John Calvin Commentary Psalms 29:9

"The voice of Jehovah maketh the hinds to calve, And strippeth the forests bare: And in his temple everything saith, Glory." — Psalms 29:9 (ASV)

The voice of Jehovah maketh the hinds to bring forth. A silent comparison, as I have said, is made here. It is worse than irrational, it is monstrous, that people are not moved by God’s voice, when it has such power and influence on wild animals. It is base ingratitude, indeed, for people not to perceive his providence and government in the whole course of nature. But it is a detestable insensibility that his unusual and extraordinary works, which compel even wild animals to obey him, will not at least teach them wisdom. Some interpreters think that hinds are mentioned, rather than other animals, because of their difficulty in giving birth to their young; which I do not disapprove of. The voice of the Lord is also said to discover or make bare the forests, either because there is no covering that can prevent it from penetrating into the most secret recesses and caverns, or because lightning, rain, and stormy winds beat off the leaves and make the trees bare. Either meaning is appropriate.

In his temple. God’s voice fills the whole world and spreads to its farthest limits; but the prophet declares that his glory is celebrated only in his church, because God not only speaks intelligibly and distinctly there, but also gently allures the faithful to himself there. His terrible voice, which thunders in various ways in the air, strikes the ears and causes people's hearts to beat in such a way as to make them shrink from him rather than approach him—not to mention that a considerable portion turn a deaf ear to its sound in storms, rain, thunder, and lightning.

Therefore, since people do not profit sufficiently in this common school to submit themselves to God, David wisely says that the faithful especially sing the praises of God in his temple. This is because, being intimately instructed there by his fatherly voice, they devote and consecrate themselves entirely to his service.

No one proclaims the glory of God rightly except the one who worships him willingly. This may also be understood as a complaint, in which David reproves the whole world for being silent concerning God's glory. He laments that although God's voice resounds through all regions, his praises are sung nowhere but in his temple alone.

However, following the example of all the godly, he appears to exhort all humankind to praise God’s name. He also seems to intentionally portray the temple as a receptacle for his glory.

This is for the purpose of teaching us that to truly know God and praise him as he deserves, we need a different voice than the one heard in thunder, showers, and storms in the air, in the mountains, and in the forests.

For if he does not teach us in plain words and also kindly draw us to himself, by giving us a taste of his fatherly love, we will remain silent.

Therefore, it is the doctrine of salvation alone that cheers our hearts and opens our mouths in his praises, by clearly revealing to us his grace and the entirety of his will. It is from there that we must learn how we ought to praise him.

We may also unquestionably see that at that time there was no light of godliness in the whole world, except in Judea.

Even philosophers, who appeared to come closest to the knowledge of God, contributed nothing whatsoever that might truly glorify him. All that they say concerning religion is not only cold, but for the most part bland.

Therefore, it is in his word alone that the truth shines forth which may lead us to true piety, and to fear and serve God rightly.