Great Is the Lord
Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 16: 7–29
“Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works,” 1 Chronicles 16:8–9.
Great Is the Lord
Father God, we thank you for you are the only one who can deliver our children. You are the only one who can make a way where there seems to be no way. Thank you Lord for the deliverance you have wrought and let every parent say thank you because only you can preserve our children. God you govern everything, the places they go, the things they eat, their health, their life, and we owe you thanks.
In this 1 Chronicles passage David once again offers an example of how to give thanks to the Lord. He wrote this psalm and put it in the hands of singers who could compose songs of praise to God. He did this because he considered giving thanks to God paramount. He considered it his purpose on earth because he was humble, because he was grateful, because he knew that everything he had, everything he was, everything he was ever going to be would come from God. How many of us would write a psalm or poem of thanksgiving for everything God has done for us and then ask someone to compose a song from it?
“Then on that day, David delivered first this psalm to thank the Lord into the hand of Asaph and his brethren. Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds amongst the people,” verses 7–8. David’s first command is that we give thanks unto the Lord. We are then to make God’s deeds known to others. When people meet you, are you noted for testimonies or for trials and complaints? Immediately upon meeting, some people tell you what God has done, what God is doing, and what God will do. They are full of giving God glory.
Next, David says we are to “Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually,” verses 9–
11. This is a passage of counsel. I encourage you to take it seriously, to begin to do what David advises. “Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,” verse 12. If you remember God’s marvelous works, it means you are bringing back to your memory, to your active mind, the great things God has done for you.
“O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth. Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the one which he commanded to a thousand generations; Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac; And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance; When ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it. And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people; He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes, Saying, Touch not mine anointed and do my prophets no harm,” verses 13–22. Do you know that because of God’s love for you kings get queried?
Who are kings? Anybody in the position of authority over a child of God is set up as a king, and if they treat you poorly, they get a query from God.
“Sing unto the Lord, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation. Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works amongst all nations. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods,” verses 23–25. Our God is great and He deserves great praise. This is one of my favourite Bible verses because my maternal grandfather in his dying moments kept repeating, “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.” He said this until he passed on and I read this passage today with great understanding. He was seeing God as he was going into glory and he was saying God is great and He needs to be praised greatly. “For all the gods of the people are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place. Give unto the Lord, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness,” verses 26–29.
I encourage you to raise up an attitude of gratitude, raise up great gratitude to God, for great is the Lord; for He is worthy to be praised.
Prayer Points:
Only those who are empowered by the Holy Spirit can truly praise God. You must be born again to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. You must receive Jesus into your heart and then He will empower you with the spirit of gratitude. If you have never given your life to Jesus, pray with me now, “Lord Jesus, I surrender my life to you. Write my name in the book of life and bless me with the power to praise God greatly in Jesus’ name.” Amen.
