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Description
This psalm pictures Jesus as Lord, using his voice to wage war and win victory at the Battle of Armageddon, including his liberation of Lebanon.
Commentary
This psalm anticipates Jesus, as the Lord God, using his voice to wage war and win the victory at the Battle of Armageddon. It is an Old Testament portrayal of the scene in Revelation 19:15-16 "From his mouth extends a sharp sword, so that with it he can strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod, and he stomps the winepress of the furious wrath of God, the All-Powerful. He has a name written on his clothing and on his thigh: “King of kings and Lord of lords." (NET)
In verse 3, his voice is over the 'water'. In Revelation 17:15, 'water' symbolise 'peoples, multitudes, nations and languages'. Verses 3 to 9 describe the mighty power and effects of Jesus' voice. Verse 5 says he will 'shatter the cedars of Lebanon', symbolic of him defeating the rulers of Lebanon. Similarly, Isaiah 10:34, says 'Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One' (NIV). Jesus is this Mighty One - as also in Psalm 45:3, "Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one, clothe yourself with splendor and majesty" (NIV). Verse 6 implies this defeat is actually to liberate Lebanon, saying 'He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox'. Sirion is another name for Mount Hermon (Deuteronomy 3:9), which lies on the border between Lebanon and Syria, at the top of the Golan Heights.
Habakkuk 2:17 indicates that the Antichrist will conquer Lebanon. Consequently, in Ezekiel 28, the Antichrist is called the 'Ruler of Tyre'. In Jeremiah 25:22, the rulers of Lebanon are included in Jeremiah's list of those who will be judged by God in the end-times.
Verse 8 says 'The Lord’s shout shakes the wilderness, the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh'. Israel's southern border with Edom ran through the wilderness of Kadesh (Numbers 34:3), also called the Wilderness of Zin (Numbers 33:36). It is most likely located slightly to the north-west of Aqaba (biblical Ezion-Geber). The Wilderness of Zin is not to be confused with the Wilderness of Sin which was near Mount Sinai. During the Exodus, the Israelites camped at Kadesh after leaving Sinai and requested permission from the Edomites to pass through their land along the King's Highway (Numbers 20:14-17). They wanted to enter Canaan from the east side of the Jordan, presumably for tactical reasons, rather than approaching directly from the south. Looking ahead to the end-times, Deuteronomy 33:2 and Psalm 68:17 both speak prophetically of Jesus coming from Sinai with his army of holy ones, on his way to the battle of Armageddon, of which the battle of Lebanon is likely a part. So verse 8 pictures Jesus shaking this Wilderness of Kadesh as he passes through on his way to the battle of Lebanon and Armageddon.
Jesus uses his voice as a weapon, with effects that include thunder (v3), wind that makes the waters surge (v3), shattering of trees (v5 & 7), flaming fire (v7) and an earthquake (v8). Those in the temple who witness these events all cry, "Majestic"' (v9). Temple in this case may be literal, or may refer metaphorically to the temple of all believers (Ephesians 2:19-22).
Verse 10 looks forward to Jesus being enthroned as king for ever (see Psalm 2:6, Isaiah 9:7, Daniel 7:14) over the waters, again symbolic of 'peoples, multitudes, nations and languages' (Revelation 17:15).
In verse 11 Jesus strengthens his people and blesses them with peace. This is the outcome of his victory at Armageddon.
In verse 3, his voice is over the 'water'. In Revelation 17:15, 'water' symbolise 'peoples, multitudes, nations and languages'. Verses 3 to 9 describe the mighty power and effects of Jesus' voice. Verse 5 says he will 'shatter the cedars of Lebanon', symbolic of him defeating the rulers of Lebanon. Similarly, Isaiah 10:34, says 'Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One' (NIV). Jesus is this Mighty One - as also in Psalm 45:3, "Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one, clothe yourself with splendor and majesty" (NIV). Verse 6 implies this defeat is actually to liberate Lebanon, saying 'He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox'. Sirion is another name for Mount Hermon (Deuteronomy 3:9), which lies on the border between Lebanon and Syria, at the top of the Golan Heights.
Habakkuk 2:17 indicates that the Antichrist will conquer Lebanon. Consequently, in Ezekiel 28, the Antichrist is called the 'Ruler of Tyre'. In Jeremiah 25:22, the rulers of Lebanon are included in Jeremiah's list of those who will be judged by God in the end-times.
Verse 8 says 'The Lord’s shout shakes the wilderness, the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh'. Israel's southern border with Edom ran through the wilderness of Kadesh (Numbers 34:3), also called the Wilderness of Zin (Numbers 33:36). It is most likely located slightly to the north-west of Aqaba (biblical Ezion-Geber). The Wilderness of Zin is not to be confused with the Wilderness of Sin which was near Mount Sinai. During the Exodus, the Israelites camped at Kadesh after leaving Sinai and requested permission from the Edomites to pass through their land along the King's Highway (Numbers 20:14-17). They wanted to enter Canaan from the east side of the Jordan, presumably for tactical reasons, rather than approaching directly from the south. Looking ahead to the end-times, Deuteronomy 33:2 and Psalm 68:17 both speak prophetically of Jesus coming from Sinai with his army of holy ones, on his way to the battle of Armageddon, of which the battle of Lebanon is likely a part. So verse 8 pictures Jesus shaking this Wilderness of Kadesh as he passes through on his way to the battle of Lebanon and Armageddon.
Jesus uses his voice as a weapon, with effects that include thunder (v3), wind that makes the waters surge (v3), shattering of trees (v5 & 7), flaming fire (v7) and an earthquake (v8). Those in the temple who witness these events all cry, "Majestic"' (v9). Temple in this case may be literal, or may refer metaphorically to the temple of all believers (Ephesians 2:19-22).
Verse 10 looks forward to Jesus being enthroned as king for ever (see Psalm 2:6, Isaiah 9:7, Daniel 7:14) over the waters, again symbolic of 'peoples, multitudes, nations and languages' (Revelation 17:15).
In verse 11 Jesus strengthens his people and blesses them with peace. This is the outcome of his victory at Armageddon.
Tags
Places: Lebanon, Kadesh, Sinai, Kings Highway
Symbols:
Tags: Jesus liberates Lebanon, Battle of Lebanon, Armageddon, Weapons of Jesus, Voice of Jesus
Symbols:
Tags: Jesus liberates Lebanon, Battle of Lebanon, Armageddon, Weapons of Jesus, Voice of Jesus
1 A psalm of David. Acknowledge the Lord, you heavenly beings, acknowledge the Lord’s majesty and power!
2 Acknowledge the majesty of the Lord’s reputation! Worship the Lord in holy attire!
3 The Lord’s shout is heard over the water; the majestic God thunders, the Lord appears over the surging water.
4 The Lord’s shout is powerful, the Lord’s shout is majestic.
5 The Lord’s shout breaks the cedars, the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf and Sirion like a young ox.
7 The Lord’s shout strikes with flaming fire.
8 The Lord’s shout shakes the wilderness, the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The Lord’s shout bends the large trees and strips the leaves from the forests. Everyone in his temple says, “Majestic!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the engulfing waters, the Lord sits enthroned as the eternal king.
11 The Lord gives his people strength; the Lord grants his people security.
2 Acknowledge the majesty of the Lord’s reputation! Worship the Lord in holy attire!
3 The Lord’s shout is heard over the water; the majestic God thunders, the Lord appears over the surging water.
4 The Lord’s shout is powerful, the Lord’s shout is majestic.
5 The Lord’s shout breaks the cedars, the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf and Sirion like a young ox.
7 The Lord’s shout strikes with flaming fire.
8 The Lord’s shout shakes the wilderness, the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The Lord’s shout bends the large trees and strips the leaves from the forests. Everyone in his temple says, “Majestic!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the engulfing waters, the Lord sits enthroned as the eternal king.
11 The Lord gives his people strength; the Lord grants his people security.
(NET)
