Psalm 147:5

Psalm 147:5

Great is the Lord!!

Read this in conjunction with the previous verse, it feels as if the psalmist steps back for a moment, completely overwhelmed and breathless from the enormity of what has just been written. In the days before artificial lighting, the night sky was a common source of wonder and amazement to our ancestors, and for those who lived in lands where there are months without rain or clouds, the skies would provide a nightly source of bewildering complexity. To ancient minds, the extent of the heavens went far beyond human imagination; they were unapproachable and completely unfathomable. 

Frankly, for all our scientific know-how and modern ingenuity, we have not progressed much further in our understanding of those other worlds and mysterious biospheres that may or may not exist far into the heavens. So, we must step back, like the psalm writer, and exclaim, “Great is our Lord and mighty in power, His understanding has no limit.” If our God can fix the stars and name them, if He can count the grains of sand on the seashore, then what can we do but to humbly bow down before Him and acknowledge Hs greatness and His power? That is the dilemma, how could a Being so incredibly great, clothe Himself with humanity and come to visit our planet? How could such an awesome Creator possibly be interested in you and me? How could He be prepared to die for us and to willingly accept us as His children, despite our unbelieving and wayward hearts?  This mystery is at the very heart of all that the Bible teaches us; it’s exemplified in the story of Israel and in the behaviour and attitude of the church. When we get so confused with it all or even start to doubt, it’s time to step outside on a starry night, and be amazed! Hallelujah!

 

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