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I. WHAT IS THE NATURE OF TRUE GREATNESS? The scriptural idea of greatness is essentially different from that which is formed by the world.

1. To a few names the world has by general consent appended the title of "the Great" — Alexander, Constantine, Napoleon. These were great men with little aims. Self was the beginning and end of all their plans and labours. Their greatness was like a tree of ample trunk and wide-extended foliage, not spreading a beneficent shade, but distilling a deadly poison on all beneath, and thus killing its own roots and insuring its own decay.

2. A higher order of worldly greatness is that which consists purely in exalted genius and great intellectual power, whatever be the form of its manifestation. This form of greatness has been generally beneficent in its influence. Still it is in itself incomplete and unfinished.

3. The greatness of the Bible is a holy greatness. The fear of God is the source of its wisdom; the love of God is the spring of its activity; the glory of God is the end of its enterprises and labours.

II. THIS GREATNESS IS A PROPER OBJECT OF ASPIRATION AND PURSUIT.

1. Man was made for this greatness. He is born great. Great powers, great duties, great expectancies, a great sphere of action, great hopes and promises, are his. If he becomes little, it is by his own fault and sin.

2. The Word of God exhorts us to it, "calls" us to "glory" as well as to "virtue."

3. We are taught that there will be a distinction in the rewards of eternity, graduated to the different degrees of merit and earnestness in the service of God in the present life.

4. The examples of Scripture are justifications of the highest aim. All history besides contains no such list of heroes as Hebrews 11.

III. THE SOURCE OF THIS GREATNESS. All things are of God. Even the world's heroes have felt and acknowledged this. If it is in God's hands to make great —

1. Then He is to be acknowledged and adored as the author of all the endowments of men.

2. What must be the guilt of those who have perverted and abused their talents to spread disorder, pollution, and misery among His moral subjects!

3. Their greatness is to be solicited and expected from Him.

4. From Him we must derive our idea of greatness. This He has revealed to us —

(1)  In His Word.

(2)  In the life of Christ.

(John Proudfit, D. D.)

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KJV: Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.

WEB: Therefore David blessed Yahweh before all the assembly; and David said, "You are blessed, Yahweh, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever.