“Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name;
worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”
(Psalm 29:2)
This psalm calls God’s people to rise above all self-centered worship and give unto God what properly belongs to Him for who He is in Himself. There is a glory that arises from His works, and there is a glory that arises from His grace toward His people; but here the call is higher—to give Him the glory due His name.
The name of God reveals His being. It includes His eternality, His immutability, His wisdom, His holiness, His power, His dominion, and His majesty. When Scripture speaks of giving glory to His name, it calls for a frame of heart that acknowledges His infinite worth apart from all He has done for us. This is pure adoration—glorying God because He is God.[1]
This kind of worship is described as “the beauty of holiness.” Holiness is not only a property of God but the atmosphere in which He is to be worshipped. The soul must be set apart, elevated, and ordered rightly to behold God as He is. This worship is beautiful because it reflects the excellence of God Himself. There is no true beauty apart from holiness, and there is no true worship apart from a heart that desires to honor God above all things.
The saints of Scripture were often raised to this frame. They did not only bless God for what He had done, but for who He is. They considered His dominion, His majesty, His eternal being, and His absolute sufficiency in Himself. They saw that even if no creature existed to praise Him, He would still be infinitely glorious. And in seeing this, their hearts were drawn upward in pure adoration.
This is the highest work of the soul. Even the first petition in the Lord’s Prayer teaches this: “Hallowed be thy name.” Before asking for provision, forgiveness, or deliverance, the soul is directed to desire that God’s name be hallowed—that He be honored for who He is. The glory of God is to be the chief desire of our heart.
To worship God rightly is to see that our hearts are brought into a holy admiration of God Himself. It is to behold Him as the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, and to give Him honor and power forever. This is the glory due His name.
Contemplations:
- Adoration of God’s Infinite Being. Lord, when I consider who You are in Yourself, I see that Your glory is beyond all measure. You are eternal, without beginning or end, unchanging in all Your perfections, and full of all wisdom, power, and holiness. You do not depend on any creature, nor are You increased by anything outside Yourself. Your being is full, perfect, and infinitely blessed. Lift my heart to behold You in this way, not just for what You give but for who You are.
- Adoration of the Majesty of God’s Name. Father, Your name is great and greatly to be praised. All that You have revealed of Yourself declares Your majesty. You are the Lord of hosts, the King of kings, the blessed and only Potentate. The whole earth is full of Your glory. Teach me to revere Your name, to speak of it with honor, and to think of it with awe. Let me not treat lightly that which heaven itself exalts.
- Adoration in the Beauty of Holiness. Lord, You call me to worship You in the beauty of holiness, and yet my heart is often distracted and earthly. Raise my soul above these things. Give me a heart set apart for You, purified in its desires, and ordered toward Your glory. Let my worship be shaped by a sense of Your holiness and a desire to honor You rightly.
- Adoration That Seeks God’s Glory Above All. Father, I see that Your glory is to be the highest aim of my life. I confess that I often seek my own comfort, success, and desires before I seek Your honor. Change my heart so I desire above all things that Your name be hallowed. Let every part of my life—my thoughts, my words, and my actions—be directed toward giving You the glory due Your name.
Prayer (Adoration)
Most holy and glorious God, You are worthy of all honor, praise, and adoration. You are full of all perfection, needing nothing, and dependent upon none. Your being is infinite, Your wisdom unsearchable, Your power irresistible, and Your holiness pure and perfect. You dwell in light which no man can approach, and yet You reveal Yourself that You may be known and worshipped.
Your glory is not increased by the praises of men nor diminished by their silence. You are glorious in Yourself, and all creatures derive their being and goodness from You. Heaven declares Your glory, and the hosts of angels continually praise You, yet Your excellence is far above all that can be spoken or conceived.
You are the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God. You are the blessed and only Potentate, who rules over all things according to Your will. There is none like You, neither is there any beside You. All nations before You are as nothing, and they are counted to You less than nothing and vanity. Yet You are mindful of Your creatures and make Yourself known in mercy and truth.
You have revealed Your glory in Your works, in Your providence, and most of all in Your Son, Jesus Christ. In Him, Your wisdom, justice, mercy, and grace shine forth together. Through Him, sinners are brought to know You, not only as the great God, but as a gracious Father.
Let my heart be raised to give You the glory due Your name. Fix my mind on Your greatness, fill my soul with reverence and delight in Your holiness, and let my worship be shaped by who You are.
Let all that is within me bless Your holy name, and let my whole life be a continual offering of praise to You.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Further Scripture References for Psalm 29:2:
1 Chron. 16:29; Psalm 5:7; Lev. 10:3; John 4:24
[1] Thomas Goodwin, The Works of Thomas Goodwin, vol. 4 (Edinburgh: James Nichol, 1862), 375–376.
