“… that they may know that You alone, whose name is the LORD,
are the Most High over all the earth.”
(Psalm 83:18)
The true and rightful designation of Christ is “the Lord Most High,” for He is exalted far above all principalities, powers, thrones, and dominions. Indeed, He is God incarnate, whom the Father has set at His own right hand with all authority in heaven and earth.[1]
Philippians 2:6-11 declares the mystery and majesty of Christ’s condescension and glorification. Though He was in very nature God, He did not cling to His divine privilege. Instead, He humbled Himself, taking the form of a servant and becoming obedient unto death… even the cursed death of the cross. And so God exalted Him. This same Christ is now and forever glorified, crowned, and worshipped by angels and men alike.
And on that great Day of the Lord every knee shall bow before Him—not only in heaven where cherubim veil their faces, but also on earth where kings and beggars alike will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Because as Lord, He governs all things. He upholds the universe by the word of His power. He commands every storm, every illness, every rise and fall of nations. The same Word that spoke creation into being now orders every detail of divine providence. Nothing escapes His eye and nothing can resist His hand.
He has power over life and death, over angels and demons, and over time and eternity. He can lift up or cast down. He can heal or wound. He can save or condemn. No one counsels Him, and no one can restrain Him.
And yet, in Him, we find mercy. Our crucified and risen King works all things for the good of His elect and the glory of His name. Still we must remember: He is not only our Savior, Shepherd, and Comforter… He’s also our righteous Judge, our King, and our Avenger. And it is this full picture of Christ—God, Lord, Judge, Savior—that we must honor.
A godly fear of the Lord Most High recognizes the weight of our sin and the wonder of His mercy and drives us toward holiness. May the majesty of Christ constrain us to reverence. And may a rightful understanding of who He is cause us to tremble, trust, and obey.
Contemplation:
- A holy fear. I admit that I often approach Christ as if He were only gentle, forgetting He is also Judge. Your mercy, Lord, is unmatched, but so is Your holiness. I need to recover that fear, that trembling before Your throne that causes me to hate sin and walk more carefully before You.
- The reality of judgment. I know that without Christ, I stand condemned. My sins are not small, and Your justice is not passive. You do not overlook iniquity. It is only in Jesus that I find shelter. I deserve wrath, yet I have received mercy. Let me never grow numb to this exchange.
- Submitting to the Lord Most High. You rule over all, Lord Jesus, and yet I often act as if I rule myself. I make plans without prayer. I pursue desires without examining them before You. But You are King. You are sovereign. My life is Yours. Let me surrender all to You and live in submission to Your will.
- Christ exalted. When I think of Your exaltation, I am overwhelmed. The same Christ who bore the cross now wears the crown. You are not waiting to rule; You rule now. I want to bow my knee willingly and joyfully today, and not wait until judgment forces every rebel to confess what I know to be true, that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Prayer (Confession):
Lord Most High, I confess that I have not regarded You as I ought. You are the Sovereign, exalted above all, yet I have approached You casually. You are holy, yet I have entertained sin. You are Judge, yet I have presumed upon Your mercy. Forgive me.
You are not only the Lamb who was slain, You’re also the Lion of Judah. You reign now, with power and authority. Every breath I take is governed by Your will. Every moment of my life is sustained by Your decree. I have lived as if I am my own, as if I command my days. I confess that I have forgotten who You are.
Lord Jesus, You humbled Yourself for sinners, even for me. Yet I have often exalted myself. You took the lowest place, even to death on a cross. Yet I have sought comfort, ease, and glory. You submitted to the Father’s will perfectly. Yet I have resisted Your commands. I am guilty before You.
Your Word declares that You are not only Savior but also Avenger. I tremble to think of the judgment I deserve. My sins are not trivial; they are crimes against the Holy One. Were it not for Your blood, I would be cast away forever. But You stood in my place. You bore my guilt. You satisfied divine justice with Your perfect obedience and atoning death.
Still, I have taken that grace lightly. I have sinned against light. I have disobeyed with knowledge. I have not feared You as I should. Cleanse me, Lord. Wash me afresh in the blood that still speaks better things than Abel’s. Renew a right spirit within me.
Teach me to tremble again. Not with the dread of judgment, but with the awe of Your majesty. Let me walk humbly. Let me serve reverently. Let me speak of You with honor and worship You with joy.
O Most High, exalt Yourself in my heart. Rule my thoughts. Govern my affections. Direct my steps. Let every part of me confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. I bow my knee now… willingly, gratefully, worshipfully. And I ask that You keep me from dishonoring Your name.
Be my Sovereign, not in word only, but in my whole life. Let every sin grieve me. Let every command in Your Word move me. Let Your Lordship be seen in my speech, my choices, my discipline, and my love.
Forgive me for thinking lightly of the Lord Most High. I am Yours. Command me, correct me, restore me. I place my life into the hands of Him who rules and redeems.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for Psalm 83:18:
Ps. 97:9; Exo. 6:3; Isa. 54:5; Micah 4:13; Jer. 16:21; Eph. 4:6.
[1] “Christianity … shews us a God Incarnate, a God made man on purpose for our Salvation; He gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity, and purchase to himself a peculiar people zealous of Good works. It represents to us a Covenant of Grace, Sealed with his own most precious Blood, and into which we have every one of us been solemnly initiated, that is, solemnly Sworn at our Baptism.” William Wake, Sermons and Discourses on Several Occasions by William Wake, (London: Printed for Ric. Chiswell … and W. Rogers .., 1690), 44–45.
