Read Psalm 40

“I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth From the great assembly.” (Psalm 40:10)

Truly! — these are profound words from David that need to be applied immediately within our lives and within our churches.

The truth of God is not meant to be concealed, but declared to as many souls as have an ear to hear. The faithfulness and salvation of God are not meant to be buried deep in theology books, but broadcasted to God’s people to hear plainly. The righteousness of God is not meant to be a hidden mystery, but a preached reality.

When it comes to the doctrines of God there must be no holding back! Every single word must be declared from the rooftops. Amen!

The Apostle Paul seems to have specifically captured the heart of David as it pertained to his own ministry of preaching —

“…I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house… For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.” (Acts 20:20, 27)

And all across the Scriptures, from beginning to the end, we see that this has always been the heart of God for His people — that they would declare all of Him. Take nothing away, and add nothing more! Let all of the Word of God speak and speak all of the Word of God.

Isn’t this exactly what Jesus did after He rose from the grave?

“And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself… And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.”(Luke 24:27, 45)

It does the church great harm when God’s Word becomes hidden behind the guise of man’s agenda or laziness. In the Middle Ages, the church had so much lost its way that it was actually chaining the Bible to the pulpit! And if that was not bad enough, the so-called priests were preaching to the people in Latin — a language which most did not speak or understand. Rather than revealing the lovingkindness of God, they were presenting God as a divinity who only spoke to the privileged. Rather than revealing the truths of God, they were presenting the truth as something locked down and hidden.

I am compelled to ask: Is it any different in most churches today? The Bible may not be chained to the pulpit physically, but in many churches it is chained to the pulpit spiritually! There, and there alone, the Bible remains. It is nothing but a prop and a symbol to gather around, but not the source of truth. The Bible may not be preached in a foreign language, but it may as well be in many churches, for the Scriptures are treated as nothing more than an analogy for the preacher’s pep talk. How sad when the righteousness of God is hidden.

This is why the Apostle Paul strictly commands pastors regarding Scripture to —

“...give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” (1 Timothy 4:13)

Beloved, God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness in His Word (see 2 Peter 1:3). It is the great benefit of all of God’s people to discover Him freely and proclaim Him openly — to unveil all of the wonderful truths of God! And when the opportunity arises, to share those insights with each other.

Friend, what is God teaching you in His Word today? By all means, don’t keep it to yourself! Don’t hold back! Share it with someone and watch how the declaration of God’s Word transforms you and those you speak to.

“I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.” (Psalm 22:22)

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