Entering Into God’s Presence

Knowing God Through His Nature & Character (ADJECTIVES)

God is Great (An Infinite Attribute of God’s Nature)

To Study and Ponder (for parents & teachers)

• The Creator/Redeemer God of the Bible is both infinite and personal. The gods of some religions are finite and personal; those of others are infinite but impersonal; while others are finite and impersonal. Only the God of the Bible is both infinite and personal. God is so big that, as Solomon prayed, “even the highest heavens cannot contain you” (1Ki 8:27) and yet so personal that “the high and lofty one who lives in eternity” also lives “with those whose spirits are contrite and humble” (Isa 57:15). Moses affirms, “For what great nation has a god as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we call on him?” (Deu 4:7). Any statement about God which either diminishes God’s infinite greatness or his intimate closeness is not Biblical. Indeed, any true statement about the God of the Bible will make him – at one and the same time – both bigger and more approachable; both more capable and more lovable; both more out-there-huge and in-here-close.

• Infinite means without limitation of any kind. Personal means having the essential qualities of a personal being – intellect, will, emotions – which give the capacity to form meaningful relationships and give/receive love. We have personal attributes (in this we are like God) because God created us in his image (Gen 1:26-27). We do not have infinite attributes (in this we are not like God) because we are created (he is not) & have many limitations as his creatures.

• We do not have an adequate vocabulary to describe God’s infiniteness. “Great” is one word that points us in the right direction along with huge, mighty, awesome, glorious, terrible, enormous, wonderful, incomparable, extraordinary. When we celebrate the great infinite God we celebrate that he is in a class by himself. There is no one else like him (Ex 8:10; 9:14; 15:11; 1Sa 2:2; 2Sa 7:22; 1Ki 8:23; 1Ch 17:20; 2Ch 6:14; Ps 86:8; 89:6; Isa 44:7; 46:9; 64:4; Jer 10:6-7; 49:19; 50:44; Mic 7:18).

• We press as far as we can within the limitations of our understanding and then before the greatness of God we must break forth into worship. “He is majestic, awesome and great beyond description”.  (God is Glorious, G.Wiley p.95)

• Passages in which God’s greatness (gadol in Hebrew) is exalted include: Ex.18:11; Deut. 7:21; 10:17-18, 21; 1Chron.16:25; 2Chron.2:5; Neh 1:5-6; 8:6; 9:32-33; Ps.48:1; 71:19; 77:13-15; 86:10; 95:3; 96:4; 135:5; Jer.32:17-20; Dan.9:4.

• For a reminder of how great our God is, go outside on a clear night, look up, and start counting! Then remember he put each star in place and has named every single one of the trillions of the stars in the heavens! God inhabits eternity (Is. 57:15), measures the universe by the span of His hand (Is 40:12), and spoke it all into existence! (Gen. 1:14-19) How Great is our God?

• God’s greatness is described as unfathomable, unmeasurable, uncontainable (2 Chron.2:5-6; Job 5:9; 9:10; 37:5; Psalm 145:3) Yet we are also told “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jer 33:3 He does want to reveal His greatness to us. (Eph.1:17-21, Deut 3:24)

• In the OT God is called “ the great and awesome God...”  Neh.1:5, 9:32, Daniel 9:4, “great King” Ps.47:2;48:2; 95:3; Mal 1:14; Matt.5:35

• John gives us a picture of the greatness of God among the nations in Revelation 15:2-4

• Much is said about God’s GREAT love and mercy

• Psalm 17:7   Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.

• Also Numbers 14:19; Psalm 69:13; 89:1; 106:44-46; 107:43; Lam. 3:22; Neh.9:5; Eph.2:4-5

Memory/Meditation  (Use longer or shorter passages depending on age etc.)

Lower Grades:  Great is the LORD!  He is most worthy of praise!  No one can measure his greatness.  Psalm 145:3-4 (NLT)

Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains.         Psalm 95:2b-4 (NLT)

Middle Grades: O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations. Psalm 77:13-14 (NLT)

No pagan god is like you, O Lord. None can do what you do! All the nations you made will come and bow before you, Lord; they will praise your holy name. For you are great and perform wonderful deeds. You alone are God.   Psalm 86:8-10 (NLT)

1 Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come to him with thanksgiving.  Let us sing psalms of praise to him.

3 For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. 4 He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains.  5 The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too. 6 Come, let us worship and bow down. 7 Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care.      Psalm 95:1-7 (NLT)

Upper Grades: Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods. The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the Lord made the heavens! Honor and majesty surround him; strength and beauty fill his sanctuary.                       Psalm 96:4-6 (NLT)

Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods.          1 Chron.16:23-25 (NLT)

Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods. The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the Lord made the heavens! Honor and majesty surround him; strength and beauty fill his sanctuary.               Psalm 96:1-6 (NLT)

Extra for Upper Grades or High School: All you people of the earth, sing to the Lord. Day after day tell about how he saves us.Tell the nations about his glory. Tell all people about the wonderful things he has done. The Lord is great. He is really worthy of praise. People should have respect for him as the greatest God of all. All of the gods of the nations are like their statues. They can’t do anything. But the Lord made the heavens. Glory and majesty are all around him. Strength and joy can be seen in the place where he lives. Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise the Lord for his glory and strength. Praise the Lord for the glory that belongs to him. 1 Chronicles 16:23-29 (NLT)