O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
A testimony meeting
“God’s praises sound best in concert.” The praise that lifts its voice in solitude is beautiful, but it is far more beautiful when heard in communion with the praise of one’s fellows. Each instrument in the orchestra is enriched by the co-operation of the others. Each member in a chorus has his discernment sharpened, and his zeal intensified by the remaining members. So in the orchestra of praise. My own thanksgiving is quickened and enriched when I join it to the praises of others. The text appears to suggest that a number of thankful souls gathered together, and, each contributing his own testimony of the exceeding graciousness of God, they joined in an outburst of united and jubilant praise. Here is one of the testimonies: “I sought the Lord,” etc. And here is the gladsome confession of quite a numerous company. “They looked unto Him and were lightened,” etc. And here, again, is the witness of an inspired and grateful soul: “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him,” etc.
1. He was burdened with “fears.” What did he make his resource? “I sought the Lord.” The seeking was a real business. Into the inquisition he put his whole soul. And what was the issue of the search? “He heard me.” The term implies heeding and responding. Man’s “seeking” was responded to by a sympathetic movement on the part of God. “And delivered me,” etc. That is a full-coloured word, abounding in strength and vitality. It suggests the act of rescuing something out of a beast’s mouth. It is from spiritual havoc of this kind that our Lord delivers us. The rescue is not partial. The relief is by no means incomplete. The freedom is absolute. “He delivered me from all my fears.” “God sweeps the field, slays the enemies, and even buries their bones.”
2. Let us listen to the second of these grateful testimonies. “They looked unto Him and were lightened, and their faces were not ashamed.” The gracious answer of God brought a benediction of light. They “were lightened.” Then before they must have been darkened. They were cheerless and depressed. They were “losing heart.” “Thy looked unto Him.” They gazed intently upon God. No snatch look, no hurried glances, no passing nod of recognition. A fixed and eager gaze. And what was the outcome of their gaze? They “were lightened.” They were brightened up, lit up, made cheerful. “Now are ye light in the Lord.” Depression gave way to buoyancy. Melancholy yielded to cheerfulness.
3. Let us now turn to the third of these witnesses, and hear his thankful confession. “This poor man cried,” etc. What had been this man’s peculiar burden? “Troubles.” He had been in a “tight corner,” a “tight place.” In his straits he “cried unto the Lord.” It was a short, sharp, urgent prayer. “Fervour is a heavenly ingredient in prayer; an arrow drawn with full strength hath a speedier issue; therefore the prayers of saints are expressed by crying in Scripture.” Again we have the confession made by an earlier witness. “The Lord heard him,” paid heed to him, and began the ministry of gracious response. “He saved him out of all his troubles.” He opened a way out of the tight place. He led him out of straits into freedom. He gave him a sense of space. “Thou hast brought my feet into a large place.” (J. H. Jowett, M. A.)
A thanksgiving sermon
I. what it is to magnify the Lord, and exalt his name. Let us not mistake in arrogating to ourselves that which is quite out of our reach, as if we, diminutive bits of God’s creation, could enrich the exchequer of heaven. No, ‘tis not at all in Himself, but only in our own minds, and others’ esteem, that we are capable of greatening and advancing the most glorious and ever-blessed God. When we conceive in ourselves any worthy sentiments, becoming the Divine majesty and goodness; are filled with an admiring sense of His transcendent excellencies, and a grateful sense of His loving-kindness” and endeavour, all we can, to propagate the same magnificent and fair idea to others: this is the utmost whereof we are capable, to glorify God in such aggrandizing representations, as show Him somewhat like Himself. And thus we do magnify the God infinitely good, when we stand in admiration of such benignity, that we should have any comfort with our lives, when we have done so much to spoil all with our sins! Yea, that not a minute should pass but brings us a new favour from above; and gives us more assurance still that He desires our felicity, and cannot design our ruin. Thinking thus well of God, we do magnify the Lord, and exalt His name.
II. the properties of this eucharistical sacrifice, and how we are to offer it.
1. It must be with the soul, from the altar of a sensible heart. To glory in Him is one way of giving glory to Him.
2. Though it must not be only a lip-service, we must not refrain our lips either. When our bodies are His temple, and our tongues the living bells articulately to sound His praise; how can we better employ the speaking faculty, than in celebrating His goodness that gave it? What we are transported with, we can hardly forbear to speak of, if we are full of it, ‘tis apt to float on our tongues: and if the mercies of God affect our hearts, ‘tis fit we should express the same, both to discharge a due debt ourselves, and also to kindle the like flame in others.
3. We must bless the Lord at all times (Psalms 34:1); not only by fits, as it pleases us, or when extorted from us upon some occasions extraordinary, but with such a heart whose pulse may be His praise. Our holy living is the most effectual thanksgiving. When we justify the Divine laws by our obedience, and thus stand up to attest their high reasonableness and goodness, instead of repining at them as hard sayings and heavy burdens; showing that really we do admire and applaud them for the blessed products of an infinite wisdom and love, to contrive and effect our everlasting happiness: then do we give them the best commendation, to make all enamoured with those sacred institutions, which they not only hear set off in hollow encomiums, but see produce such happy effects (John 15:8; Philippians 1:11).
III. the reason we have thus to magnify the Lord, and exalt his name.
1. It is the very end of our being. Man, as the priest of this inferior creation, is to offer up a general sacrifice in the name and behalf of all the rest; who in their several ways give a tacit consent, and (as it were) say Amen to the oblation: and when dumb and negligent to praise the Lord, we not only wrong ourselves, but rob multitudes that would do it, had they but our faculties and abilities to reason and express it. We not only stand for cyphers, but carry as an exorbitant rout, breaking our ranks and disordering the world, if we celebrate not His praise who has so set us up.
2. We have not only capacity, but all manner of obligations to it; even common justice hinds us to render to all their dues. Well may we extol Him, when He has done so for us (Psalms 30:1). How many great luminaries else soever there be, all disappear at the rising sun; and all other benefactors must be even nullified to omnify the Supreme.
3. As we are obliged, so by the goodness of it encouraged to it (Psalms 147:1). “It is pleasant, and praise is comely.” It gives the pious soul a sweet satisfaction, like the pleasure which an honest man takes in paying his debts. The most delicious viands are not more grateful to a healthy body, than the praises of God are to a well-affected soul. This raises us even into heaven a forehand, to anticipate the anthems of the celestial choir. And how great is that honour, to be taken up in the work of angels! How much for our own praise to praise Him, that has given us both matter and hearts for it! (B. Jenks.)