“They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.” (Psalm 145:6-7 ESV)
Americans love the Declaration of Independence. As one of the most formative documents in the founding of the great democratic republic in which we live, it decried the oppressive rule of Great Britain and proclaimed the sovereignty of the American colonies to govern themselves. The heritage passed down by that document’s words, and the principles they affirmed, is of immeasurable significance.
As Christians, we declare an infinitely greater independence to a world under the oppressive influence of an enemy far greater and crueler than the military force the founding fathers faced in the Revolutionary War. We declare independence from the power of the devil and of sin through allegiance to Christ.
David, in Psalm 145:6-7, calls our attention to the power of such a declaration. He writes that the generations referred to in verse four “shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds.” This is a call to remember, proclaim, and be strengthened by the faithfulness of the Lord. Just as inanimate creation magnifies its creator (Psalm 19:1-6), so his animate creatures—specifically humans created in his image—ought to bear witness to the awesomeness of what the Lord has done. David echoes what is said in Psalm 111:1-2:
Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the LORD,
studied by all who delight in them.
It is the Christian duty and privilege to study and delight in the works of the Lord and to declare their greatness to the nations.
David continues that he will “declare [God’s] greatness.” He now addresses the character of God. While we can never add to his majesty, we can acknowledge it and ascribe to him the glory that is due. God’s greatness will mark the lips of all faithful generations of God’s people.
David adds that the fame of God’s “abundant goodness” will “pour forth” from those who are his. The image is not that of a dam that lets only a little water through at a time but of a spring that flows unhindered with praise for the goodness and righteousness of God. The kind of pouring forth that David envisions is also exemplified in the life of John Bunyan, of whom it was said that if he were pricked, his blood would flow with Scripture.
If those closest to us wrote a list of the topics about which we most often “pour forth,” would the glory of God and his wondrous works be on the list? As we know, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). If our mouths are silent in this regard, we know that our hearts do not delight in God as they ought.
We have a beautiful declaration of freedom from bondage, and we would prove ourselves to be traitorous servants if we do not proclaim the glories of that freedom. Christ has come to “proclaim liberty to the captives” (Isaiah 61:1), and we are to carry on that message with the same faithfulness and fervency with which David did.
May the name of the Lord be praised among the nations, and may we offer ourselves as instruments to that end.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We carry the greatest message of freedom the world has ever heard. May we be faithful to declare your greatness and pour forth the glories of your name to all around us.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Prayer Requests:
- Pray for those engaged with the Togo Teacher Training project as they seek to communicate the greatness of God to the next generation in West Africa.
- Pray for those suffering for Christ under Islamic rule in the Middle East to trust in the goodness and righteousness of God.
- Pray for faithfulness and boldness in declaring the glory and majesty of God to unbelievers. If you struggle with evangelism, ABWE offers an excellent free resource to assist you.
