Psalms 29:3-9 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

These are all so many various descriptions of the astonishing power of God. By the voice of God in the kingdom of nature, no doubt, is meant the operations of God in nature. The thunder and the lightning, the waves of the sea, and the winds and tempests, - these indicate his astonishing power, and demonstrate his sovereignty. God may be said to speak by such operation's. See Psalms 107:25, etc. But I rather conceive that the expressions here are to be taken in a figurative way, and to be considered as God's speaking in the works of his providence and his grace. For here, in a more eminent and illustrious manner, may the Lord be said to speak, when the voice of Jesus is heard, according to his own declaration, in the graves of sin and death. John 5:25. And, agreeably to this figure of speech, the voice of the Lord is upon the waters of the sanctuary, causing them to give life, and to call into spiritual life sinners which were before dead in trespasses and in sins. It was by this voice of Jehovah, light sprung forth at the original creation of nature. It is the same almighty, quickening, life-giving power, when God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, shineth in the heart, whereby he giveth the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ; 2 Corinthians 4:6. It is by the same power, that the cedars are broken, the stout heart of sinners is broken, and made willing in the day of his power. And as even flames of fire, at the voice of God are divided, so the heart of a sinner is divided and separated, in that day when Jesus speaks to the conscience, from all its idols; for the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two - edged sword. Hebrews 4:12. And as the wilderness is made to shake at tempests, so the wilderness state of a sinner's mind is shaken, and soon made to blossom as a rose. Isaiah 35:1.