This is a celebration of the power of “the voice of the Lord,” who is also “the God of glory” (Psa. 29:3). And the last verses give us to see the repose and to hear the joys of the faithful, while this power is passing by for the destruction of the ungodly. Like Noah in the Ark while the waters were spreading, or Lot in Zoar while the fire was poured down on Sodom, or Israel within their paschal doors, while the angel went through Egypt with the sword, so in their closets by and by the Remnant will rest (Isa. 26:20), and have a song also, while the decreed vengeance takes its course (Isa. 30:32), not a hair perishing.
The true Israel appear here, though in the midst of tumult, in all the calmness of a people who have made the Lord their sanctuary, unalarmed by confederated foes, because they can say, “God is with us” (Isa. 8), and strength and peace are promised to them.
At the opening of this glowing Psalm the mighty ones themselves are challenged to acknowledge Jehovah—as the kings of the earth are called to “kiss the Son”—ere it be too late. After this, in Psalm 82, these mighty ones, now convicted in full apostasy, are summoned to hear their doom, and listen to the sentence of righteousness against them.