thunder
and things
started to
shake and
rumble
in the
kitchen
and the
closer we
got to
the storm
or the
storm
got to
us
rather
the louder
it was
the brighter
it was
the more
we felt
it
David says
here
the voice
of the
Lord
flashes
forth
flames
of fire
that's
lightning
the voice
of the
Lord
shakes
the
wilderness
that's
thunder
he shakes
the wilderness
of Kadesh
the whole
world is
shaking
under the
force of
this storm
even the
animals
verse 9
he says
the voice
of the
Lord
makes the
deer
to give
birth
now that
doesn't
make much
sense
at all
does it
in context
until you
realize that
it's the
same root
word
as up
above
the voice
of the
Lord
makes the
deer
shake
all
the
animals
all
those
who
didn't
make it
onto
the
ark
shake
in
fear
and
writhe
in
pain
as the
voice
of the
Lord
strips
the
forest
bare
and the
response
in his
temple
all
cry
glory
you realize
that's the
proper
response
to the
power
of the
voice
of the
Lord
don't
you
to
ascribe
to the
Lord
glory
and
strength
when you
consider the
power of
the voice
of the
Lord
the
proper
response
of our
heart
ought to
be
awe
and to
marvel
at the
Lord
and to
ascribe
to him
glory
that
moment
in the
flood
it was
undeniable
the
Lord
God
is
king
of
all
the
earth
his
voice
is
powerful
to
accomplish
all
his
purpose
and
none
can
rebel
against
him
do you
ever
just
marvel
at the
power
of
God's
word
just
consider
the
power
of
the
voice
of
God
we
know
that
the
voice
of
the
Lord
created
all
things
we
saw
this
in
Genesis
didn't
we
Genesis
chapter
1
tells
us
he
simply
spoke
and
all
things
came
to
be
let
there
be
light
and
there
was
light
he
spoke
all
things
into
existence
in
Hebrews
chapter
1
tells
us
that
it
is
his
word
it
is
his
voice
that
sustains
all
things
Jesus
upholds
the
universe
by the
word
of
his
power
we're
told
apart
from
the
power
of
the
voice
of
Jesus
all
things
are
blasted
into
nothingness
we see
clearly
here
the
power
of
his
voice
to
judge
it
is
his
voice
that
executes
judgment
on
those
who
rebel
we see
that so
clearly
in the
flood
but as
we've
seen
before
we need
to
remember
again
this
morning
this
global
terrible
destructive
powerful
flood
is
just
a
small
picture
of
the
future
judgment
to
come
on
all
who
will
not
heed
his
voice
second
Peter
chapter
three
tells
us
the
earth
was
formed
out
of
water
and
through
water
by
the
word
of
God
and
that
by
means
of
these
the
world
that
then
existed
was
deluged
with
water
and
perished
listen
to
this
but
by
the
same
word
the
heavens
and earth
that
now
exist
are
stored
up
for
fire
being
kept
until
the
day
of
judgment
and
destruction
of
the
ungodly
God
destroyed
the
rebels
in
Noah's
day
and
we
are
told
he
will
destroy
all
the
ungodly
at
the
return
of
Christ
the
Bible
tells
us
that
each
and
every
last
one
of
us
is
a
rebel
against
the
king
every
single
one
of
us
in
our
own
way
has
sinned
against
him
and
if
that's
true
if
judgment
is
stored
up
for
rebels
and
that's
us
friend
what
hope
do
we
have
to
escape
the
flood
of
his
wrath
we
must
heed
his
voice
because
praise
God
his
word
is
also
powerful
to
redeem
rebels
I
think
often
of
the
valley
of
dry
bones
in
Ezekiel
37
do you
remember
that
story
the
valley
of
dry
bones
Ezekiel
is
brought
out
this
prophet
is
brought
into
a
valley
he
looks
out
it's
full
of
dry
bones
it's
full
of
skeletons
scattered
about
it's
a
picture
of
the
spiritual
state
of
Israel
it
truly
is
a
picture
of
the
spiritual
state
of
all
people
we
are
all
by
nature
we
are
dead
spiritually
dead
we
are
dry
bones
by
nature
what
hope
do
those
who
are
dead
in
sin
have
of
coming
to
life
surely
it's
nothing
we
can
do
dead
people
can't
stop
being
dead
in
their
own
strength
we
need
some
outside
power
to
act
upon
these
dead
bones
and
cause
them
to
come
to
life
so
what
does
God
say
he
says
Ezekiel
prophesy
over
the
bones
speak
the
word
of
the
Lord
say
to
them
oh
dry
bones
hear
the
word
of
the
Lord
thus
says
the
Lord
God
to
these
bones
behold
I
will
cause
breath
to
enter
you
and
you
shall
live
I
will
lay
sinews
upon
you
I
will
cause
flesh
to
come
upon
you
I
will
cover
you
with
skin
I
will
put
breath
in
you
and
you
shall
live
and
you
shall
know
that
I
am
the
Lord
and
what
happened
Ezekiel
speaks
to
these
dead
dry
bones
and
as
they
hear
the
voice
of
the
Lord
they
come
to
life
this
is
a
picture
of
what
has
happened
in
every
single
Christian
we
are
those
who
have
been
brought
from
death
to
life
how
did
that
happen
the
power
of
the
voice
of
the
Lord
resurrected
you
the
gospel
came
to
you
whether
it
was
through
a
Sunday
school
teacher
or
a
pastor
standing
in
a
pulpit
or
a
friend
opening
up
the
word
to
you
the
word
of
God
came
into
your
ears
and
by
his
grace
he
caused
it
to
cause
you
to
come
to
life
we
believe
his
word
is
powerful
to
convert
sinners
his
word
alone
is
powerful
to
take
rebels
and
to
bring
them
into
the
fold
of
God
what
does
what
does
Jesus
say
in
John
chapter
10
he
says
my
sheep
what
help
me
my
sheep
hear
my
voice
and
they
follow
me
what
does
Paul
say
in
Romans
he
says
faith
comes
through
what
help
me
help
me
faith
comes
through
hearing
and
hearing
through
the
word
of
Christ
he
says
I
am
not
ashamed
of
the
gospel
for
that
gospel
is
the
power
of
God
for
salvation
to
any
who
believe
to
the
Jew
first
and
also
to
the
Greek
so
what
is
that
gospel
church
what
is
the
message
that
sinners
must
hear
that
rebels
need
to
hear
and
believe
in
order
to
be
brought
from
death
to
life
the
good
news
of
the
gospel
is
that
God
the
king
by
the
God
the
God
the
living
word
of
God
the
word
became
flesh
and
dwelt
among
us
and
this
word
incarnate
lived
in
our
place
he
died
a
rebels
death
that
he
didn't
deserve
that
our
punishment
that
our
guilt
that
our
death
that
that's
a
sacrifice
made
for
rebels
and
he
rose
for
us
so that by faith in Him,
rebels like us can become children of the living God.
This God who is powerful to destroy
is powerful to deliver.
In fact, He's eager.
He's eager to deliver rebels.
Friend, the application here is obvious, isn't it?
We must take heed to His word.
We must repent and believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This is a call to marvel at the power of the word of the Lord,
to repent of your sin,
to trust in the living word of God.
And when you do,
look what awaits repentant rebels here in verses 10 and 11.
Look at this, how David closes out this psalm.
It is peace and strength and blessing and security and life and joy forevermore
in the sovereign reign of the King.
This is the third and final command.
We are called third to come enjoy the blessing of His reign.
David describes the blessing of His kingship for those who believe at the end of this psalm.
He shows us all the things that rebels seek apart from the Lord can only be found in the Lord.
And they are poured out graciously and generously upon His people.
Friend, if you would seek a refuge from the flood of His wrath,
where will you find it?
If you would seek an escape from your guilt,
where will you turn?
If you would escape the punishment that we are all due for our sin,
it is only found in Him.
Take refuge in the one who sits enthroned above the flood.
We sometimes sing,
A mighty fortress is our God.
A bulwark never failing.
Our shelter, He amidst the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
Friend, if you would seek someone to serve forever.
Someone who is worthy of your devotion.
Someone who will reign over you in love and justice.
Who will love you and lead you in righteousness forever.
Know that the Lord sits enthroned as King forever.
He will not be dethroned by any pain,
by any trial,
by any sickness,
by any loss,
by any rebellion.
If you would seek strength,
He is our strength.
If you would seek blessing,
all blessing is in Him.
He's the source of all blessing.
If you would seek peace,
He Himself is our peace.
Since we've been justified through faith in Christ,
we have peace with the Lord,
in our Lord Jesus Christ.
These are all blessings that only come from Him,
and He extends them to us freely in Christ.
So He ends with His benediction here in verse 11.
May the Lord give strength to His people.
May the Lord bless His people with peace.
James Hamilton, reflecting on this psalm,
he wrote,
Jesus was baptized in the floodwaters of God's wrath at the cross,
so that all who are baptized in Him will never face that wrath for themselves.
He took it all.
And in doing so,
He purchased for all His people,
all the blessings of citizenship in the kingdom of God.
Friend, rebels like us need to be reminded that
peace and blessing,
strength and joy,
security and eternal life
can only be found in joyful submission to King Jesus.
Now for some of you,
that might be the first time that you've heard a call like that.
This call to give God glory,
that you belong to Him by right,
that you're made for Him.
Hear this invitation again,
repent of your sin and come to Christ.
But for all of us,
we know, don't we,
that we are all so prone to wonder.
We have this indwelling rebellion in our hearts.
We need to be reminded,
time and time and time again,
of the blessing of submitting to the reign of King Jesus.
The author of Hebrews,
seems like he was dealing with a similar issue.
It's always the same, isn't it?
Whether it's in the time of the flood,
or in the time of David,
in the New Testament early church,
or here in All in Dawn 2025,
rebels need to be reminded.
So I'll leave you with this word of warning and encouragement
this morning from Hebrews chapter 3.
Take care, brothers,
lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart,
leading you to fall away from the living God.
But exhort one another every day,
as long as it is called today,
that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
For we have come to share in Christ,
if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end,
as it is said,
today if you hear His voice,
do not harden your hearts,
as in the rebellion.
Church, today you have heard His voice.
You have heard His word.
Do not harden your hearts.
Let's leave this place locking arms together,
exhorting one another,
as often as it is called today,
encouraging one another to ascribe to the Lord the glory He's due.
to heed His voice,
to trust in Christ as our only hope,
to cling to Him,
and then to rest and enjoy the glory of His reign now and forevermore.
Amen.
Let's pray.
Father,
we praise You for
Your power in our life.
Lord, we praise You that
by Your word,
You have called sinners like us
into fellowship with You
through Your Son, Jesus Christ.
We pray if there are any here who don't know You,
would You draw them to faith in Christ this morning?
Would You work that resurrection power in them
this very moment?
For the rest of us, Lord,
we pray that as we are so prone to wonder,
prone to rebel,
Lord, would You give us by Your grace
strength to heed Your voice
and ascribe to You the glory that You're due.
We pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen.