Psalm 104:1 (NASB)
1 Bless the LORD, O
my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great;
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
The world is full of wonders to behold. The Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, the Great Pyramids, the Amazon, the mighty Mississippi River, lofty mountain ranges, the giant Redwoods, the great ocean expanses, and so much more. Scenes so surreal it takes a person's breath away. Landscapes so picturesque they remind a person how small they really are in comparison.
Beholding God is even more exhilarating. In our fast-paced lifestyles, do we slow down enough to really take in His view. We glance when we should gaze. We peak when we should ponder. We casually consider when we should carefully contemplate. Why? Because He is great.
What does it mean saying God is great? More than we know. He is big, mighty, and strong. Big enough to handle our problems. Mighty enough to intervene in the hardest situations. Strong enough to help no matter how challenging our circumstances. Wait. There is much more to God. He is also large. So large no one can ever fully discover all there is to learn about Him. So large the exploration of Him would consume an entire lifetime and there would still be more to learn. He is also excellent. Beyond any other subject to be explored. Beautiful beyond all the treasures of the world. Breathtaking in His magnitude beyond any other experience or natural wonder.
We dress ourselves in jeans, shirts, and shoes. Jehovah dresses Himself in splendor. He wears glorious brightness that no person can look upon. Moses could not look upon Him when he asked to see God's glory. Three of the disciples saw Jesus transfigured and fell to the ground in reverence. Contained in the brightness is beauty indescribable. He is magnified in splendor. A view that has left more than one person on their knees speechless.
God also adorns Himself in majesty. He is clothed in grandeur. Wrapped in glorious greatness. The children of Israel revered Him when He descended with thunder and lightening upon the mountain the day He summoned Moses to come up to get the commandments. People bowed. They feared God. They dared not even set the sole of their feet on the edge of the mountain out of respect for their majestic God.
Contrast that with the casual way people enter into worship. Where is the reverence? Where is the majesty and splendor? Do we actually do our worship in vain devoid of the person and presence of God? Do we not even know the difference between man-made worship experiences and God encounters? God is great. Greater than any house of worship or worship service. In [II Chronicles 7:1-4] the glorious presence of God filled the temple when Solomon dedicated it. The presence of God so saturated the sanctuary nobody could enter. When God sent fire on Mout Carmel the people fell on their faces chanting, "The LORD He is God." Do we see such reverence and outpouring of God's glorious presence in our private and public worship?
How easily we forget. Whom it is we are seeking this morning. Whom it is we celebrate in our worship gatherings. He is a great God. So much greater than we know and have ever experienced. Why would we ever be satisfied with the scraps of religion when the majestic magnificent presence of God is available?
- Choose today whether you will casually cast a glace at God or take time to gaze on Him.
- In what ways do you see the beauty of God displayed around you?
- Can you recall a time you experienced the splendor and majesty of God?
- Spend time pondering ways God demonstrates His greatness.
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