May 29, 2023 -- Psalm 29:1-2 -- The Psalm Series: What does it mean to ascribe glory to the LORD?

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

A Psalm of David.
Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,
   ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
   worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.
Psalm 29:1-2 ESV

The word ascribe is rarely used in daily life. In college I was an English Major, and honestly I can only think of the word ascribe as used in the context of the Bible. So what does it mean? It is an important question if you want to understand this psalm and what it is about. To ascribe means to regard something as being due to a person or a thing. So, the LORD’s due is that His people recognize Him alone as glorious, powerful.

Why? In an age and a culture where the Majestic One of heaven is considered a buddy this is a jarring Psalm. Think of who David is. He was a strong king and worthy of honour and respect. Consider this example. When his wife approached David, she bowed to the ground and paid homage to him (I Kings 1:16). She recognized him as a powerful king. Even though they had an intimate relationship, she ascribed to him the honour due to his position as her king and the ruler of the nation. Now, if an earthly king, like David, was ascribed such honour, how much more should the LORD receive honour?! No wonder David needed to humble his own heart and ascribe to the Living God the glory and renown and honour that is due the LORD. David had to do so to keep himself from pride.

Dear fellow believer. Consider the great need there is in your own life to ascribe to the LORD the glory due His Name. Where have you stolen what belongs to Him? When you hold grudges rather than freely forgiving as you have been forgiven in Jesus, you ascribe to yourself the place of God and ascribe to yourself what belongs to Him alone. You have put yourself in a place of pride rather than humbling yourself and giving to the Living God the splendor and honour due to Him. When you are acting in ways that are sexually inappropriate, from looking lustfully, to viewing pornography, and any other such activities beyond those, you are living outside the rules of the LORD your God and ascribing to yourself a place of a tyrant. You are in effect saying, I can decide for myself what I want, rather than humbling yourself before Your King.

Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. As we are reminded to ascribe to You the honour and strength and glory that is Yours, we are also reminded how we are to humble ourselves. And we recognize how our flesh resists and strains against this very thing. Spirit of God, teach us new humility. Spirit of God, as those who are ever learning and re-learning humility focus our eyes and attention on Jesus Christ so that from Him and in Him we know the greatness of the Father’s love, the depths of our neediness, and the extravagance of Your grace. Spirit of the Living God, help us then to live as those who offer and receive true Christian community. Then as the people redeemed by Jesus grace alone replenish in us the desire and ability to ascribe to the LORD of Heaven and Earth all the glory and honour.

https://youtu.be/bvTz6k7cTIA “Who Am I?” Casting Crowns

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.