One generation will commend Your works to the next, and will proclaim Your mighty acts-- Sermons
I. AS A PREDICTION THAT HAS BEEN ABUNDANTLY FULFILLED. One generation has handed on to its successor its treasure store of knowledge and wisdom. We are the heirs of all the ages; it is their accumulated knowledge that has come down to us, and which we, with the fresh additions we shall make, are to hand on to those who come after us. And amongst the varied indebtedness under which we lie to those who have preceded us, chief of all is this - for the knowledge of God's ways. The Word of the Lord has proved to be an imperishable seed, which liveth and abideth forever. It has seemed at times to die out in some regions; but in others it has sprung up and borne fruit; and there have never been lacking those who stood ready to hand on the torch of truth to others who would keep it burning and then hand it on again. II. AS A PROMISE OF MOST HEART-CHEERING NATURE. For what would have been our condition now, had not God been mindful of this promise? We might bare inherited vast wealth, and succeeded to chief place amongst the nations of the world; in the eyes of men we might have been exalted to the highest summits of earthly greatness and glory; but if we had lost, through the unfaithfulness of those that went before us, or from any other cause, the blessed knowledge of God, what pledge or guarantee should we have that even our earthly blessings should long continue ours? and what would have guarded us from the doom which has come on other nations who have not known God, or cared not to retain his knowledge? But so it will not be with us or ours; for as the past generations have declared to us God's mighty deeds, and praised his works, so likewise shall this generation, in regard to that which shall follow. There may be sad unfaithfulness here and there, and sore suffering must ensue; but God will not suffer himself to want for faithful witnesses who shall transmit that knowledge of himself, which is life eternal, to the generation that receiveth it. We need not tremble for the ark of God. We have many such blessed promises as this before us now, and we may rest confident that our generation, evil as many comprising it may appear, shall yet "praise God's works to another, and," etc. III. A PRECEPT THAT EACH GENERATION MUST DILIGENTLY OBSERVE. Many read our text as a command; and it is a command, though a prediction and a promise as well. As a command, it enjoins: 1. That this service shall be undertakers, not by one here and there, but by the whole of the existing generation. It is to be a public - a universal service. It is a frightful condition of things for the coming generation if the present be careless about, or opposed to, such transmission of God's truth. Better that children should be brought up in any form of the Christian faith, than in no religion at all. God help our land, if the secularists of our day have their will in regard to our national education! The people at large are to care for the children at large, that they may be taught the truth of God. 2. But it is especially the business of the parents. This evidently is in the mind of the psalmist, that fathers to sons should teach the works of God. Nature, their own love for their children, regard for their own comfort; for what more rends the hearts of parents than in-bred, ungodly children? Justice and right demand it; for what parents are there that do not transmit much evil to their children? Therefore let them see to it that they teach them that which shall blessedly counteract the evil. And God plainly commands it. All these motives, and yet others, enforce this duty. 3. And the duty is urgent. We have not much time. One generation cometh, another goeth; our opportunity will soon be gone. 4. If we do not obey this command, no one else will. After all, if parents fail in this plain duty, none can really supply their lack of service or take their place; what the home is, that will, well-nigh always, the children be. CONCLUSION. Let children, whose parents have obeyed this command of God, remember how great is the responsibility that rests upon them. "To whom much is given, of the same," etc. - S.C.
One generation shall praise Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts. : — The Church that stood aloof from missions would now be as much condemned as formerly it would have been commended. And how much has been done in the varied mission fields. Now, all this you inherit. Next to the Gospel of salvation, no generation of men have ever had such a trust committed to them as is committed to you. May God help you to be faithful. For, besides being an inheritance of natural succession, it is also a moral entrustment. It constitutes part of your stewardship. How, then, will you treat this missionary inheritance? Two extremes are to be avoided: you may slight and disesteem it, or you may stereotype and superstitiously regard it; you may treat it as a puerility, or you may embalm it as a relic. You may become men of faith, and hope, and charity, or men of captiousness and self. conceit; you may have an intelligent reverence that will wisely build on the foundation that your fathers have laid, or you may have a foolish self-conceit that will be contented with nothing less than to dig it up and lay a foundation afresh for yourselves. There was wisdom in the world, let us believe it, before we were born; and we may not unbecomingly sit at our fathers' feet. Both these extremes you will avoid. As to your relationship to the future, it will be your duty —1. To qualify yourself for thus standing in the succession of the generations. But this you cannot do unless you yourselves be personally converted to God. None but the spiritual can possess the spiritual. Alas, here is a possibility of the succession failing. The pious and devoted sire may have in you a godless son. You cannot succeed him in the work he did for God. You care not for your own soul, how, then, can you care for the souls of others? 2. Form missionary and self-denying habits. But these can only be formed in early life. Those who have done this have been, and are, the most useful in the Church. 3. If you would reap the present rewards of spiritual service, begin your spiritual sowing whilst you are yet young. Life will be too short for both sowing and reaping if you do not. To induce you to give yourselves to this glorious service, remember how much depends upon it. You, humanly speaking, are indispensable for the transmission of truth to posterity. Think of your honoured fathers, how they loved this work. Think what an honoured name you may leave behind you, and the gratitude that will follow you. Think of the plain Divine command and the "blood that will be required at your hand," if you make not known the Gospel. Think of the moral grandeur and transcendency of your work. Think of the final issue and glory of it. By this motive Christ sustained His Spirit. Look on to that blessed time. (H. Allon, D. D.) I. THE DUTY. 1. To declare, or make known, the works of God to succeeding generations, and especially to that generation which immediately follows us. His works of — (1) (2) (3) 2. For one generation to praise God's works to another. While they communicate a knowledge of His works they must speak highly of them. While they tell what He has done, they must add, He has done all things well. When they describe His works of creation, they must extol the wisdom, power and goodness which are displayed in them. While they communicate a knowledge of His works of providence, they must applaud them as infinitely wise, holy, just, and good. And while they exhibit the wonders of redemption, and God's works of grace to the following generation, they must accompany the exhibition with those glowing expressions of admiration, gratitude, love and icy which this grand display of all God's perfections ought to call forth from those for whose benefit it was made, and whose everlasting happiness it is designed to promote. II. REASONS. 1. The natural relations which exist between the present and the next generation. 2. Each of the successive generations of mankind is the natural and rightful heir of the generation which preceded it. 3. For the religious knowledge and the means of acquiring it which we possess, we are indebted, under God, to preceding generations. 4. We transmit to our posterity a corrupt and depraved nature which, unless its influence is counteracted by religion, will render them miserable hero and hereafter. (E. Payson, D. D.) I. We may consider this as THE DECREE OF GOD. He who made the world has willed that it should praise Him. The Most High has imposed this task upon the ages. He who formed man from dust has decreed that by him His glory shall be shown. The works of God carry out His decree. The sun and moon proclaim His power. Day and night utter His wisdom. The seasons declare His bounty and His faithfulness. The fruits of the earth call forth thanksgiving. Even war, and famine, and pestilence work His will. And the history of man, even yet more strikingly, set forth God's glory. This truth is ever written — "The Lord is King." He rules. "None can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?" Look at Pharaoh. Hear him ask, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice?" He little thought how his own history should answer the question. Listen to Nebuchadnezzar, — "Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hand?" Yet his burning fiery furnace has borne witness for two thousand years, — "Trust ye in the Lord for ever." The mysteries of affliction teach the same lesson. The erring has been thus brought back, or the faithful confirmed, or God's power displayed (John 9:3). And the Church of Christ is a standing witness of the same great truth. II. We consider the text, also, as expressing THE RESOLUTION AND WORK OF CHRIST'S CHURCH. Praise is the rightful attitude of the redeemed (Psalm 107:2). It is the natural outpouring of the renewed heart. Mercy felt, love appreciated, salvation embraced and enjoyed is sure to beget true thanksgiving. So David wrote the matchless 103rd psalm. So Paul and Silas could not refrain from singing praise in Philippi's dungeon. Nay, we are told that God has chosen His people to praise Him (Isaiah 42:21; 1 Peter 2:9). And even angels cannot sing the new song which belongs to the saved from earth alone (Revelation 14:3). And the people of God have ever claimed their holy privilege. They have sung of creation and of providence, and the wonders of redeeming love. God has never left Himself without this witness in the world. Conclusion — 1. What are we doing to make our generation one of praise? We have received a pure faith; are we taking care to hand it down? 2. Do we possess in ourselves that salvation which alone enables us truly to praise? Have we tasted that the Lord is gracious? Can we thus say, "O taste and see"? 3. How glorious shall be the praise of heaven! Now one age to another, one land to another, praises God. What shall be the glory of the song when every age and every land shall sing "Salvation"; when those who sang creation (Job 38:7), and redemption (Luke 2:13), and grace (Romans 8:1; 1 Timothy 1:15): shall all unite in praise; when teachers, taught; ministers, people; Jew, Gentile; bond, free; when prophets, apostles, martyrs, from Abel to the last saint of time, shall join in the song of Moses and the Lamb? (W. S. Bruce, M. A.) People David, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Acts, Clear, Commend, Declare, Generation, Laud, Mighty, Operation, Praise, Praiseth, Strength, WorksOutline 1. David praises God for his fame8. For his goodness 11. For his kingdom 14. For his providence 17. For his justice, holiness, and savings mercy Dictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 145:4 1105 God, power of Library June 17 EveningAll thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee.--PSA. 145:10. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.--I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.--Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift … Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path The Satisfier of all Desires Christian Conversation How I Know God Answers Prayer Exhortations to those who are Called God, My King, Thy Might Confessing Free Grace Prayer Out of the Deep. The Life, as Amplified by Mediaeval Biographers. I Will Pray with the Spirit and with the Understanding Also- Second Great Group of Parables. The Knowledge of God Conspicuous in the Creation, and Continual Government of the World. The Holiness of God Covenant Duties. The Mercy of God The Intercession of Christ Psalms Links Psalm 145:4 NIVPsalm 145:4 NLT Psalm 145:4 ESV Psalm 145:4 NASB Psalm 145:4 KJV Psalm 145:4 Bible Apps Psalm 145:4 Parallel Psalm 145:4 Biblia Paralela Psalm 145:4 Chinese Bible Psalm 145:4 French Bible Psalm 145:4 German Bible Psalm 145:4 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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