You can learn many things if you’re willing. Sometimes it’s as simple as asking and listen. On a crisp Minnesota fall afternoon, a four-year-old son was helping his dad rake leaves in the front yard of a farmhouse. The dad glanced up just in time to see a flock of geese flying over and pointed out how they flew in a formation shaped like a “V”.
The boy patiently watched them as they disappeared over the horizon and then turning to the dad asked, “Do they know any other letters?” Again, you can learn a lot if you simple ask and listen.
So what can we learn from David? A lot. Just taking the time to read Psalms can invoke our spirit to ask many things. Much more, we can see in his life how to live and not to live in some cases. That’s the beauty of the scripture. It allows us to see the good and the bad of each character. In no way does the scripture sanitize the lives of these men and women. What is crazy, remains crazy by preservation for all of time.
Asking again… What can we learn from David? Look specifically in: 1 Chronicles 29.10-13— “Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.”
We can first learn from David how to glorify God. This man knew how to put focus on God, in a big way. He knew to glorify God means to bless Him. Verse 10 says— “Wherefore David blessed the Lord.” Blessings should never be a one way street. We should be pouring our thanks, recognition, and humble dependence out upon our living, giving God. He blesses us so much every day, in what ways do we bless Him? You can start with this: an open and broken heart of praise blesses Him.
David continues in verse 11 with— “Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty”. Let’s break down this dynamic public prayer: “Greatness”: There is none greater than our Lord; “Power”: at the breath of just a word spoken, He can instantly align the universe; “Glory”: He is incomparably superior, stunningly beautiful, and absolutely perfect; “Victory/Majesty”: He has conquered all and rules over all, for all eternity. My struggles? God has them under control. Trust Him. Set them down. And worship! Take a hard look at God’s unparalleled grandeur and prepare to drop your jaw.
Sense we are talking about worship…true worship involves recognition that He is in control. Here are some details: “…for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine…Head above all.” (11); “Riches and honor come from thee…To make great and give strength.” (12). It’s all His. All of it. It all comes from Him too. We are but managers for the King of all Kings. The sooner we recognize He is in control of it all, the easier it will be to praise Him for it all. And the better off we will be.
We also learn our response is to “thank thee, and praise thy glorious name” (13). A truly humble heart is a thankful heart. Make His glorious name famous— brag on God.
All of this is under the umbrella of this: Go public! Verse 10 says— “Before all the congregation…” David wasn’t shy about the subject of God, in any way. He loved, preached, sang, glorified, and gave to God… publicly. In fact, in chapter 29 verse 7, for the Temple alone, David gave: 188 tons of gold, over 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze, over 3750 tons of iron. In today’s market value of U.S. Dollars, that’s $64,821,184,000 in giving. This man focused on God with extravagance, in every area of His life.
Why are we so passive, nominal, and generic when it comes to the God of the Universe?
What things are currently distracting you from being blown away by God’s greatness? Whatever it is, I highly recommend ditching it or them, immediately. Focus your energy on the Eternal.