Psalms 29:5-7

David’s description of the progress of the storm pictured it moving inland over Lebanon to the north of Israel. The Lord’s voice (thunder) seemingly split the mighty cedars of Lebanon and tossed them about like matchsticks. Of course, the lightning and wind were probably the actual agents of this devastation, but the psalmist described it as the result of Yahweh’s decree. Likewise, he said God called forth flames of fire (lightning). Both Old and New Testaments speak of lightning as God’s tool of judgment (e.g., 2 Samuel 22:15; Job 28:26; Matthew 24:27; et al.). Lebanon and Sirion (Mt. Hermon, Deuteronomy 3:9) are names of mountains in the Anti-Lebanon Range, Baal’s supposed territory.