Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. Psalm 29:2 (ESV)
The Hebrew word David used for glory in this passage means weight. How do we give the Lord the weight that is due his name? David completes this verse with another exhortation; Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. Though the second part of this verse may be a totally separate exhortation, my perception is that it completes the first part of the verse. We might say that one way to give the Lord the weight or glory due his name is to worship him in the beauty of holiness.
Most likely you have heard someone say, “He’s the splittin’ image of his father.” When we worship our heavenly father decorated in holy array, living holy lives before others, they get an image of what our heavenly father looks like. This is one way our heavenly father receives the glory due his name. The objective of our lives is to point to him, to magnify him, to make him known.
Our passion for God’s name to be exalted will most likely result in some form of outward expression. We always seem to find a way of displaying to others the things in which we place the most value. Thus, our outward expression of God’s worth is another avenue of giving him the glory due his name. This was the heart of King David when he wrote, I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. (Psalm 86:12 ESV) The Hebrew word glorify in this scripture means to be heavy or make weighty, honorable, glorious, to boast or promote. In this verse David might be saying that the way he will glorify God’s name forever is by praising him will all of his heart.
The Hebrew word David uses for praise in Psalm 86:12 is yadah. Yadah means to use or hold out the hand; to revere or worship with extended hands; to make a confession or give thanks. David not only desired to declare or speak of the greatness of his God but accompany that declaration with outward expression.
The chief end of our lives is to exalt God’s name above all others. By living holy, obedient lives accompanied with outward expressions of adoration, we demonstrate the value of God in our lives. We also demonstrate the supremacy of God in all things and give him the glory due his name.
Does your life give God the glory due his name? Are you living a life of holiness?
Scriptures for meditation:
Psalm 63:4; 100:4
Matthew 5:16
Philippians 2:9-11
2 Timothy 2:19