How High is On High?

“Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
    praise the name of the Lord!

Blessed be the name of the Lord
    from this time forth and forevermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
    the name of the Lord is to be praised!

The Lord is high above all nations,
    and his glory above the heavens!
Who is like the Lord our God,
    seated on high,
who looks far down
    on the heavens and the earth?” Psalm 113:1-6

“I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up… Above him stood the seraphim… one called to another:

‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!'” Isaiah 6:1-3

God on high looks far down on heavens and earth, a reality impossible to grasp. Seeing the Lord high and lifted up compels awe-filled, humble praise. Whatever heights man fathoms and describes, He is higher, residing and ruling above what is seen and known. Imagine the edges of conscious comprehension, and He is beyond. To acknowledge God on high is to trust in His overarching reign and keeping.

‘On’ supposes the bearing of volume and heft. The Creator of the measureless expanse of heaven and earth has also imparted their capacity to uphold His awesome majesty. The One infinitely weighty in grandeur, glory, and power, and sustains His universe, is Himself upheld by His heavens. We must marvel! (Colossians 1:16-17)

Along our way and rhythms of each day, the uneven path takes concentration and surroundings distract at every turn. Glances left and right, nagging from behind and choices ahead contribute to easily forgetting to look up and take note of our heavenly Companion. Does our busy tending to present details keep us from considering Who resides above them all?

On what do we regularly focus? Is our gaze dictated by the urgent we’ve determined, or the onslaught of outside allure and influence? When nations and people rage, or fears assail or sorrows choke, or demands press in and temptations attract, do we consider the One on high? He is far superior in goodness, satisfaction, and protection than anything on earth. His righteousness is perfect, His thoughts lofty, His might supreme. He scatters beauty abroad for us to enjoy, yet He on high is the most resplendent of all.

How high is my Lord to me, how preeminent His throne in my life? Have I limited my view, and therefore my understanding and worship, of Him by finite human measures? What needs to change in mindset and practice so I regularly consider and behold the infinite One high and lifted up? When do I turn my face from what’s before me to gaze up at Him who sees and rules the affairs of my life and the wide world? In doing so I’m rightly positioned to trust and praise.

“O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.” Helen Lemmel (1922)

Lord, turn my eyes upward to gaze at, exalt, and praise You always.