The Majesty and Wisdom of God

As you know, my father passed away when I was a year and half. Many times in my life, I have wished that I, as my brothers were fortunate to have, words to rely on from my Father’s wisdom. That created many problems for me as child and even still to this day. I did however, have wise words from my Grandfather, who to me, was a giant of a man. As a teenager, he and Mama came for a visit and I had to go to work. At the time, I didn’t have a car and relied on rides to work. He was giving me a ride to work and asked how I was enjoying my job. Frankly, at that point, I wasn’t. I had an Assistant Manager who seemed to give me nothing but grief. I was ready to quit on the spot and tell this jerk what I thought of him. I told that to my grandfather and he quietely and simply said in a way that only Pop could… “Son, don’t ever leave a job without something better lined up.” ~ Dang it! I thought he was on my side! Well, he was. That was wisdom that I carry to this day. Simple words, profound impact.

This reminds me of a Loving Father God whom we are beyond imagination, priveleged to have relationship with. But even in this relationship, we think we can navigate our lives alone with only limited understanding, but God, our God, in His infinite wisdom and understanding, laughs gently and waits for us to seek Him, showing us the path we truly need.

~Addendum to the story, that boss became a trusted friend and mentor over the time that I worked at the company and helped me navigate some other difficult circumstances.

1. Marvel at God's Majesty

I have been privileged over my life to see some incredible wonders of God’s creation.

The sandy beaches on both coasts and in the Gulf.

The magnificet expanse of space as seen in the night skies of Meru, Kenya where the stars were so bright and magnificent, they seemed close enough to grab hold of and swing from star to star.

The amazing landscapes and wildlife of Samburu.

The mountains of the Appalachians and Rocky Mountains. ~ Not to mention the magnificence of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Some of the most beautiful lakes and rivers from all over America.

And right here, nothing more magnificent than the painted skies of Sunrise and Sunset.

David didn’t have the opportunity to see the world in the expansiveness that I have. I am truly blessed. But he did have a profound understanding as we can clearly see when we read Psalm 8:1

Psalm 8:1 ESV

1 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

Everywhere we look, we have opportunity to see the magnificence of our God. Look how David describes that in verse 3.

Psalm 8:3 ESV

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

When we come face to face with the understanding of the magnificence of God, we can’t help but seem insignificant.

David lamented this in verse 4.

Psalm 8:4 ESV

4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

But the goodness of God breaks through and he continues in verses 5-9…

Psalm 8:5–9 ESV

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

The magnificence of God elevates God far above the familiar.

2. Wisdom's Wise Invitation

As we dwell upon God’s magnificence, maybe we could be well served to understand that God in His magnificence is also wise and we should heed His words in all aspects of our lives. Proverbs 8 give us some understanding of the heart of God for us.

Proverbs 8:1 ESV

1 Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?

God is calling us, sometimes, we make Him raise His voice to help us understand. Sounds like a loving Father to me!

“Son, don’t touch that hot stove! It will burn you!”

We see wisdom calling out in public places offering herself to all who will listen!

One thing that is - or at least should be self-evident, the wisdom of God appeals to all of humanity to acknowledge God’s design and order in creation.

Unfortunately, far too many people reject wisdom and moreover, God Himself in exchange for the earthly wisdom and understanding that they believe themselves to possess. They believe themselves to be wise and they spout off their “wisdom and understanding” for anyone who will listen, and then they themselves follow the foolish folly of the wicked.

3. Creation with Wisdom's Design

Wisdom was established from the beginning as we can see from Proverbs 8:22

Proverbs 8:22 ESV

22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.

God was full of wisdom before the creation, before He hung one star, one blade of grass, or one roaring lion.

And understand Christ was the “Word of God” He pre-existed creation. “Let us…” over and over the Word says in the creation narrative. He was, through whom all things were made as Colossians 1:16 says

Colossians 1:16 ESV

16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

4. Peace Through Faith

It is easy to be overwhelmed by the magnificence of our God. Easy to fail to recognize the redemptive work of Christ like we are not worthy of His grace, mercy and love. The Church in Rome seemed to need some encouragement in this area. Look what Paul told them in Romans 5.

Romans 5:1–5 ESV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

We see the magnificence of God also through the redemptive and transformative work of Jesus Christ! Through His work of Grace on the Cross, we can rejoice in the hope fo the glory of God!

But there’s so much more goodness that God’s magnificence grants us. Look again at verse 5.

In Him, we have no shame! ~ BECAUSE God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

5. Guided by Spirit's Truth

Last week was Pentecost Sunday. We celebrated the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon His Church. We also came to understand, this outpouring wasn’t limited to the first century Church, but extends as Acts tells us, ‘to all who are afar off.” That’s us!

Jesus walked with His disciples for over three years and even with all that “seminary training” that Jesus instilled in them in that time spent with Him, even He, in His wisdom recognized they needed more. Look at His words in John 16:12.

John 16:12 ESV

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

He said, “You cannot bear them now.” He’s telling His disciples that they were missing something not yet present in this realm.

Let’s look further in John 16:13.

John 16:13 ESV

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

The last part of this narrative from Christ in John 16:14-15 reminds us that the work of the Holy Spirit isn’t ‘limited in scope.’ Let’s look.

John 16:14–15 ESV

14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

The Holy Spirit is guiding believers into all truth. The Spirit brings forth wisdom and reveals the glory of Christ, enabling us to reflect His majesty daily.

So, what we see in the Creative work of God, is then revealed in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and we are constantly reminded of the magnificence and glory of God through the work of the Holy Spirit.

During a particularly stressful season, I found solace in reading the book of Job. Though Job faced unimaginable suffering, his honest conversations with God revealed profound truths about divine wisdom and majesty. Through his trials, I realized that God does not shy away from our struggles; rather, He invites us to wrestle with Him. This relationship is a gift, teaching us that even in our darkest moments, we can find peace in knowing a greater wisdom is at work, larger than our understanding.

God is inviting us to this greater wisdom through His understanding.

Let us come to His table where we find Him waiting with open arms to impart His loving wisdom as our Holy Father to His Children.