Let God Be Magnified
Psalms 70:1-5
This Psalm is a prayer of David. It is a time of desperate pleading before the Lord. Most of us have had times where we felt desperate, and where we cried out to God.
David is crying out to God because of his enemies. It is a prayer often repeated by David in the Psalms. David had quite a few enemies. It is important that we note that David did not go out of his way to make enemies. They just seemed to find him. From Goliath to King Saul all the way to his family, and friends, David faced alot of opposition ! There is a message to us in this.......we will face all kinds of opposition if we choose to live for God. It is not that we’re to go out, and be confrontational, but there will be times in our life when taking a stand for what is right will produce conflict.
That is made even the more evident when you consider that all the disciples, save John, were martyred for their faith !
Yet, in the midst of David’s struggles with those who oppose him, he says something which is profound in V4. Tonight I want us to focus for just a few moments on "Let God Be Magnified"
It is a verse which is repeated almost word for word in Psa 40:16
Listen to Psa 40:16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
The word "magnified" ( gaw-dal’ ) is a oft used word in the O.T. It is used at least 115 times. It means, of course, "to make large". It is also translated elsewhere in the Bible as " great, greater, grew, grown, exceed, passed all, brought up, promote, advance, lift up, increase"
Magnify is not a word which is used as much now as in olden times. When I think of the word "magnify" now, I think of looking at something through a magnifying glass so that it becomes larger, more visible.
Illust. Little girl........if God is as big as you say, and if he lives in my heart, then he should be poking out !
Tonight we are the magnifying glass for the world.......for lost people.......for people who need to see God. They need to be able to look through us, and see the Lord !
Now the question is.......how ? How do we magnify God ? How can we make God visible or more visible to those which are unsaved ?
I. We Magnify God Through The Preaching Of His Word !
1 Cor 1:21 ........"it pleased God by the foolisness of preaching to save them that believe."
There are alot of areas in which we can, and need to be flexible in our work, and ministry. But the only way that the lost can be saved is through the preaching of the word ! I have for years enjoyed Christian drama. I believe it is a very effective tool for presenting the word of God, yet it does not do the job of preaching. Great music is a part of any effective church, ministry, and work, yet in and of itself, it will not produce converts ! It is through the preaching of the cross that people are saved !
II. We Magnify God Through The Praise Of Our Worship. !
Psa 33:1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
Psa 22:22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
Psa 35:8 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. V28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.
Psa 40:3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
III. We Magnify God Through The Performance Of Good Works.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. *Note-glorify in the Gr. means the same as magnify in the Heb.
Phil 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
IV. We Magnify God Through The Presentation Of A Witness.
Deut 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
1 Chron. 16:9 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.
Psa 71:24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long:
Psa 77:12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
