GREAT IS THE GLORY OF THE LORD

In the first two verses of this psalm, the depth, direction and discernment of David’s worship are clear. It is “with my whole heart… toward thy holy temple … for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth”, vv. 1, 2. In verse 2, we see the correspondence first between the lovingkindness of God and His Word, and secondly between His truth and His name. As with yesterday’s study, we note that lovingkindness learned from His Word comes first in our experience since we are sinners.

David’s own experience of answered prayer, v. 3, shows that the God who reveals Himself in His Word is also the God who hears and answers prayer. David’s witness therefore that “great is the glory of the Lord” is based on his own knowledge of the Word of God, and the ways of God. “Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar of’, v. 6. Mary knew this when she said, “he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden … he that is mighty hath done to me great things … He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree”, Luke 1. 48-52.

David’s walk in the psalms is distinguished but difficult. It took him away from the counsel of the ungodly, Psa. 1. 1; he walked “in integrity” and “into the house of God in company”, 26. 11; 55. 14; but sometimes “through the valley of the shadow of death”, 23. 4, and “in the midst of trouble”, 138. 7. But in all this he knew that God would save him.

In fact, David knew that God had a plan for his life, and that He would complete His work in him: “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me”, v. 8. His prayer was thus, “forsake not the works of thine own hands”. God’s plan for David personally gave him confidence in the divine will for his life.

God has a plan for us today. First of all His general plan involving us all: “being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform (perfect) it until the day of Jesus Christ”, Phil. 1. 6. Secondly the personal plan, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained (prepared) that we should walk in them”, Eph. 2. 10. This means that God has a plan for us composed of particular good works that He wants us to do.