IT IS YOUR GENTLENESS THAT HAS MADE US GREAT Psa. 18:35

This phrase can be rendered

“Your goodness has made us great.”

David gratefully ascribed all his greatness not to his own goodness, but the goodness of God.

Your providence, is another reading & providence is nothing more than goodness in action.

Goodness is the bud of which providence is the flower, or goodness is the seed of which

providence is the harvest.

Some render it, Your help, which is but another word for providence;

providence being a firm ally of ours, aiding us in the service of our Lord.

Or again,

“Your humility has made us great.”

“Your condescension”, perhaps, serves as a comprehensive reading,

combining the ideas mentioned, including that of humility.

It is God’s making himself little which is the cause of our being made great.

We are so little, that if God would manifest His greatness without condescension,

we would be trampled under His feet;

Our God, who must stoop to view the skies,

Our God who bows to see what angels do,

Our awesome God who turns His eye lower & looks

to the lowly & contrite & makes them great.

There are other readings, as for instance, the Septuagint, reads,

“Your discipline” Your fatherly correction, “has made us great;”

the Chaldee paraphrase reads,

“Your Word has increased us

Still the idea is the same.

David ascribes all his own greatness to the condescending goodness of his Father in heaven.

Now, while we cast our crowns at Jesus’ feet, we cry,

Your gentleness has made us great

How marvellous is our experience of God’s gentleness!

How gentle are His corrections!

How gentle His forbearance!

How gentle His teachings!

How gentle His drawings!

Let gratitude be awakened;

let humility be deepened;

let love be alive as we fall asleep each-night.

Charles Spurgeon