What does it mean to magnify the Lord?

Answer 1

Psalm 34: 1 - 4

1I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."

Luke 1: 46, 47

"And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior."

I never really understood what it meant to "magnify the Lord" though I've heard these Scriptures, and sung songs about it, and I'm sure I've said it both in testimony and praise. But every time the words came out of my mouth it made me feel uncomfortable.

Normally, we magnify things that are small. So, when I would hear or say the words "magnify the Lord" it just didn't make sense.

Recently, I've had some problems with my eyes. For several weeks I could not see well enough to read or see a computer monitor. Because reading is important to me I began to seek out accommodations. As I was using various tools, the Lord began to show me.

You know, there was absolutely nothing wrong with the computer screen I was trying to read, or with the books that seemed to have fuzzy print. The problem was MY view. It was my eyes that were not seeing clearly. The print did not become bigger when I used a magnification device. It was my view of the print that changed.

When we magnify something, that something does not become bigger. However, the details of what we are magnifying become clearer and we can see things about that object we never knew existed.

I remember looking at a drop of water in science class. I had no clue that there were things swimming it it! Magnifying the drop of water did not change the water, but helped me to see what was there all along.

So…when we "Magnify the Lord" we become the lens to help others to see Gods character and goodness, His grace and mercy, and so many other details about the Lord. We become the tool, we become the magnifying glass for another to see Him more clearly.