Transcending All
“The LORD is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens.” (Ps. 113:4)
The natural man loves to throw back his shoulders, puff out his chest, raise his nose a few degrees higher than parallel and boast that he’s a “self-made” man.
Nothing could be further from the truth, however, because self-existence is a characteristic unique to God alone. In theology, this concept is known as aseity. Though not a common term, this one simple word incorporates God’s utter and absolute self-sufficiency, independence, and autonomy.
God alone exists by His own power – a quality that no other creature or aspect of His creation shares. As the First Cause of everything that exists, He is, by definition, transcendent. In addition, His eternal and perfect self-existence serve to define His position and power in relation to His creation, as we see in the following observations:
God’s self-existence is not diminished by giving existence to us, as He does not give to others what is essentially His. We are simply a product of His will, made in His image, for the praise of His glory.
God’s self-existence sets Him above control with respect to His creatures. As Creator of all that exists, He possesses all authority to exercise His will and carry out His plan regarding every aspect of His creation (Isa. 46:10-11). No one in earth or heaven has the position, the right, or the authority to question His doing.
God’s self-existence implies that He holds absolute rights to prescribe the mode and condition of our existence that is solely dependent on Him. He determines our nationality, our physical characteristics, and even our particular degrees of intelligence. He pre-ordains one to be born handicapped or healthy. And though we may contend otherwise, none of this is inconsistent with equity because we are the creature; He is the Creator.
God’s self-existence continually upholds everything in creation by the power of His Word through Jesus Christ, “who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, [upholds] all things by the word of His power,” (Heb. 1:3).
God exists wholly, uniquely, and infinitely in and of Himself – completely separate from and transcending all else as the great I AM.
Let us raise our hearts in praise, adoring God for who He is… for He transcends all!
- This title, Lord, that You are high, helps me understand that when I speak or think of You, I must do so with all reverence, and with high esteem. We honor kings and presidents with such titles as his highness, his excellency, and such things. Should I not much more do it with You, the King of kings, to whom most certainly belongs highness, excellency, majesty, dignity, dominion, and all manner of glory and honor?
- I must be clothed in humility, as it is the crown of every virtue and the grace of every grace. Let me, in humility, see You in Your Word as the High and Lofty One. You are lifted up, and I am the lowly one. You must increase, as Scripture says, and I must decrease.
- Christ, Your anointed One, came down from heaven to save men. In Him I find a deeper search of You and of the excellencies You show me in Your Word. Micah 7:18, “Who is a God like to thee, that pardons sins and iniquities?” There is no one like You. There is no Savior like our God.
- Nothing on this side of heaven should be feared by me; for You are the One in whom I trust. You are the Almighty, the Most High God.
Further References for Psalm 113:4
Ps. 57:11; 1 Kings 8:27; Isa. 40:22, 57:15, 66:1
