Splendid and Majestic

Yesterday early morning I had a dream where I heard two words from the Lord - Splendid and Majestic, and I am aware that I tried to remember those words the rest of the night.  However, I forgot about that dream until I was at church in worship.  I looked it up in Google and the first reference that came up was Psalm 111, specifically the Berean Translation.  Here are the verses:

"1Hallelujah!a

I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart

in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

2Great are the works of the LORD;

they are pondered by all who delight in them.

3Splendid and majestic is His work;

His righteousness endures forever.

4He has caused His wonders to be remembered;

the LORD is gracious and compassionate.

5He provides food for those who fear Him;

He remembers His covenant forever.

6He has shown His people the power of His works

by giving them the inheritance of the nations.

7The works of His hands are truth and justice;

all His precepts are trustworthy.

8They are upheld forever and ever,

enacted in truth and uprightness.

9He has sent redemption to His people;

He has ordained His covenant forever;

holy and awesome is His name.

10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;

all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding.

His praise endures forever!"

(from https://biblehub.com/bsb/psalms/111.htm )

Lately we have been focused on the fear of the Lord at church, and that phrase should be understood (at least in my opinion) as understanding how much greater, how much more powerful, how much more magnificent, how much more Holy is God compared to us. 

The Psalmist calls this "fear of the Lord" the beginning of wisdom and I think that is clearly the truth.  If we believe that there is order in the world, rules and design that can be understood, and that God is the creator of this all, then understanding God, or having a right perspective of how much greater He is than man, is a good place to start.  This really was the starting point of science, trying to discover order of the world through observation and study.

In this psalm the author draws his audience's attention back to interactions the Jews had with God, as they experienced His faithful and miraculous provision, their redemption from slavery in Egypt, the wonder of the Old Covenant, etc. and in so doing actually speaks prophetically in verse nine of what was accomplished through Christ Jesus, redemption and an everlasting covenant!

While this knowledge, this understanding, this "fear of the Lord" is the beginning of wisdom, I would conjecture that it, in our recognition of Holy Spirit, should also be our guide in expanding our wisdom.  Jesus said, "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you." (John 16:13-14 NIV).  What better guide than the Holy Spirit, and how much more should we pay attention to He who understands all things?

I am reminded of something Paul said when reflecting on the revelation of scripture compared the revelation of Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit in his letter  2 Corinthians 3:7-11,17-18 NIV:

[7] "Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, [8] will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? [9] If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! [10] For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. [11] And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!"

[17] "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. [18] And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

Our contemplation of Christ, of His splendid majesty, will bring about our transformation!

Oh Lord, hasten to release greater revelation that transforms our hearts and minds!  Help us to become more like You! 

Amen and Amen!