Majesty

Read Psalm 8


Once upon a time, lava spewed from the crater below me. Red hot, liquid rock boiled out of the center of the earth and coursed down the south side of this cinder cone obliterating everything in it’s path. The molten ooze ruined ecosystems, changed the course of rivers and created lakes where desert once spread.

The moment magma touches air, it begins to cool, although it still does an efficient job of scorching everything in it’s path as it, like taffy, cools to sticky then solid. The frothy parts from the explosion turn to solid rocks, pocked with air holes forming lightweight pumice, while the smooth sliding stuff hardens into black glass obsidian, sharper than steel when cut.


From where I stand, I can see the path the lava followed out of this cone and across the high desert, trees lining it’s path as though it were still a flowing river. Blue sky stretches out vast from horizon to horizon. It is 86 degrees at 5,200 feet, and I can see 360 degrees around me purple mountains bumpy on the skyline and snow capped peaks rising above the hazy silhouettes.


I can think of only one word as I survey from this vantage point.


Majesty.


The dictionary definition of majesty is a sovereign power, authority, or dignity—used in addressing or referring to reigning sovereigns and their consorts , royal bearing or aspect



In our world, we have little context for majesty. America removed herself a couple centuries ago from kings and queens an palaces. Ornate castles and cathedrals attract tourists across the pond, but even so, much of the ceremony implied by the word MAJESTY gets lost in translation.



The first time the word majesty makes an appearance (in the NIV) is in Exodus. Recently removed from Egypt, a land of opulent homes, and extravagant temples, the Israelites were impressed enough by God’s bigness to be certain he out shined the only sovereign they knew-- Pharaoh of Egypt.



Throughout scripture, majesty becomes a vital aspect of God. “Fear God,” we read. But why? How? His is great. He is powerful. My son says only God could make toast better than I can.



God is that amazing.



But we lose something in translation. We compare him to toast, when He is so much bigger than we can imagine.



Let me describe God for you. Imagine Him the biggest, best, and most amazing. Consider every sunset, every sun rise, every mountain, valley and canyon you have ever seen. Recall the scent of fresh grass, clean babies and the earth after the rain. Look at the back of your hand--the veins, the lines, the wrinkles, the knuckles and nails and figure out makes them move. Think about falling in love.



He’s like that. But bigger. A lot bigger. Infinitely bigger.

Majestic.



Standing here, looking at the vastness of his creation, and imagining the whole world covered in water, quaking from the inside out as He pressed the reset button, it is easy to have an appropriate fear of God.


It's more difficult once removed, or twice removed as we are surrounded by mountains of laundry and dishes, but his majesty never changes. He's the same yesterday, today and forever. Just as God's character includes majesty from Exodus to Revelation and beyond.