Singing Psalm 29 you honor the voice that has follow-through
- Karen Wallace
- Jul 7, 2023
- 10 min read
Updated: Oct 17, 2025
When a man voices that he will do something, what happens next?
If nothing, you’ve heard the dig, “He’s all talk and no action.”
If he got done the thing he said he’d do, you’ve heard admiringly, “He’s a man of his word.”
What can you expect as you listen to the voice of God?
Singing Psalm 29 you honor follow-through on soil, skyscape, and sea
He speaks well to the deer and his follow-through results in new life.
God commands the trees, hills, and mountains. His follow-through is seen as they split, shatter, and skip.
The voice of the Lord moves the wilderness and desert. His follow-through results in quaking and shaking.
He voices commands to the waters and his follow-through makes them rise and the floodwaters rage.
He voices in sound with thunder. His follow-through is glory from all who hear it.
He speaks in flashes with lightning. His follow-through is a symphony in the sky of lights, colors, and flames.
What the Lord’s follow-through means for you
God displays his varied strengths that begin with his voice and end in care for his people. He increases your strength when you sometimes suffer and when you sometimes wait.
God, the Father, Son, and Spirit, orchestrates his strengths harmoniously. Perfectly coordinated, he ultimately brings you peace through his steadfast love, faithfulness, lovingkindness, and tender mercies.
Every note in his symphony is conducted purposefully and beautifully though he does not direct all the instruments to sound simultaneously.
His grace reaches you and touches every aspect of your being enabling you to rejoice when things go well and when you face trials of many kinds as Jesus did.
It is at these times that his wisdom teaches you to consider the depths of life, to seek the One who created it, and to value the times in his symphony when your part is silent.
Being hopeful in sorrow leads to joyful silence.
“Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.” ~ Ecclesiastes 7:3
You enjoy hearing the playing parts when it’s their turn and not yours.
You gladly wait with expectation for when he brings your part in to sound.
You defer with a knowing smile that nothing is too hard for the Lord when he places you in the audience to simply enjoy the music that others are playing.
At any given day or moment you choose a recipe or tool or pattern from your collection while hundreds go unused and happily wait their turn.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9
It’s natural to be joyful when things go the way you like, when you feel strong. It’s supernatural to be joyful when they don’t, when you feel weak.
Listening for the Lord Jesus’ voice and watching for his direction in complete trust and awe, your eyes are on the great conductor at all times. He has all the sheet music in his head, some of it he shares with you in his Word.
“In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.” ~ Ecclesiastes 7:14
Though you know the general direction he is going in, you don’t presume to know exactly which notes come next. He is likely to insert an incredibly beautiful bridge or interlude that he already had arranged in his piece.
“The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.” ~ Proverbs 14:10
Your union with Jesus supplies you with real overflowing joy and true peace that passes understanding. There’s no feigning here even in sorrow. The Lord knows you, that you trust him. That’s enough.
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
“So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
“For you shall go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall break forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
“Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall make a name for the Lord,
an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” ~ Isaiah 55:10-13
“Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.” ~ Joshua 21:45
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:19-22
Listen to what God voices. Those things are as good as done.
Singing Psalm 29, you learn that God’s voice is the perfect balance of power and care, protection and provision.
Your follow-through in light of God’s
His sheep hear his voice and follow him to peace. You are part of his house so your follow-through is to abide in him.
He rewards his sheep with the gift of peace that comes from their confidence in his competence. He lives in you. Your identity, destiny, and the path to it are bound up in being one with the triune God.*
You voice praise in response. Your follow-through is worship.
The Lord increases your strength and his follow-through is the blessing of peace in that strength. And the meek will inherit the new earth glorifying God.
Whether he has made you wealthy in abilities, relationships, or possessions, be thankful to him as you enjoy them.
Let your follow-through be to care to love the giver of all gifts more than the gifts themselves lest you make them into idols.
Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” ~ Jeremiah 9:23-24
The Lord speaks strength into existence to protect the otherwise weak. His follow-through blesses both men and women with the ability to keep strength under control.
“Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.” ~ Proverbs 31:25
The Lord often seems to be most glorified in the comeback story when it looks like all has been lost and all hope is shattered.
Hannah’s responsive follow-through is to sing his praises:
“The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble bind on strength.” ~ 1 Samuel 2:4
This strength under control is the glorious follow-through of young men, a gift of the Lord that comes with peace attached.
“I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.” ~ 1 John 2:14
The triune God surrounds you with his peace, and more, his presence, so desperately needed in the midst of the war you are in every day.
“I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” ~ Philippians 4:12-13
Unbelievers object that God seeks glory as a man wrongly would, ascribing to him selfish ambition rather than the glory he is due.
What they miss is that the glory of the Lord is his mercy that enables you to come to Jesus and to abide in his word.
What glory monger king gives his life to save his people from self-destruction? You know a tree by its fruit.
If you could perfectly follow Jesus, walking in his steps, you would be gentle and lowly, bringing about real good to those you encounter.
Without regard for your own comfort, you would show them Jesus who is the truth and the life, the only way to the Father.
The purpose of these articles is for your follow-through in light of God’s:
To sing the psalms toward an intimate affection for God who is Father, Son, and Spirit, a heartfelt, emotional connection with him, where you engage in the process of learning him and trusting him.
When you want to know what is in your heart, what your essence is, who you are one with, you look at where your affection lies.
Your follow-through is to spur one another on toward love and good deeds only because you are following Jesus not reluctantly but from the heart and without hesitation.
Singing Psalm 29 (and all the psalms) you have a heightened awareness of your constant need for mercy from the One who is good enough and great enough to lavish you with it.
He increases your strength in your moment-by-moment fight to think, speak, and act against sin and to overcome until your fight is over when he comes back for you.
“You sons of the gods, give the LORD as His right,
Ascribe to the LORD both great glory and might.
“The LORD will the strength of His people increase;
The LORD gives His people the blessing of peace.” ~ Psalm 29:1, 11
June 30-July 7, 2023
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Heart ♥️ reflection
February 4, 2025
“But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.” ~ Exodus 16:20
Question: How can I trust my creator’s provisions for today over the urge to worry about tomorrow?
Heart reflection: Consider the creator-creature distinction. You can forgo your inclination to store up provisions for tomorrow when your creator’s direction is to trust him to provide for you one day at a time. The Lord wants your heart and uses tender care to teach you to trust his care for you. He gave his people provisions for food every day. Those who didn’t trust him that he would provide for them the next day gathered more food than they could use that day, and it spoiled as the Lord said it would. They not only didn’t get to eat the extra food they gathered for the next day, but they caused trouble for the whole community, introducing worms and stench into the camp. So they learned that it doesn’t pay to disobey God. They learned to trust that what the Lord says comes to pass. God then changed it up and gave them double provisions before the Sabbath. The extra food they gathered the day before did not spoil overnight upon his direction so that they would have both rest and provisions. Those who learned the lesson to trust his care received an even greater gift than the provision of food. Indeed man does not live on bread alone. Jesus taught and demonstrated how to give your heart to your creator by living instead on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
“The LORD will the strength of His people increase;
The LORD gives His people the blessing of peace.” ~ Psalm 29:11
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The Psalms—Q&A
“Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD,
or what man shows him his counsel?
Whom did he consult,
and who made him understand?” ~ Isaiah 40:13
How can singing Psalm 29 help me grow in my affection for God and in my connection with others?
Singing Psalm 29 on the voice of the Lord prompted thoughts of, Can God do anything? and, How can I give him his due, the one who has everything, doesn’t boast about it, but gives it away?
“And unto the LORD’s name its glory accord;
In splendor of holiness worship the LORD.“ ~ Psalm 29:2
Can God do anything? He does everything he wants to do. He wants to love his people and bring all things about for their good using even lies, evil actions, and pride to do it. He never wants to do evil and so he never does; in fact, he hates it. He is true to his heart which is only pure and holy. He helps his people want what he wants, love what he loves, and hate what he hates. He gives you a new heart that depends on him. He makes you a new creation transforming you who started out self-oriented. Acceptance without correction when it’s needed doesn’t bring joy or happiness but is deceptive and therefore isn’t good for anybody.
After the Lord woos you with one look of compassion, with one word of grace, your ways are touched by his mind to serve and do good wherever you can. Your ways begin to closely resemble the ways of your master who has a hold on you that won’t let go. You live as if in the dwelling place of Jesus, fully aware of his loving presence and that of the Holy Spirit who lives in you. He inspires you to be holy and readies you for the full and unending life he has for you in the new age.
A voice says, “Cry!”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass,
and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the LORD blows on it;
surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever. ~ Isaiah 40:6-8
How can I give God his due? God has purposed you to humbly rule with him—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—in his perfectly unified diversity. You find yourself both in awe of getting to be anchored in and truly happy to be tethered to God, the awesome Shepherd King, who guides his sheep from straying and who with perfect mercy disciplines those he loves with an everlasting love!
“The LORD ruled as King as the floodwaters raged,
And still shall the LORD rule throughout every age.” ~ Psalm 29:10
Engage and grow together!
“Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another.” ~ Proverbs 27:17
October 17, 2025
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