Not unto Us, O LORD

Not unto Us, O LORD

Psalm 115:1 states, “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.”

            The Hebrew word kabowd (3519) which is translated glory in the AV means figuratively splendor, copiousness, glorious, or honor.  Sometimes Christian musicians struggle with the “us” part of musicing unto God.  The psalmist very clearly states that copious splendor and glorious honor must be lavished on YAHV rather on “us”.   At the time the 115th Psalm was written, there was an apparent problem with those who were Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. not giving God honor and praise.

            Christian humanists, somewhat like secular humanists, by their actions show proofs that they believe that God must share the glory and honor with “us”. When it comes to religious musicing, a person is either a humble musical servant of Jesus Christ with responsibilities or a musician with rights.  Every musician must be sure that his or her musicing in the context of Christian worship is done with the single purpose of giving God all the glory and praise.  A Christian’s musicing is not that person’s personal performance for his or her aggrandizement, but rather it is about that person’s grateful response to a wonderful God who has shown mercy to one who was bound in chains of sin.  The truth of the matter is that God loved “us” so much that He, for Christ’s sake, forgave us of all our unrighteousness.  That is why we, like the psalmist, declare “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.”

            Musicians who are religious humanists thrive on the audience’s praise.  They are religious humanists because they profess the name of Christ but they thrive on personal aggrandizement. Much like the secular humanist, they believe that THEIR musicing begins and ends with SELF. They see no problem with receiving personal praise for their religious musicing.  They are in conflict with Isaiah 48:11b, “… I will not give my glory unto another.”  They also to not seem to regard Isaiah 42:8, “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”  When a Christian musician musics the good news of the gospel, God must receive all the glory, honor and praise for that musician’s musical performance or it is not a musical offering

Scripture Thought for the Day.

1Corinthians 3:11-13, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.   Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.”

Song for the Day My Tribute by Andrae’ Crouch