“How Great Thou Art” (Ready to Worship S7E9)

This season on Ready to Worship, we are examining songs that prepare our hearts for worship. This week we are examining the song, How Great Thou Art. For sure, God’s greatness is a reason for worship. The psalmist declared, “Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone” (Psa. 86:8-10). In this podcast, we want to focus on three attributes in which God is great.

First, God is great in Power. The song actually touches on this attribute. The song speaks of God’s “pow’r throughout the universe displayed.” The song specifically mentions all the worlds that His hands have made. It mentions the stars and the thunder also. All of these things are demonstrations of God’s power. Paul declared that the things that are made or seen declare God’s eternal power and Godhead (Rom. 1:20). The prophet Nahum wrote, “The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet” (Nah. 1:3). Truly, God is great in power. He has His way in the whirlwind and the storm. As you know, whirlwinds and storms are very powerful. They can uproot trees, destroy houses, and carry away heavy objects. Yet, that power is nothing in comparison to the power of God. The prophet Jeremiah declared that there is nothing too hard for God (Jer. 32:17). Jesús declared that with God all things are possible (Mt. 19:26).

Second, God is great in Love. To the saints at Ephesus, Paul wrote, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us” (Eph. 2:4). God is rich in mercy. He is great in love. The song, How Great Thou Art, speaks of God not sparing His Son. It speaks of God sending His Son to die on the cross for our sins. Certainly, the cross is a clear declaration of God’s great love. John declared, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Not only did God give His Son, He gave Him while we were yet enemies. Almost as amazing as the gift itself, is the timing of the gift. To the saints at Rome, Paul wrote, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:6-8). You have to admit that this was the greatest love of all. In the gospel that bears his name, John declared, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). There is no love greater than to give one’s life for one’s friends, except to give one’s life for one’s enemies. That is what Jesús did. That is greater than the greater love of which John spoke. That is the greatest love of all.

Third, God is great in Wisdom. The psalmist declared, “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite” (Psa. 147:5). Not only is God great in power, He is great in understanding. Paul declared, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Rom. 11:33). God’s wisdom and knowledge are unsearchable. They are past finding out. You may recall in the book of Job that the patient patriarch wanted an audience with God. Near the end of the book, Job got that opportunity. God asked Job a serious of questions. Although Job was the greatest of the men of the east, an area known for its wisdom (1 Kings 4:30; Mt. 2:1), Job was forced to confess his inadequacy before God. We read, “Then Job answered the Lord, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:1-6). Though thousands of years have passed since the time of Job, it is the height of foolishness and pride to think that modern man would do better than Job if he were given such an opportunity.

As we get ready to worship this week, we need to remember how great God is. He is great in power, in love, and in wisdom. It is with this understanding of His greatness that we should fall down and worship Him.