Strutter
1 Ascribe unto Jehovah, O ye sons of the mighty, Ascribe unto Jehovah glory and strength. 2 Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due unto his name; Worship Jehovah in holy array.
Psalms 29:1-2 (ASV)
Just got through with Hunter’s basketball season with a community league. He had a great time and it has been so much fun to see him motivated to improve and make progress. Though the league he played in was supposed to be for his age and the next year older, it was difficult to believe that many of the kids weren’t several years older as many appeared to be well over 6 feet tall. Just this size difference made the competition significant, but then, there were many that were also very skilled, and often with this skill came a great deal of arrogance along with a bit of glory sponging. One kid in particular, after making a shot would strut around and gesture with his hands to let it be known how really ‘special’ he was. He indeed was very good, and it is important, I’m sure for him to keep believing in himself, but in the presence of someone like, say Lebron James, all of his little glory hogging would be completely inappropriate. It is so natural especially for young men to be driven by ego and the desire to recognized as ‘mighty’, but in the presence of someone on an extremely exalted level, there is only a need to give up all that self focus for recognition of the one who has really done something of real significance and is so much more deserving of glory. Wherever the accomplishments of Lebron are proclaimed in the magnitude of their record-breaking greatness, it’s somewhat difficult to be too impressed with the feats of a junior high strutter.
The verses that follow these first two give an exposition of the accomplishments of Jehovah that make it most difficult for any of these sons of the (otherwise) mighty to do anything but give up all their glory in the presence of the One who is clearly in another league altogether. Where there might be a little strutting going on in a worldly realm somewhere, whenever the Maker of all realms is truly proclaimed in all of His self-initiated acts that will never know a rival, there is nothing really to do but give it all up for Him. In fact, where this recognition of His greatness is on every sign and billboard, there is never even a consideration of a strut. However, in the observance and deference to His extreme greatness, there is an identity acquired that raises and enables the one who’s given it all up for His glory. Rather than being limited to the little conquests of the self-proclaimed ‘mighty’, there is an ability to be a part of the overwhelming victories of the Almighty.
11 Jehovah will give strength unto his people; Jehovah will bless his people with peace. Psalms 29:11 (ASV)
Rather than just claiming to be a ‘mighty’ dude with a strut in a community league, it’s much better to be part of a people who’ve given up all glory to the One who’s really worthy. Better to have the strength and peace of the winning team of the ages than getting a short-lived ego boost making a few shots alone in a desperately held self-glory. To Him may all glory be given up to, and from Him may the satisfaction and the fulfillment of the soul be filled with in-Christ victory identity.