“Great and Marvelous Are the Works of the Lord”

George Reynolds, Janne M. Sjodahl

From the heart of Jacob there comes a glorious paean in praise of the Great Creator of earth and man. In the words of the Prophet Habakkuk (629 B.C.) we can hear him say, "I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." As we listen to his words we remember the Eighth Psalm of David, "O Lord, our God, how glorious is thy name in all the earth, whose majesty is rehearsed above the heavens. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast established; what is man, that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man, that thou thinkest of him? ... O Lord, our God, how glorious is thy name in all the earth." (Jewish Rendition) His thoughts were, undoubtedly, "I will exalt thy holy Name, I will exult in the works of thy Fingers." "How great," he says, "and marvelous are the works of the Lord." How far beyond man's understanding are his gracious deeds. Those, only, to whom it is revealed, know his wondrous ways. "Wherefore, brethren," he admonished, "despise not the revelations of God." Despise means scorn, disdain, disregard, spurn, or contemn. Remember, when a truth is revealed of God, it becomes at once, a solemn obligation upon each individual. It is given, as the Apostle Peter says, for us to heed. It is not to be ignored, or in any way made inconsiderable.

Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1

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