Psalm 34:3 King James Version (KJV) “3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.”
We may wonder at how David was so confident in facing Goliath. David had at least a few “secret” weapons. He had invested time and energy in His own heart magnifying God and submitting to God’s Words and commands.
1 Samuel 30:6 King James Version (KJV) ““6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”
David understood the importance of encouraging himself in the Lord. He feared and reverenced God and was devoted to God’s will and ways. We see this in the passages regarding King Saul. Out of reverence for God, David utterly refused (even in thought) to kill Saul as he so deeply reverenced God that to hurt His anointed in any way was to go against the living God. His conscience was pricked even by the action of cutting Saul’s robe to prove that he had been within striking range to kill him. He had spent time in the Word. He understood that this was the key to walking in righteousness and resisting sin.
Romans 10:17 King James Version (KJV) “17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Psalm 119:11 King James Version (KJV) 11 ” Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
1 Samuel 17:44-46 King James Version (KJV)”44 “And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.”
Romans 6:15-17 King James Version (KJV) “15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”
David had pre-determined, pre-committed to obey God even unto death. He preferred to die than to do something displeasing to God. He was willing to fight for God’s purposes and plans.
Philippians 4:8 King James Version (KJV) “8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Luke 1:45-47 King James Version (KJV) “45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”
Acts 10:44-46 King James Version (KJV) ““44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.”
Job 36:23-26 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) “23 Who has appointed God His way? Or who can say, You have done unrighteousness? 24 Remember that [by submission] you magnify God’s work, of which men have sung. 25 All men have looked upon God’s work; man may behold it afar off.26 Behold, God is great, and we know Him not! The number of His years is unsearchable.”
PSALM 78 (I do encourage you to read it: This Psalm and many others magnify God by replaying His faithful deeds and miraculous answers to prayer and provisions to His people). There are many passages like it.
Psalm 69 AMPC “30 I will praise the name of God with a song and will magnify Him with thanksgiving, 31 And it will please the Lord better than an ox or a bullock that has horns and hoofs.”
Summary of How we magnify God:
- Meditate on His nature, His ability, His promises, His past faithfulness, His Creation and His Word
- By praising Him, thanking Him and being aware of His presence and His provision continually.
- By making it a habit/lifestyle to submit to Him and by doing so witness His faithfulness in every circumstance (David had already successfully fought a lion and a bear by the time he had to face Goliath)
- Praying in tongues and spending time in worship and praise will bring us into a posture of magnifying Him
- Recounting to ourselves the great and miraculous things He has done both in Scripture and in our own lives (keeping a praise and faithfulness journal is an excellent habit and something to review often). I also write down dreams and visions as well as “rhema” words, scriptures that have lept off the page to me and transformed my life. These remind that God has never failed me or forsaken me.
Romans 4:19-22 New Living Translation (NLT) ““19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.”
You might ask yourself, how long do I need to do these things for? The answer, is as long as it takes. The Word will transform your heart and thinking to line up as long as you keep it before your eyes and think about it often.
Isaiah 55:11 New Living Translation (NLT) “11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”
Ephesians 5:25-27 King James Version (KJV) ““25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
Dangers of magnifying man and those other than God.
Bottom line, is that we become slaves to whatever we magnify. Please see the post about guarding your gates. What you let in to your thinking the most, will dominate your thoughts and actions. There is simply no way to eat from the knowledge of the tree of good and evil and remain pure.
Daniel 8:23-26 King James Version (KJV) ““ And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. 26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.”
Romans 1 NLT “18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.[i] 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.
28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. 29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. 31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. 32 They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.”
Healing and Discipleship 