“And I said, O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments.”
(Nehemiah 1:5)
The great and awesome God of heaven stands alone in His unapproachable majesty, towering above every imagined rival. As the Creator and Sustainer of all things, He possesses a glory that belongs only to Him. His greatness cannot be measured by size or scope, because it is bound up in the absolute perfection of every aspect of His being.
Scripture speaks often of this: “The LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible” (Deut. 10:17). The prophets and psalmists strain language itself to give expression to the splendor of His name. He is glorious in holiness (Exod. 15:11), fearful in praises, doing wonders. “The LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth” (Ps. 47:2). “There is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might” (Jer. 10:6).
He makes Himself known as the God of glory (Acts 7:2), the King of glory (Ps. 24:8), and the Father of glory (Eph. 1:17). And each Person of the Trinity participates in this glorifying work: the Father glorifies the Son, the Son glorifies the Father, and the Spirit glorifies them both.
Martin Luther saw this rightly when he wrote, “God is great and omnipotent. He accomplishes great things. He exercises His strength against everything strong and powerful.”[1] We’re often tempted to look at our strength or despair in our weakness, but the greatness of God overthrows both. His glory is displayed most brightly when all human power fails. He brings deliverance where none can be seen. He reveals His sufficiency in the face of utter desolation. “Our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased” (Ps. 115:3).
And yet, in grace, He stoops. He enters into covenant with those who love Him and keep His commandments because He wills to glorify Himself in the redemption of His people.
Indeed, the glory of our Great God is the ultimate cause of all creation, all providence, and all redemption. For this is the end of all things: not the preservation of man, nor the happiness of the creature, but the exaltation of God.
Contemplations:
- Your glory alone. Lord, if majesty and glory do not belong to You, why would You have created, nourished, and governed the world? You have need of nothing. So, in my limited understanding, I can see no other reason but the recognition and celebration of Your infinite perfection (Prov. 16:4; Rom. 11:36).
- Why You made me. Lord, I am here for one purpose, and that is to declare and demonstrate Your great glory. To this end may I always declare Your glory and the glory of Your Son (Ps. 19:1, cf. 8:3,9; Rom. 1:20).
- The highest end. Lord, the chief end of all things… the sole purpose You created the universe… is more excellent than the universe itself, and that is to glorify You and magnify Your name!
- Creation speaks. The whole of creation declares Your glory (Ps. 10). You are most glorious indeed! Help me contemplate and adore You as the Great God that shines in magnificent perfection!
Prayer (Adoration):
O great and glorious God of heaven, Your greatness is unsearchable and Your glory is unspeakable. From everlasting to everlasting You are God. You sit enthroned above all creation, and yet You uphold all things by the word of Your power. There is none like You, neither in heaven nor on earth. You are clothed in majesty, surrounded by splendor, and worshipped by angels with unceasing voices.
You are the God who keeps covenant and shows mercy to those who love You. In all Your works Your glory is plainly revealed, and in all Your decrees, righteousness and wisdom kiss. You created all things for Yourself. You sustain all things by Your sovereign will. And You govern all things to bring about the praise of Your great name.
I stand before You in awe, because though You dwell in unapproachable light, You have made Yourself known. You have not hidden Your glory from the world, but have manifested it in the face of Jesus Christ. He is the radiance of Your glory, the exact imprint of Your nature. Through Him, I see You. Through Him, I adore You. You, O Father, glorify the Son. The Son glorifies You. And the Spirit glorifies You both.
The heavens speak of Your glory. The earth is full of it. The redemption of sinners magnifies it. You lack nothing and yet pour out all. You receive nothing and yet are worthy of all praise. Even my existence is for this single end—to know and declare Your greatness. Let my heart therefore exalt You. Let my mouth be filled with Your praise. Let my thoughts be swallowed up in wonder. Let my soul burn with reverence.
You are the God of glory, so let me not fear man nor trust in princes. Let me not look to the world to define greatness but remember that all things are from You, through You, and to You. Make my whole life an anthem to the splendor of Your being. Let my words, my works, my prayers, and my days declare what is true: that You are worthy of all glory, honor, and praise.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for Nehemiah 1:5:
Dan. 9:4, 1 Kings 8:23, Exod. 20:6, Ps. 89:2, Heb.
[1] Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 18: Minor Prophets I: Hosea-Malachi, ed. Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald, and Helmut T. Lehmann, vol. 18 (Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1999), 286.
