Many, 0 Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered (Ps. 40:5).

In this Messianic psalm is found this wonderful expression of praise to God. The psalm reminds us of God's wonderful works toward us. As David meditated on God's wonderful works he soon realized that they could not be counted because of how numerous they were. The children of God would do well to remember God's kindnesses toward us.

As one reads the creation narrative, he is impressed with God's kindnesses toward mankind. He created man in his own image (Gen. 1:26) and gave him a position as ruler over all of his creation (Gen. 1:27). When creation was completed, every physical, emotional, and spiritual need of man was supplied.

We are impressed with the God's wonderful works every time we are exposed to his creation. We see the design that exists in the things that are made, how the creatures are fitted to the habitat in which they live, and how they depend upon each other for their existence. All of these point us to a De-signer who created a perfect environment for his creation. The psalmist exclaimed, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork" (Ps. 19:1). Paul wrote, "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" (Rom. 1:20). Every time we breathe God's air, drink his water, or eat his food, we enjoy the benefits of his wonderful works.

We are also see his wonderful work in his providing man and woman as companions to one another. Adam experienced the loneliness of having no companion before the Lord created a suitable helper for him (Gen. 2:18-25). The husband/wife relationship was created for mankind's good. The wise man acknowledged this in such statements as the following: "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord" (Prov. 18:22). "House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord" (Prov. 19:14).

In addition to the companionship that husband and wife provide each other, God also provides us children. The psalmist wrote, "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward" (Ps. 127:3). He viewed children as one of God's rich blessings to man: "Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord" (Ps. 128:3-4).

God's providential direction of the nations of men is some-thing about which we know relatively little. However, the Scriptures are clear in teaching that God governs the world according to moral principles. Jeremiah revealed,

O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, 0 house of Israel. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them (18:6-10).

The wise man spoke, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people" (Prov 14:34). Paul added that God "hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath deter-mined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation" (Acts 17:26).

We enjoy the benefits of God's wonderful work in providing governments for man's good to punish the wicked and reward the righteous (Rom. 13:1-7). We are blessed in God's government of the affairs of the nations to limit the powers of wicked nations, destroying them when the cup of their iniquity overflows.

One cannot and should not ignore God's wonderful work in giving his Son as a sacrifice for sins. John said, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Paul spoke of this wonderful work when he said, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God" (1 Cor. 2:9-10). No one could have imagined that the marvelous grace of God would make such abundant provisions for our salvation — to give his only begotten Son! As he summarized God's wonderful work in redemption, Paul said, "Now to him that is of power to establish you ac-cording to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: to God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen" (Rom. 16:25-27).

God's amazing grace in the gift of his Son is the crowning work of his goodness toward us.

When we begin to catalog the blessings that God's children have, we immediately can see that they cannot be numbered. Ephesians 1:3-11 lists such blessings as: (a) God chose us before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame; (b) God predestinated us unto the adoption as children; (c) God made us accepted in the beloved; (d) God gave redemption through his blood; (e) God gathered together all men (both Jew and Gentile) in Christ; (f) God gave us an inheritance through Christ.

We have the privilege of prayer, God's fatherly chastening, his providential protection and provisions. Indeed, we cannot number all of the blessings God has for his children.

No doubt our appreciation of his marvelous works will never be complete until we enter the gates of heaven and see the eternal home God has provided for his children. As one reads the description of heaven given in Revelation 21, he is awed by God's wonderful works.

We close as we began with the words of Psalm 40:5 — "Many, 0 Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered."

Guardian of Truth XLI: 16 p. 2
August 21, 1997