How Majestic

Today I read Psalm 8 and Isaiah 6 and thought what perfect companion readings.

Verse 1 of Psalm 8 always put that praise chorus by Michael W Smith in my head but aside from that it also reminds me man is a very tiny creature in God's vast universe. David even says "what is man that You are mindful of him" (vs.4). He continues, though, with the proper order of things reminding us that man IS special and different from the rest of creation. We are not to worship God's creation but to rule over it.

Ruling requires a certain stewardship over creation, a certain care but it also means the life of an child, even unborn, is more precious than the life of a whale or any other animal. Often those who seem to care the most about the creatures of this earth will also be the loudest promoters of a woman's right to choose abortion to end the life of her child.

How backwards we get things at times. The majesty of God is seen in the works of creation from His hands but man is the creature "crowned with glory and honor."

Isaiah's view of the majesty of God is not in creation but in the Lord Himself. "In the year King Uzziah died I saw the Lord, sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple." (vs.1) He goes on to describe the scene in the throne room of God with the seraphim singing "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory." (vs.3)

From seeing creation, David sang, "O Lord, our Lord how majestic is Your name in all the earth!" From seeing God, Isaiah cried, "Woe is me!" He recognized he was a sinner living among a sinful people and unworthy to be in the presence of God. Both of these responses are proper and should be part of my worship of God.

But what I find so great about Isaiah's case, when he recognized and confessed his sin, God immediately sent one of the seraphim with a hot coal from the altar to touch Isaiah and cleanse him from his sin. Our great and majestic God, Creator of ALL things, does not want to leave us in our state of sin, our state of despair. He pours out His perfect love, through the blood of Jesus, to redeem mankind, not for our sake but for His glory.

After taking away Isaiah's sin, the Lord asks, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Isaiah immediately responds, "Here am I! Send me." When confronted with the true majesty of God, we should be ready to go wherever He wants us to go - even if it's just across the street - to share His message of love, hope and salvation.