“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done.”
That’s pretty straightforward, but just for fun, let’s break it down a little.
I’ve recently been using an exegetical guide which defines the original language so I have a better understanding of the words themselves.
For example, that translated as “give thanks” is “hô·ḏûʹ praise; confess, take confession.” It is of the verb, “Hifʿîl,” which is “imperative, second person, and active”
Huh? What? I hear you! Let’s break that down.
“Give thanks” is an order. A command. Imperative. It must be done.
It’s an active verb, meaning ongoing, moving, being done.
It’s second person meaning “YOU.”
So… “You actively and ongoing give thanks, no ifs, ands, or buts.”
Then there’s the “proclaim” part. “qir·ʾûʹ call, shout; name, appoint, summon, proclaim, announce; recite, read” It is of the verb, “Qal,” which is imperative, second person, and active.
“Proclaim” is an order for you to actively and ongoing shout, name, proclaim, and announce.
Oh, okay. But I can do that quietly, right? Like, to myself?
Uhh, not if you’re going to do what the verse says.
We are to be speaking aloud our thanks to the Lord. We are to be shouting, reciting, announcing His greatness —which is translated from “šm name; standing, reputation, fame
noun, construct”— God’s standing, reputation, and fame.
When we actively give thanks to the Lord and announce His fame and reputation, we are showing other believers the way of following Him in obedience. We are also declaring to the watching world that He is our God, we do follow Him, and we are so impressed with Who He is and what He does that we can’t keep quiet.
Think about this: fame does not spread unless people announce it and share it. We are quick to spread the fame of a celebrity, even a minister, but are we as quick to spread the fame of our Savior and our God? He is worthy! Let’s tell the world!
Coffee, Bible, Journal.
Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel where you’ll be able to hear more from my scripture devotions.
Faye Bryant is an author, coach, and speaker who helps individuals escape the lies of the enemy, live into God’s truth, and build a better life by first feeling, dealing, and healing their way through a stuck future or an abused past, toward a deeper path of purpose, and into the unhackable life of their chosen legacy. Hers is a story of resurrection: from death to life!
