The lyrics of a song I grew up hearing in church have been on repeat in my mind.
He has done marvelous,
He has done marvelous things.
Praise the Lord!
I remember the choir repeating these two sentences over and over again in ascending octaves, and the congregation becoming more and more excited clapping, swaying, singing along in response. With this image in mind, how beautiful would it be if more of our conversations with one another were like this? Children of God testifying of God’s goodness and declaring His greatness to one another, telling of His good deeds and mighty acts, reflecting on God’s awesomeness, His unfailing and steadfast love toward us, His rescue, and healing. The effect? As one testifies and exalts the Lord, the hearts of others are gladdened, and they join in to tell of God’s goodness and greatness too.
Psalms 34:1-4 ( AMP) says,
“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; The humble and downtrodden will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the Lord with me, And let us lift up His name together. I sought the Lord [on the authority of His word], and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.”
It inspires glee in me to think that David is essentially saying, “Hey! I’m praising God all the time; I can’t help myself (Vs 1). Something cool happens when I do (Vs 2). Y’all come do it with me (Vs 3)! I’m going first: Look what the Lord has done (Vs4)!” Have you ever felt that way? Has God been good or mighty in your circumstance and you could not contain yourself?
David often expresses his commitment and irresistible urge to praise and testify in the Psalms. Psalms 9:1 (AMP) “I will give thanks and praise the Lord, with all my heart; I will tell aloud all Your wonders and marvelous deeds,” and Psalms 107:1-2 (AMP) “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His compassion and lovingkindness endure forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary,” are just a couple more examples. I am encouraged and my heart is stirred up with joy every time I read these Psalms. I guess that is to be expected. “The humble and downtrodden will hear it and rejoice.” Christ also told some people He delivered to tell what He had done for them, like the demonized man of Gerasenes in Mark 5 and Luke 8.
“Return home and tell [about] all the great things God has done for you.” So the man went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.” (Luke 8:39 AMP)
The funny thing is that other times Jesus explicitly told people not to tell anyone what He did for them, but they could not help themselves! Even Paul, while admonishing the Ephesians to be imitators of God, instructed them to “speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, [offering praise by] singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks to God the Father for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” (Ephesians 5:19-20 AMP).
I am so excited to share more time with others telling of God’s awesomeness and goodness. Aren’t you? I’m praying for it. “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.” (Deuteronomy 10:17-18) Our God has done and continues to do marvelous things. Praise the Lord! He is worthy!
— Anyah E. R. White
