"Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." — Psalm 29:1-2
The first two verses of Psalm 29 constitute a call to worship. Three times the Spirit of God exhorts the reader, "Give unto the Lord…" It is not a request for a material offering, for God stands in no need of our material wealth. He says, "If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof [Ps. 50:12]." There is nothing we can give Him that will enhance His wealth, but to recognize and honor His glorious name.
It is of particular interest, however, to notice to whom the call is directed; it is addressed, "O ye mighty." Some have suggested that the angels are in view, but I think that unlikely. It seems to me that the more likely subjects are men of influence and power among the sons of earth. If there is a poverty of faith and its proper response, it is most apparent among those who are in the upper echelons of society; the most prosperous, independent and proud among mankind. With reference to the ministry of the Savior, it is written, "The common people heard Him gladly [Mk. 12:37]." The rich and famous were generally scornful of Him. And Paul writes, "… not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty [I Cor 1:26-27]." Pride is a chronic disease of the fallen human heart, and the higher one ascends in the social and political order, the more aggressive the disease threatens to become. But, while this may be the category specifically addressed, it behooves all of us to give an ear to what the Spirit has to say.
"Give unto the Lord glory and strength." The potentates of earth perceive themselves as possessing glory and power. The psalm urges recognition that whatever honor and might one may seem to have, it should be ascribed to God and not to men. Recall the words of Christ to Pontius Pilate, "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above [John 19:11]."
"Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name." "O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens [Psalm 8:1]," writes the psalmist, and on the strength of that premise we read in another place, "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake [Ps. 115:1]." It is appropriate here to remember Paul's characterization of the exaltation of Christ, "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father [Phil. 2:8-11]." Hence to believers he writes of Christ that He is "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: [Eph. 1:21]."
How shall man give unto the Lord the glory due unto His Name? By worshipping Him! And how is that done? (What is worship?) It does not require a stately sanctuary, a majestic pipe organ, an impressive ritual. The proper sanctuary for worship is a redeemed heart; the organ is the human voice; and the ritual is that of endless praise from hearts sanctified by His Holy Spirit. That is "the beauty of holiness." In our present state, none of us will render it perfectly, but we can aspire and make progress — both "the mighty" and the most insignificant among us! In the end, that is all a man can really give to God.
"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." [Heb. 13:15]
For God's glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
The first two verses of Psalm 29 constitute a call to worship. Three times the Spirit of God exhorts the reader, "Give unto the Lord…" It is not a request for a material offering, for God stands in no need of our material wealth. He says, "If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof [Ps. 50:12]." There is nothing we can give Him that will enhance His wealth, but to recognize and honor His glorious name.
It is of particular interest, however, to notice to whom the call is directed; it is addressed, "O ye mighty." Some have suggested that the angels are in view, but I think that unlikely. It seems to me that the more likely subjects are men of influence and power among the sons of earth. If there is a poverty of faith and its proper response, it is most apparent among those who are in the upper echelons of society; the most prosperous, independent and proud among mankind. With reference to the ministry of the Savior, it is written, "The common people heard Him gladly [Mk. 12:37]." The rich and famous were generally scornful of Him. And Paul writes, "… not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty [I Cor 1:26-27]." Pride is a chronic disease of the fallen human heart, and the higher one ascends in the social and political order, the more aggressive the disease threatens to become. But, while this may be the category specifically addressed, it behooves all of us to give an ear to what the Spirit has to say.
"Give unto the Lord glory and strength." The potentates of earth perceive themselves as possessing glory and power. The psalm urges recognition that whatever honor and might one may seem to have, it should be ascribed to God and not to men. Recall the words of Christ to Pontius Pilate, "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above [John 19:11]."
"Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name." "O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens [Psalm 8:1]," writes the psalmist, and on the strength of that premise we read in another place, "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake [Ps. 115:1]." It is appropriate here to remember Paul's characterization of the exaltation of Christ, "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father [Phil. 2:8-11]." Hence to believers he writes of Christ that He is "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: [Eph. 1:21]."
How shall man give unto the Lord the glory due unto His Name? By worshipping Him! And how is that done? (What is worship?) It does not require a stately sanctuary, a majestic pipe organ, an impressive ritual. The proper sanctuary for worship is a redeemed heart; the organ is the human voice; and the ritual is that of endless praise from hearts sanctified by His Holy Spirit. That is "the beauty of holiness." In our present state, none of us will render it perfectly, but we can aspire and make progress — both "the mighty" and the most insignificant among us! In the end, that is all a man can really give to God.
"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." [Heb. 13:15]
For God's glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
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