“The Lord has done great things for us; whereof we are glad.” Psalm 126:3
Dear Ones:
What determines whether something is “great?” We often think of that which is of great magnitude, size, and power. This is true…sometimes. At other times, we see greatness couched in humility, lowliness, almost unseen. That which is “great” in the sight of God, sometimes does not correspond to criteria of man. So then, when the Lord tells Jeremiah to pray: “Call unto me, and I will show you great and mighty things, which you do not know,” of what is He speaking? Perhaps we would do well to see first where God addresses Jeremiah, with regard to the call to know “great things.”
In Jeremiah 32, we discover that Jerusalem is under siege by the Babylonians. Because of Jeremiah’s faithful service to God as a prophet, he has been put in “…the court of the prison” in Jerusalem. Certainly, there can be no more hopeless and helpless situation than his. And yet, it will be at that time, and in that place, that God will speak to him of great things to come. In this situation, the revelation of the greatness of God begins with Him speaking. This is the beginning of greatness. Why? Because out of desolation, destruction, and death, there will arise the dawn of a new day, one that God Himself will bring about. The point is this: the beginning of great things is sometimes born in the darkest moment, a moment where hope is thin, and man’s means have failed.
What is the essential quality of true greatness? When Jesus spoke of John the Baptist, he said: “Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the baptist.” (Luke 7:28) Why? Because of the Spirit of God who filled his heart. Greatness is that which God IS and what God DOES. In speaking of the matter of faith, great faith, the Lord spoke concerning a Roman centurion: “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” (Matthew 8:10) What is “great” about this faith? Characterized by the essential principle of submission to the authority of God, there is no doubt, that it is great because God is the author of it. So, what truly defines whether something is great or not? Simply put, is it of God? When God announced to Jeremiah that He was going to reveal to him these “great and mighty things,” it was for the purpose of not only proving to the people that He was sovereign in order to do so, but to give them hope in the midst of great trial. Is this not greatness, that God would give such a door of hope?
In the book of Joel, we find that the Lord uses the declaration of “great things” that He will do, in order to encourage the people to truly return to Him, and trust Him. He declares: “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord WILL DO great things.” (2:21) Those great things pertain to the restoring, not only of the heart of the people, but the blessing of the land. All is designed, so that the great thing of the pouring out of the Spirit will come. The Lord proclaims “great things” to give the people hope, that they will believe Him for His highest and best.
Dear Father, when You “turned again the captivity of Zion,” the people felt like they were dreaming. (Ps. 126:1) With mouths filled with laughter, and tongues singing, the people would declare: “The Lord has done great things for us.” (v.3) We praise You for your mercy and grace, for you delight to proclaim and accomplish the great things in our lives, even when we are in greatest need. We thank and praise Thee, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad