Boasting by Charles Simeon. I
will extol the Lord at all times. His praise will always be on
my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord. Glorify the Lord with
me. Let us exalt his name together.
Psalm chapter 34 verses 1-3. A sense of gratitude to God for
his mercies will ever abide in some measure on the soul of a
true believer. Ungodly men love to boast about themselves. There
is no unsaved man who has not some imaginary excellence he
is aware of to brag. If they possess any natural endowment
either of mind or body, they are forward to bring it into
notice, and to arrogate some praise to themselves on account
of it. One values herself upon her beauty. Another boasts of
his strength or courage. Another prides himself in his
wealth. Another displays his wit or mental acumen. The godly,
on the other hand, boast in the Lord. They know, by bitter experience,
that in themselves dwells no good thing. They have done nothing,
but what furnishes matter for the deepest humiliation. But
they see in God multitudinous matters to excite their devoutest
adoration. Whether they contemplate the
perfections of God's nature, or the works of His hands, or
the wonders of His providence, or the riches of His grace, are
filled with wonder and astonishment, and pouring contempt on all created
excellencies, they exclaim, Who is like you, O God, majestic
in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?—Exodus 15, verse
11. Yet the godly are not so free
from pride, but that flattery sometimes finds access to their
hearts, and proves a gratification to their gullible minds. But
in their better seasons, when their airy dreams have vanished,
and they obtain juster views of themselves, they most sincerely
loathe and abhor themselves, and desire that God alone should
be exalted. Then to be told of their own
goodness is nauseous and unpalatable, but to hear the praises of their
God and Saviour, this is delightful to their souls. None shall ever
join the celestial choir above, whose hearts have not been tuned
to sing God's praise below. This is what the Lord says, Let
not the wise man boast of his wisdom, or the strong man boast
of his strength, or the rich man boast of his riches. But
let him who boasts boast about this, that he understands and
knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice,
and righteousness on earth. For in these I delight, declares
the Lord. Jeremiah chapter 9 verses 23
to 24