Learning About Majesty

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Psalm 96:6 CSB

            The sky is patchy gray, billowing clouds lessening after the rain has passed through. The wind whooshes the hair around my face and lands icy on my hands. The green hillsides are fresh, green, and wet; the local sheep nipping at tuffs for an afternoon snack. Beside the path I am biking on stands nine working windmills dating back to the 15^th century. All lined up down the river, moving the water out of the farm area into the river and finally to the sea. Each mill still working to keep water from flooding the small town and fields nearby in order to sustain the way of life for these Dutch farmers in the town of Kinderdijk, Holland.

            As I ride along the paths beside the river and take in the site of such incredibly engineered buildings, through the clouds I can see the rays of the sun beaming towards the grassy hill. Streaming as if from heaven to touch the newly refreshed earth, showing God’s glory as it stands in this small section of the world. What majesty!!

            These windmills, along with the dozens of castles and cathedrals cover the countryside from Switzerland to the Netherlands along the Rhine River. The history in this area is often completely unrealized. The stories behind the buildings unknown to many in our world. Yet, the tales hold up these structures as if by themselves and are worth learning. There was a plan in building each of these formations. Plans to help support farming, preparations to keep citizens safe and free, and some constructed to bring people into the knowledge of a religious community. Each structure planned to stand in majesty on the countryside for a purpose.

            I realized, while I had the privilege of viewing all these regal, stately buildings, they hold just a small bit of the majesty we see in our God. The verse from Psalm 96:6 states, “Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.” (CSB). What this tells us is anything which constitutes honor, glory, or majesty is because of His presence. Wherever He manifests Himself, there is majesty. Majesty is always in the accompaniments of His presence.

            A central theme throughout the Bible reflects His supreme authority and glory over everything. His complete majesty is creation itself. Each sister, husband, rabbit, parrot, daisy, dandelion, Job’s Peak, Mount Fuji, Atlantic Ocean, Sea of Galilea, Orion, Cassiopeia, 80◦ day, or snowy forest is under His majesty. Psalm 19:1 declares, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” Whatever we can imagine in our universe clearly depicts His eternal power and divine nature.

            God’s majesty is displayed in His rule over all things. He controls our coming and going. He stretches out His arms and the world is brought under His direction. Even the waves and the wind obey Him. In our small human perspective this is often hard to comprehend. Usually because we want to be in control over everything in our lives. You can certainly try, but sadly, each time, you will fail. Our joy will be overflowing when we can rely on God’s perspective. He sees the entire picture which we are not able to. I am sure you can look back on your life at times when you demanded control and were left wanting. At the same time, you can envision times when you allowed God to take charge and the outcome was full of hope and encouragement. I can attest to it through my cancer story. Keeping God’s wisdom and understanding in mind verses my completely limited knowledge, allowed me to endure and finish that race with joy and healing.

            Like the majestic structures of the Rhine River, our world and our lives were created for a specific purpose. This purpose is to glorify God in all things. Yet, His majesty is not only a matter of appearance but also of authority and power. And for our time, this majesty of God is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ who is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

            This should be a comfort to each of us and an assurance for all believers. His ultimate authority means He can and does forgive us of all our sins. Only a majestic King, this powerful and mighty would give up His life so all who believe can live in eternity. Only a King so loving, compassionate, and full of grace could comfort and assure His believers He will fulfill all His promises. Promises of freedom from sickness. Promises of independence from cruelty and violence; sovereignty from mistrust, misuse, and misinterpretation. Only a King this strong will protect, sustain, and deliver us from a world full of hurt, suffering, and death.

            In all my traveling, I have yet to see anything as majestic as the God who provides grace sufficient enough for anything I might face. Never before have I been given strength drawn from the inexhaustible power of God who equips me for spiritual battles and daily living. And, because of the boundless, everlasting splendor of my God and Savior, I will worship Him until the end of my days because I recognize His holiness, majesty and authority.

            If you have not ever realized the magnificent power, strength, authority and majesty of the one, true, living, God you are missing the greatest times of joy and peace you could ever encounter. I pray, today, you take time to meet with God, envision His majesty, take Him at His perfect word and give your life to Him. You will never again see the world as it is at this moment because Christ will open your eyes to a world rich with splendor, grandeur, and magnificence which you have never encountered.

            If you believe the windmills of Kinderdijk or the cathedrals of Cologne are illustrious, you are in for the shock of your life once you’ve seen the majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ.