When we want to see something up close, we use a magnifier. For years I kept a high power magnifier in my desk drawer to use in checking dot patterns on films we were making for printers. Printed images are made up of tiny dots too small to be seen by the naked eye.
Magnification is necessary to see more detail, but it doesn’t change the image. It changes (magnifies) only our view of it. What we are looking at becomes greater in our view, and we have greater appreciation for it. The amount of magnification varies according to its use.
What is the meaning of magnify in our English language?
Here it is from Webster’s Dictionary:
Magnify means (Merriam-Webster dictionary):
b : to cause to be held in greater esteem or respect
2a : to increase in significance : intensify
3 : to enlarge in fact or in appearance
Example: The lens magnified the image 100 times.
When we think of magnify in Scripture, we may think of Mary and her response to the angel when she first learned that she was to be the mother of the Messiah. It was as if she couldn’t find words to describe her awe of God.
Luke 1:46–50 46And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 49For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. 50And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.
The Psalmist had this same profound reverence for God—His greatness, His glory, His magnificence. This might seem like mere words, but no, it was the Psalmist’s heart for God. And he was continually inviting others to join him in praise. Look at the intricacies of the creation! Of LIFE itself! Look at the stars! Look and exclaim:
Psalm 34:3 3Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
Again:
Psalm 35:27 27Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
Magnify, magnify. It gets greater and greater. Look closely. See the greatness of the Creator in His works. What does it mean in the Hebrew language as used here in Psalms? Here are 3 definitions from the Lexicon:
Hebrew: שָׂגָא sâgâ˒, a prim. root; to grow, i.e. (caus.) to enlarge, (fig.) laud:— increase, magnify. (Strong’s)
שָׂגָא (śāgāʾ) increase, grow, magnify. (TWOT) as in Job 36:24
(1) to make great, … (2) to magnify, to extol with praise, (GES)
גָּדַל (gādal) grow up, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, (magnify), do great things. (ASV and RSV similar.)(TWOT) as in Ps. 34:3; 35:27; 69:30
We increase our reverence as we ponder God’s works.
That is one purpose of hymns and music: to enlarge our hearts, to move us to praise, to lift our thoughts to God. We see it all through the Hebrew hymnal.
The Psalmist magnified God’s works so as to appreciate more of the rich detail in them. It was as if he viewed them through a magnifier. The works did not change in size, but his view grew greater. And greater.
Right here we have a familiar watchword:
Psalm 111:2–3 2The works of the Lord are great, Sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. 3His work is honourable and glorious: And his righteousness endureth for ever.
God’s work is honorable and glorious. He is looking for us to give Him the honor He is due.
Some people are very concerned about calling God by the right name, not a title but by his name. Is there any point in this?
Jesus tells us in the book of Revelation that God’s name is a term for His Word.
Revelation 19:11 11Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
Verse 13 13… and His name is called The Word of God.
His NAME is called the WORD – the Logos – the divine wisdom of God.
Remember what the saints in Revelation 14 had in their forehead?
Revelation 14:1 1Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.
“The Father’s name written on their forehead” – the WORD of God in their minds, touching their hearts, directing their lives.
There is a passage in Psalms that links the Word and the name of God. It is found in Psalm 138:2. The Psalmist says:
Psalm 138:2 2I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
What is this saying? God places his WORD—His law, His commandments, His statutes and judgments—ABOVE His name?
Here is doubly confirmed the meaning of His name—it is more than an identifier, more than a label. What does God put ABOVE all? The LXX version says it more clearly:
Psalm 137:2 (svt)2I will worship toward thy holy temple, and give thanks to thy name, on account of thy mercy and thy truth; for thou hast magnified thy holy name above every thing.
God places His name “above everything.” Because His name is His WORD, His truth, His wisdom, His knowledge. Here is the name that is truly “ABOVE EVERY THING.”
The same thought comes from the Hebrew interlinear. It reads literally:
Psalm 137:2 (Interlinear Hebrew)2I bow down toward the temple of holiness, and I give praise to your holiness your name because of loyal love and because of your faithfulness, for you have made him great, you have exalted above all (of) name your WORD.”
God’s WORD –His law, His truth—is supreme, above all. Why? Because in it is our ONLY source of future LIFE! Without God’s law, His word of truth, we are in the dark, no way to please God or be accepted into His plan—or even to know that He has any plan!
What makes the law of God supreme?
1: The WORD is Everlasting.
Psalm 117:1–2 1O praise the Lord, all ye nations: Praise him, all ye people. 2For his merciful kindness is great toward us: And the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord.
Is there any book by a human author in any library of which this could be said, that it endures for ever?
2: The WORD is God-breathed.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 16All scripture [is – we omit because it is not in the original Greek manuscripts]Repeating: All Scripture … given by inspiration of God, … is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
We have omitted the first “is” so the text reads, “all scripture God-breathed is profitable for…” etc. The omitting the one word does not change the truth of what is said, but only to say it correctly as Paul intended it. “Inspiration” is what comes from God. Paul did not need to have a message from God to name the city he traveled to, or to ask Timothy to bring the cloak he left at Troas. God breathed means the text was inspired, as Peter said:
2 Peter 1:21 21for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
God was directing the writing by the power of the Holy Spirit so that we can have it to learn from and build our faith.
3: The WORD is TRUE
Psalm 119:160 160Thy word is true from the beginning: And every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
Proverbs says it also:
Proverbs 30:5–6 5Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. 6Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
We need this WORD to guide us, we have no other source of knowledge. We do not have the Holy Spirit to tell us what is right. We must get our knowledge from the WORD, and those who teach it as God’s Word.
Ephesians 2:19–21 19Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
That is our foundation of faith: apostles, prophets, and Jesus Christ Himself.
4: The WORD gives LIFE.
John 5:24 24“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life [by promise], and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life {from the way of death into the way to LIFE].
Psalm 119:50 50This is my comfort in my affliction: For thy word hath quickened [given LIFE to] me.
Do we want LIFE? ETERNAL Life? There is only one source from which to learn how to get it: God’s WORD.
MAGNIFY the WORD—let the image you see grow bigger. And bigger. And bigger in your mind’s eye.
Magnify the image of the prize God has set before us.
Magnify it because it is the Word of LIFE.
Magnify it 10 times.
Magnify it 100 times.
Magnify it 1000 times. Magnify it 10,000 times. See it really BIG.
Because only the Word of God can give LIFE.