The Wonderful Majesty of God – Much of this summary relies on J. I. Packer’s book, “Knowing God,’ specifically on his chapter, “The majesty of God.”
Chapter 8 notes that the word majesty comes from the Latin and means greatness. When we ascribe majesty to someone we acknowledge their greatness.
The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved. Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting. Psalm 93:1-2
Personal yet Majestic and Great
Jim Packer’s contention was that people (secular and in the church) who use the word God rarely think rightly of His divine majesty. Stress is generally placed on a personal God. This may lead us to believe He has similar attributes to us, and it weakens Him in our minds.
According to packer, God is personal, like us. Unlike us, He is also great. We are finite; God is eternal, infinite and almighty. The more we know God, the smaller we become. While He is a personal God we should never lose sight of His majesty and “unlimited dominion over all His creatures.”
No escape from the Eternal God
He [Jesus] is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, Heb 1:3
So, not only did God create the universe, He also sustains it. That sentence can be quickly read and quickly forgotten. This is a great time to read about just how big the universe is to gain a better perspective of our infinitely, majestic God. See also the Splendor of God’s Creation.
Yet as incomprehensibly vast as the universe is – there is no escape from its majestic Creator.
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! And if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:7-10
Our modern response
Like the nation Israel it’s easy to look around us, at the current state of this world, and wonder where God is and whether He cares. Packer gives us Isaiah 40 to ponder. Note especially verses 27 to 31. Just like God did not abandon Job, and had not forgotten Israel, He has not forgotten us.
J. I. Packer finishes off by declaring,
How little we make of the majesty of our Lord and Savior Christ! The need for us is to “wait upon the Lord” in meditations on his majesty, till we find our strength renewed through the writing of these things upon out hearts.
Maranatha!
Further reading:
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