Greatness

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.”  1 Chronicles 29:11

Greatness – There are lots of great things in the world.  Great mountains.  Great deserts.  Great empires.  Great buildings.  Great people.  But David has only one kind of “greatness” in mind with this word (gedullah).  David is thinking about the great acts of God in the world of men.  He is recalling the history of God’s handiwork with the people of Israel.  The exodus, the crossing of the Red Sea, the crossing of the Jordan, the destruction of the prophets of Ba’al, and all the actions of God in David’s own life.  This word for greatness is about history.

David’s blessing is much like our words in the modern version of the Lord’s prayer.  Our words, “For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory”, echo David.  But I wonder if we are recalling our history with God when we say those familiar words.  Are we bringing to mind His mighty works?  Are we reflecting on His salvation history?  Are we remembering the actions God took in our own lives? 

David blessed God.  We usually think of it the other way around.  We want God to bless us.  But David knew his history.  He saw that God’s self-revelation in the past required present tense adoration.  So David, the king of Israel, gave all the credit to the Lord.  David knew his place was under the authority of the real King.  David knew that it was God’s glory that mattered. 

Today you and I can bless God too.  We can stand before the ones who follow us and proclaim the greatness of the God Who shows Himself in our own history.  We can honor Him, glorify Him and thank Him for Who He is.  We can acknowledge His greatness and our place under His banner.  And God will smile.  Nothing pleases a Father more than children Who love Who He is.