“For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places." — Psalm 135:6
"For I know that the Lord is…”
How do I know? Essentially this assurance rests upon His word. And that assurance, once established, is reinforced by His Word. The first is the word written. The latter is the the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ in Whom “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” enabling the apostle to write, “We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the mount [II Pet. 1:16-18].”
The apostle John gives a similar testimony when he says, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the Word of life…That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you… [I John 1:1,3],” echoing his earlier declaration, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth [John 1:14].”
“Eyewitnesses;” “we heard;” “we have seen with our eyes;” “looked upon;” “handled;” “dwelt among us;” “beheld.” These are expressions of tangible experience by men of integrity. And there is similar evidence for His death and resurrection. This is how we know that “the Lordis.”
“For I know that the Lord is great…”
How do I know? Because the same word, these same scriptures, assure us that “Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that He did in heaven, and in the earth, in the seas, and in all deep places (v.6).” If I go backward I read, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” If I go forward I read,”Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” But even without the scriptures, “That which may be known of God is manifest in [men]; for God hath shown it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from (by reason of) the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they [who do not believe] are without excuse…[Rom. 1:19-20].”
If I take the telescope I see His greatness in the measureless expanse of the heavens. If I take the microscope I see His greatness in the near infinite intricacy of the substrata of creation, discovering the truth of the scripture which 2000 years ago declared that “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which do appear [ Heb. 11:1].” Surely, the Lord is GREAT! And, “His greatness is unsearchable (Ps. 145:3).” And that is to discover His greatness only as Creator, without touching on His greatness as Redeemer!
“For I know that…our Lord is above all gods.”
How do I know? The answer lies in the definition of the gods of the heathen in vs.15-17, where those gods are demonstrated to be ignorant and impotent, “silver and gold,” the work of men’s hands, the fabrication of men’s minds. It was a study in contrasts and a commentary on these scriptures to see in China earlier this year the incredible rise to modern civilization evident on every side, then to see many, both old and young, burning incense and publicly praying to idols who neither see nor hear, think nor act. ‘How primitive and pathetic,’ you may say; but then to return to our own country and remember that the Living God has been demoted and replaced by the mindless god of chance—or, Nogod. “They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them (v.18).”
Let us take careful heed to the word of God: “…they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools [Rom. 1:20-22 - my italics].”
The word of the prophet Elijah may be appropriately paraphrased here: “If the Lord be God, follow Him: but if [these hapless idols and vain philosophies] then follow [them] [I Kings 18:21].”
With His glory in view,
"Pastor" Frasier
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