Psalms 70:4

Let such as love Thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

Our watchword

These words occur at least three times in the Psalms, and therefore we may regard them as especially important.

I. Discriminate the character. The individuals here spoken of are those who love God’s salvation. Then it is implied that they are persons who are saved, because it is not according to nature to love a salvation in which we have no part. We may admire the salvation which is preached, but we shall only love the salvation which is experienced. But, more than this, to sustain and bring to perfection in the renewed heart an ardent affection towards the Divine salvation of a sort that will continue, and become practically fruitful, there must be an intelligent consideration, and an instructed apprehension as to the character of this salvation. Now, let me show you what it is in salvation that the thoughtful believer loves; and I may begin by saying that he loves, best of all, the Saviour Himself. Often our Lord is called Salvation, because He is the great worker of it, the author and finisher, the Alpha and the Omega of it. He who has Christ has salvation; and, as He is the essence of salvation, He is the centre of the saved ones’ affection. But you love not only the Saviour’s person, for I am sure you delight in the plan of salvation. What is that plan? It is summed up in a single word--substitution. Oh, then let us always say, “Let God be magnified,” since He devised, arranged, and carried out this Godlike method of blending justice with mercy. But we also love God’s salvation when we consider what was the object of it. The object of it towards us was to redeem unto Christ a people who should be zealous for good works. The sinner loves a salvation from hell; the saint loves a salvation from sin.

II. Meditate on the saying. Every nation has its idiom, every language has its shibboleth, almost every district has its proverb. Behold the idiom of gracious souls, listen to their household word, their common proverb--it is this, “Let God be magnified! Let God be magnified!” Observe that this is a saying which is founded upon truth and justice. “Let God be magnified,” for it is He that saved us, and not we ourselves. None can divide the honours of grace, for the Lord alone hath turned our captivity. From beginning to end salvation is of the Lord, therefore, let God be magnified. This saying is naturally suggested by love. It is because we love His salvation that we say, “The Lord be magnified.” You cannot love God without desiring to magnify Him, and I am sure that you cannot know that you are saved without loving Him. Moreover, this saying of our text is, deeply sincere and practical. I am sure David did not wish to see hypocrites multiplied; but such would be the case if men merely said, “Let God be magnified,” and did not mean it. Moreover, it must not only be sincere, but it must be paramount. I take it that there is nothing which a Christian man should say continually, except this, “Let God be magnified.” That which a man may say continually is assuredly the master-thought of his mind. Listen to the cherubim and seraphim; they continually do cry, “Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God of Hosts!” And the text tells us this must be continual. How earnest you feel about the cause of Christ when you have heard an inspiriting sermon, but how long does it last?

III. The wish. “Let God be magnified.” This wish is promoted by an anxiety for God’s glory; it is a most holy wish, and it ought to be fulfilled. I shall ask your attention to the reasons of the wish. Why should it be wished?

1. First, because it always ought to be said, “Let God be magnified.” It is only right, and according to the fitness of things, that God should be magnified in the world which Ha Himself created. Such a handiwork deserves admiration from all who behold it. But when He new-made the world, and especially when He laid the foundation of His new palace in the fair colours of Jesus’ blood, and adorned it with the sapphires of grace and truth; He had a double claim upon our praise.

2. But, we wish it next, because it always needs saying. The word is dull and sleepy, and utterly indifferent to the glory of God in the work of redemption. We need to tell it over and over and over again, that God is great in the salvation of His people.

3. And, again, we desire this, because the saying of this continually does good to the sayers. He who blesses God blesses himself. We cannot serve God with the heart without serving ourselves most practically. Nothing, brethren, is more for your benefit than to spend and be spent for the promotion of the Divine honour.

4. Then, again, this promotes the welfare of God’s creatures. (C. H. Spurgeon.)