O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
– Psalm 8:9
Majesty. Magisterial. Magistrate. All these and similar words have their roots in Latin, and since I didn’t take Latin I will spare you any pretend knowledge. The thing that these words hold in common is the idea of authority or power, whether in the realm of teaching, law, or even nature. To say that something is majestic is to say it is striking, impressive, leaving you with a clear sense of being impacted in your mind or soul because of its power.
There are times in my life when I have felt pretty insignificant. I don’t mean that in a negative way. Rather, it is the response of being exposed to the majesty of God’s creation. I have felt it sitting by a campfire on a dark, clear night looking at the heavens, or standing alone on top of a snow-covered mountain looking for miles over a beautiful panorama. Such moments remind me of the awesome greatness of God. These reminders are good for my soul. They make me resonate with the words of Psalm 8. “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars that you have set in place; what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4).
Humans seems to have a strong desire for significance. We strive to attain it in many ways. Personally, I don’t mind being reminded of my insignificance as I behold the majesty of God. For me it is a healthy dose of reality. And pleasantly, that reality comes with an affirmation. The God of all creation, the One who spoke the heavens and earth into existence, gives me all the significance I need. “You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor” (Psalm 8:5). I am also told that in Christ I am a child of God (John 1:12), that I am a joint heir with Christ (Romans 8:17), a royal priest (1 Peter 2:9), chosen, holy and beloved (Colossians 3:12). I am all of this and more in Jesus Christ, and not because I deserve it. No, I am all of this because God is gracious and has proclaimed it to be so.
It is no wonder that the apostle Paul said, “At the name of Jesus every knee will bow” (Philippians 2:10). His glory and his grace are beyond what we can comprehend. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
The Winding Path 