Bring the Best

“O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.” (Ps 108:1 AV)

The last phrase in this verse is interesting.  When we speak of glory, we typically speak of God’s glory and not our own.  Yet, David writes that his heart is solely fixed on His God and it is with his glory he will praise his God.  So, that begs a question.  If people can have glory and God naturally possesses all glory, what is the definition of glory and how do we praise God with it?  Strongs Numbers defines glory as, “honour, abundance; riches; splendour, dignity; reputation; reverence.”  This suggests glory which mankind possesses is an inner quality that is worked out in a manifested way.  Abundance, riches, and splendour are outward appearances.  Honor, dignity, reputation, and reverence are demeanors in which we comport ourselves.  This is not boasting.  David is not claiming to be something he is not.  Rather, because of his position as king, it was the responsible thing to come to worship in the splendor due his office.  Not to brag about what he was.  Rather, to take what he was and submit it humbly before God and others.  Remember, David was required to come before the priest for atonement of sin.  He had to bring his offering himself.  He had to lay his hands upon the head of the beast while it bled out its life for him.  He had to publicly confess his sin just like anyone else.  By coming in the honor and splendor of a king, he was correctly humbling himself to the level of all others.  There is another understanding here.  One that I wish to explore.

Michal, David’s wife, rebuked him for dancing and leaping before the people as they brought the ark into the tabernacle.  He removed his kingly garments and adorned himself as a common servant.  He did this to please the people.  He was correctly rebuked for incorrectly humbling himself before God and others.  David was to bring the best of what he was and humble the best of what he was.  Not the most common.  Herein is our principle.  We come to worship the LORD in the most common of what we are.  We do not come and publicly worship the LORD in the best that we are.  This is not merely our outward appearance.  It is also our demeanor.  How we conduct ourselves among ourselves.  How we behave ourselves while in praise to our God should be the best that we can offer.  This does not mean we have to professionally proficient at all that we bring.  David learned his lesson with Michal.  He never again came before the tabernacle dressed in any other way which would dishonor his office.  He came to the tabernacle the best that he could.

There is a misunderstanding with those who teach the above principle.  It is assumed those who make a point of assembling in the best way we can be are self-righteous and judgy.  This is cannot be further from the truth.  I am sure some are.  But for the most part, we cannot assemble as we would visit a common store.  The house of God is where we go to meet with others as we meet with God.  There is nothing wrong with meeting with God wherever and whenever or however we can.  Praise can be offered anywhere.  Anytime.  And in any condition, we in which we might be.  Yet, why is it we cannot make it a point to bring the best we can when we can?  This also includes times of private praise and prayer.  Why do we wait until we give everyone else the best of what we have and we God gets whatever is left over?  Why is it we seek God out only when we need something?  Why do we use the LORD for a colossal shoulder to cry on, but do not take the time to ignore all problems, choosing rather to praise the LORD for His goodness and grace?  God deserves the best we have at the time we have it.  He deserves no less.