“Give God the Glory”
Psalm 29 is typical of those hymns of praise. Adoration, joy and enthusiasm dominate the mood as the attention is given to the God of all power, majesty and might. You can feel your faith being infused with power as the psalmist proclaims who it is in whom we believe and worship.
Often, however, we come across unfamiliar expressions. My guess is, none of us have experienced someone in church shouting “Ascribe to the Lord!” We more commonly hear things like “praise the Lord,” “Worship Him,” and “Sing to the Lord.” But why the cry, “ascribe to the Lord”?
To ‘ascribe’ means to attribute something to; to regard something as belonging to. It carries the notion of ‘assigning to,’ or ‘accrediting to,’ or ‘associating with.’
I believe absolutely in giving God praise and honour, worshipping him in song and giving glory due unto him. But the heart of this can be lost if we don’t actually take time to acknowledge God for who he is, what he has done for us and what he promises he will do in the future. This acknowledgement – this ‘ascribing to the Lord’ – is the fount from which our worship and praise come. Why do we praise God? because of things he has done. Why do we give him glory? because of who God is.
“Ascribing to the Lord glory and strength [and] the glory due his name” is also an act of humility, recognizing from whom our strength comes, and to whom glory ought to be given. There are many men and women who seek their own glory, and attribute their successes to their own strength, might and ability. But we who have come to know the grace of God also know the One from whom all life comes.
So here we have a declaration of praise amongst a congregation to whom God has made his presence known. The people respond by recognizing his greatness and majesty, being in awe of his glory and power.
On this occasion, specific reference is given to the power of God’s voice. You read his voice being “over the waters,” signifying control and power over the turbulent forces of life that threaten order and stability; you see reference to the cedars of Lebanon, majestic, impressive trees that are nevertheless broken like twigs at the sound of the Lord’s voice; you get this vivid picture of a forest being stripped bare, deer giving birth, and the wilderness being shaken, all, again, at the sound of God’s voice.
These images may not immediately resonate with us, but you can see that the psalmist is drawing on things that would paint familiar pictures for his people, helping them to grasp the awesome power of the Lord. He is trying to capture the sheer power of God’s voice with analogies we can comprehend. And, of course, it ought to bring to mind the very beginning of all creation, when “God said”, and “it was so”.
Ascribing to the Lord is also a way of remembering; of bringing to mind the greatness of our God, and the hope that is found in Jesus Christ. I am certain that doing so regularly is a sure way to “stir our faith” and build up courage in our hearts to continue to trust, lean on, and rely upon the Lord.
– Douglas Smythe