My dear wife used to tell me that we are commanded to magnify only one thing in Scripture, and that is God. To “magnify” is to “make large”.
“But,” you might object, “How can anyone make God bigger than He is?”
Of course we can’t. But we can see Him as big as He is.
One amazing example of this is in the Old Testament. Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, followed God’s commandments and was pleasing to Him. But in 2 Chronicles 20 we learn that the Moabites, the Ammonites and the Meunites were coming in hordes to attack him. In his fear he gathers the nation together to ask for help from the Lord.
He then magnifies God by seeing Him as Creator and ruler of all. He sees Him as He actually is.
He said, “O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You. (2 Chronicles 20:6 NASB)
Then he reminds himself of God’s mighty acts in the past.
Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? (2 Chronicles 20:7 NASB)
He then cries out to God for deliverance. Most importantly he acknowledges their helplessness and by his words shows us exactly where he is looking.
For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, But our eyes are on You.” (2 Chronicles 20:12 NASB)
In response to their heartfelt prayers God reassures them through the prophet Jahaziel.
He said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s…. You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ (2 Chronicles 20:15, 17 NASB)