January 29
Exalting God
The Christian's Daily Treasury"Thou art my God, I will exalt thee." — Psalms 118:28.
BELIEVERS are similar in their views and feelings, pleasures and pursuits, hopes and fears, and in their language; they all speak the same thing. The sentiment before us expresses the feeling of every believer's heart. Here is
A SOLEMN DECLARATION. "Thou art my God." So says the miser to his gold, so the epicure to his luxurious delicacies, the drunkard to the intoxicating draught, the voluptuary to his pleasures. So says the Christian to his Maker. This is the language of strong faith, deep humility, great wonder, and unspeakable joy. It has been well remarked, if we would not have the ivy to creep on the ground, we must erect an object which it can embrace, and by embracing, ascend; and if we would detach the heart from embracing the dust, we must give to it another and a nobler object. Such an one is the Christian's.
A NOBLE RESOLUTION. "I will exalt thee." We cannot make God more glorious than he is, for he is exalted above all blessing and praise.
Exalt him in the heart, by yielding to him your powers and faculties. He is to be exalted in the thoughts, affections, desires and purposes of the heart.
Exalt him with your tongue, by showing forth his praise. All his works praise him; and shall man alone be silent? The planetary system, in order, majesty, and glory, the cattle upon a thousand hills, the myriads of fish in the mighty ocean, the winged tribes that are found in the wide expanse of the aerial regions, cherubim and seraphim, that bow before the throne, and all the angelic hosts and glorified spirits in the heaven of heavens, utter one voice, and it is the sound of praise. Exalt him by speaking to him in prayer, of him in praise, and for him in a way of recommendation.
Exalt him in your conduct, by living to his glory. Thus you are to hold forth the word of life, by a becoming spirit, a holy carriage, and a consistent course. Be this my daily, hourly work; and may my heart, like a well-tuned instrument, resound his praise.
"O may I breathe no longer than I breathe My soul in praise to Him who gave my soul."