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This is a glorious note in a noble strain, expressing a deep truth, a lofty thought. The psalmist looks down the whole stream of time. He beholds the world in all its various stages and conditions; pure in its first infancy, polluted in its fallen ruin; struggling through the gloom of ignorance and clouds of judgment; advancing in knowledge, in wealth, in power; reaching the zenith of maturity, and declining to the western horizon. Through all the entangled web of time he sees one continuous thread; he hears one note ever the same. The praise of God sounds forth unbroken and unchanged. Age answers ago in unfolding His attributes. Life to life, land to land proclaim His majesty and power, His goodness and love.

I. We may consider this as THE DECREE OF GOD. He who made the world has willed that it should praise Him. The Most High has imposed this task upon the ages. He who formed man from dust has decreed that by him His glory shall be shown. The works of God carry out His decree. The sun and moon proclaim His power. Day and night utter His wisdom. The seasons declare His bounty and His faithfulness. The fruits of the earth call forth thanksgiving. Even war, and famine, and pestilence work His will. And the history of man, even yet more strikingly, set forth God's glory. This truth is ever written — "The Lord is King." He rules. "None can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?" Look at Pharaoh. Hear him ask, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice?" He little thought how his own history should answer the question. Listen to Nebuchadnezzar, — "Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hand?" Yet his burning fiery furnace has borne witness for two thousand years, — "Trust ye in the Lord for ever." The mysteries of affliction teach the same lesson. The erring has been thus brought back, or the faithful confirmed, or God's power displayed (John 9:3). And the Church of Christ is a standing witness of the same great truth.

II. We consider the text, also, as expressing THE RESOLUTION AND WORK OF CHRIST'S CHURCH. Praise is the rightful attitude of the redeemed (Psalm 107:2). It is the natural outpouring of the renewed heart. Mercy felt, love appreciated, salvation embraced and enjoyed is sure to beget true thanksgiving. So David wrote the matchless 103rd psalm. So Paul and Silas could not refrain from singing praise in Philippi's dungeon. Nay, we are told that God has chosen His people to praise Him (Isaiah 42:21; 1 Peter 2:9). And even angels cannot sing the new song which belongs to the saved from earth alone (Revelation 14:3). And the people of God have ever claimed their holy privilege. They have sung of creation and of providence, and the wonders of redeeming love. God has never left Himself without this witness in the world. Conclusion —

1. What are we doing to make our generation one of praise? We have received a pure faith; are we taking care to hand it down?

2. Do we possess in ourselves that salvation which alone enables us truly to praise? Have we tasted that the Lord is gracious? Can we thus say, "O taste and see"?

3. How glorious shall be the praise of heaven! Now one age to another, one land to another, praises God. What shall be the glory of the song when every age and every land shall sing "Salvation"; when those who sang creation (Job 38:7), and redemption (Luke 2:13), and grace (Romans 8:1; 1 Timothy 1:15): shall all unite in praise; when teachers, taught; ministers, people; Jew, Gentile; bond, free; when prophets, apostles, martyrs, from Abel to the last saint of time, shall join in the song of Moses and the Lamb?

(W. S. Bruce, M. A.)

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KJV: One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.

WEB: One generation will commend your works to another, and will declare your mighty acts.