“O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices,
and in your salvation how greatly he exults!
You have given him his heart’s desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips.
For you meet him with rich blessings;
you set a crown of fine gold upon his head.
He asked life of you; you gave it to him,
length of days forever and ever.
His glory is great through your salvation;
splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
For you make him most blessed forever;
you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
For the king trusts in the Lord,
and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.” Psalm 21:1-7
“David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. David said: ‘Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.
“‘But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. For we are strangers before you and sojourners… Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding. O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided… comes from your hand and is all your own.’” 1 Chronicles 29:10-16
David’s intimacy with his Lord was so real, so pronounced, that any benefit and blessing he owned and enjoyed he knew was from the Lord. Though he was not perfect, he continually acknowledged that it was God‘s grace and favor that made him great in the world. Written song and bold proclamation were the rhythm of his soul and kept pride in check.
We can so easily slip into thinking too highly of ourselves, or too much about ourselves. Success and achievement inflame arrogance, but so can troubles and busyness. They press us into inflated importance and a prideful disregard of others.
But gaze at God, and practice singing praise to Him, and He changes our whole perspective. When God gets in the way, we move from all-about-me to all-about Thee. Sights filled with His greatness and majesty and glory and splendor see ourselves only in light of Him. And there we are small. Loved, of immeasurable value, but under His benevolent authority and pleasure.
Where have we become puffed up? Do we talk more about what we have done or need to do than we genuinely care and listen to others? When was the last time we bowed our knees before God Almighty, and praised Him with psalms? He delights to hear His word. What changes in our perspective might He make that bear out in more humble, generous, gracious living?
Father, fill my thoughts of self with all of You, so You are extolled.
As the rain and snow 