For Whose Glory? ~ Psalm 79

“Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; and deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins, for Your name’s sake! Psalm 79:9 NKJV (italics added)

              The dead-heat photo finish, the tie, the draw.  Whether it be horse racing, soccer, or boxing respectively, they are all sports contests that can end with no clear winner found.  And how unsatisfactory that is.  Just the other day I was watching the Dallas Cowboys play and was excited to see the game go into overtime (which is technically a win for me because they did not lose in regular time).  But after 10 minutes of overtime play the score was still tied and no winner was declared. Game over.  A tie.  No winner.  What?  I mean, we must have a winner, right?  We must have an individual or team that can stand atop that tallest pedestal and be handed that gleaming medal of gold.  There must be someone that is clearly above everyone else, the winner, the victor, the champion.  But as we ponder this reasoning from the world of sports, I find that it can easily transfer into our everyday lives.  As we win the victory, get the big promotion, receive the grand accolade, or find ourselves receiving the applause of others…who is the first to receive that top platform?  Who truly gets the glory?

              Psalm 79 find Asaph poetically lamenting over the destruction of his beloved home, the capital of the Jewish kingdom, and the home of the temple of God, Jerusalem.  After years of sinful idolatry and rebellion against God, God finally invites the Babylonians in to sack and destroy the great city and either kill or haul off its inhabitants into slavery.  An event so grand and traumatic in Jewish history that it is mentioned no less than four times in Scripture (2 Kings 25, 2 Chronicles 36:11-21, Jeremiah 39:1-14, and Jeremiah 52).  And as we read of the event through the Holy Spirit inspired eyes of Asaph, we can see and feel the sorrow in his words.  Words oozing shame for the sinful behavior of the Israelite people that forced God to act in His perfect righteous judgement.

              But as we walk through this memory with Asaph, him begging for the mercy of God to return to His people, we find a declaration that seems rather odd in the context.  For in verse 9 we hear Asaph pen when deliverance and atonement are finally received, the peoples will receive them and give the glory not to themselves or the circumstances that granted the deliverance…but directly to God.  More specifically, they will give the glory to the Name of the One that gave the victory.

              Today as you walk this world, you will enjoy some victories.  And when you do, who is the first to be given, or the first to take the glory?  You see, our sin nature tells us ever so quickly who deserves the glory…us.  I mean, after all, it was our minds, our hands, and our muscles that produced the results that garnered us the applause-filled accolade, yes?  You see, in our study verse above, Asaph lets loose a critical element of God’s plan for His planet.  For His name to be glorified.  Asaph was indeed a student of scripture in knowing that unlike any other, there is unlimited power and possibility that simply lies in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).  And God, knowing the power that lies in His name, simply grants His children opportunities to speak it and make it public as frequently as possible.  And for this, many times, He gives the victory not for the glory of the physical hands that currently hold it, but for the glory of His name, the only name in which eternal salvation can be found. (Romans 10:13)

              Today, as the victories, trophies, medals, applause, and compliments of this world find their way into your path, who is getting the glory for the win?  For truthfully, as a child of God eternally saved by His name, His name should be the one to be glorified in any and all of your situations.  Be quick and ready today, to not hold the trophy high above your own head…but in the name above all names…Jesus Christ.

May God receive the glory in all that I do.  Blessings  ~ Dan

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 ESV (italics added)

“When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” John 15:8 NLT (italics added)

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other Name (Jesus Christ) under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 ESV

"puppy in the village", Magdalena Mixtepec, Oaxaca, Mexico