DECLARING GOD’S WONDERS

“DECLARE His glory among the nations, HIS WONDERS among all peoples” – Psalm 96:3

There is no superior option to DECLARING GOD’S WONDERS in His world: “DECLARE His glory among the nations, HIS WONDERS among all peoples” (Psa.96:3). Undoubtedly, there are some marvellous human accomplishments in the world, but none is more worthy to be declared that God’s Wonders. In the wonders of nature we see God’s laws in operation. Who has not looked up at the stars on a cloudless night and marvelled in silent awe at the Glory of God’s handiwork? Who has not felt his or her heart lifted in the spring of the year, beholding all creation bursting with new life and vigour? In the beauty and abundance around us we see the magnitude of God’s power and the infinite detail of His planning; but nature tells us nothing of God’s Love or God’s Grace. Only the praises and declarations of His redeemed people can fill these nobler gaps!

There are many reasons to praise God and declare His wonders. Many of the psalms state why it is needful, good, and even beneficial to praise the Lord: “praise from the upright is beautiful” (Psa.33:1b). Scripture repeatedly calls us to do it; so we praise God out of simple obedience. Moreover, praising the Lord impacts our own souls positively. We might begin to praise God with heavy hearts, for example, but as we persist, we experience the lifting of our burdens and the joy of the Lord. So, we can choose to praise the Lord because of the benefit it brings us. We might also praise God because it builds the community of God’s people; it fosters the Fellowship of Believers. When the people of God gather, focusing their minds and hearts on the Lord, offering their love, praise, and surrender to the Lord, they are bound together in a Spirit-created unity.

Our meditation verse further explains why we should declare God’s glory among the nations and proclaim His marvellous works or wonders among the peoples: because the Lord is great (v.4). Praise is a response to His Greatness and superlative Character, which is expressed in wondrous works. Even as a dazzling sunset elevates the soul and calls forth praise, so it is with God, many times over. The more we reflect on His Greatness, the more we will be impelled to praise Him. Moreover, we will find that our praise, however inadequate it might be, will increasingly reflect God’s nature. Because He is great, so our praise will be great. It makes no sense to be stingy in honouring One who is utterly worthy of all honour and praise.

However, as vital as verbal and sung praise is in our worship, we must remember that God is worthy not just of praise but of the offering of our whole lives. We exist for the praise of His glory (Eph.1:11). This involves the offering of our bodies to God, giving Him all that we are, not only when we gather with His people for worship, but also as we scatter into the world for work and as witnesses (Rom.12:1; Acts 1:8). In all we do, we have the opportunity to honour the Greatness of God and declare His Wonders. He alone is worthy of praise!

We see God’s greatness in the astounding majesty of His creation; in the history of our salvation; in the amazing narrative of Scripture; in the ways He has made Himself known to us throughout our lives; in His tenderness and patience; in His Grace and Mercy; and in His Forgiveness and Love! We see God’s Greatness most of all in Jesus Christ, who humbled Himself and gave Himself for us and for the redemption of all humankind and of all creation! All praise, glory, and honour be to our Lord – great and worthy of all praise! The God of Wonders is our God. His glorious works are everywhere. When He opens our eyes to behold His marvels and our mouths to declare His wonders, we’ll experience our world in a whole new light.