Great, Greatly, Greatness

“I will extol you, my God and King,
    and bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you
    and praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
    and his greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall commend your works to another,
    and shall declare your mighty acts.
On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
    and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
    and I will declare your greatness.
They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
    and shall sing aloud of your righteousness…

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
    and all your saints shall bless you!
They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
    and tell of your power,
 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures throughout all generations…

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
    and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.” Psalm 145:1-7,10-13,21

In a world of superlatives, of ‘the most ever’ and ‘best in my entire life,’ words that pack punch by sheer meaning can be diminished. But in biblical speak, where every inspired word counts and is powerful unadorned, great is great. And great describes our God who is beyond description. (2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12)

The psalmist is so overcome with the greatness of God that he wants to praise Him greatly. He desires to reach and match and proclaim the infinite goodness and power of his Sovereign, and verbalizes in praise His limitless, matchless attributes. His blend of words and meditation flows forth in blessing the Almighty and extolling His majestic deeds and the splendor of His kingdom.

Are we so enthralled with our King? Are we so captivated by His glorious eternity and unshakable dominion that He fills our minds and moments and mouths with praise? When we set out to cogitate on His greatness and to bless His name forever and with all that is within, He fills us with a sense of wonder in worship, and is greatly honored in the outflow.

What are we doing to fill our sights with God who is great, and train our minds in heavenly meditation?

“The Lord is a great God,
    and a great King above all gods.” Psalm 95:3

How can we adjust our speech to greatly praise the Lord of lords?

“I know that the Lord is great,
    and that our Lord is above all gods.” Psalm 135:5

How eagerly and robustly do we plumb the depths of His unsearchable greatness?

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

‘For who has known the mind of the Lord,
    or who has been his counselor?’
‘Or who has given a gift to him
    that he might be repaid?‘

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:33-36

Lord, expand my mind to comprehend, my heart to delight in and love, and my voice to exalt Your greatness.