“The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.”
The psalmist describes how the voice of the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon, the mightiest trees of the ancient world. The specific mention emphasizes the overwhelming power of God's voice to shatter what humans regard as most secure and stable. The verb "breaks" suggests violent rupture, the instantaneous destruction of the mighty. This verse employs hyperbolically true imagery: lightning during storms does indeed strike and splinter even the great cedars. The choice reflects the sensibility of ancient Israel, where Lebanon's cedars represented the pinnacle of natural strength. The verse emphasizes that all earthly strength stands fragile before God's transcendent might.
Church Fathers on Psalms 29:5
A psalm of David himself, of the consummation of the tabernacle. 1. A Psalm of the Mediator Himself, strong of hand, of the perfection of the Church in this world, where she wars in time against the devil. 2. The Prophet speaks, “Bring unto the Lord, O you Sons of God, bring unto the Lord the young of rams” Psalm 28:1. Bring unto the Lord yourselves, whom the Apostles, the leaders of the flocks, have begotten by the Gospel. 1 Corinthians 4:15 “Bring unto the Lord glory and…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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