Second is the greatness of his holiness. As 1 John 1:5 says, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” He is not just great in his majesty, but in his holiness. He is not just in charge and exalted, but he has perfect integrity—he is the standard of truth and character and moral uprightness. When he speaks, the darkness flees. He is great in his holiness.
Third is the greatness of his eternality. He never had a beginning, and he will never have an end. He is Alpha and Omega, he is the beginning and the end—nothing came before him and nothing will come after him. But not only does he stand unmoved from age to age, but “time is in his hands.” Not only is he before and after time, but he controls time, every century and year and hour and minute and second-tick—from him and through him and for him (Romans 11:36). He is great in relation to time.
Finally is the greatness of his mercy. He is not only One, but Three. And not only Father, but Son and Spirit. And these three persons of the Godhead work ever in happy tandem, not simply with the greatness of a Lion, but the greatness of a Lamb. And in his greatness as both Lion and Lamb, we find what it is that truly makes him great.
As great as he is in his majesty and holiness and eternality, it is the greatness of his mercy that truly leaves us in awe, because it his mercy in his Son that brings us sinners into the eternal joy of relationship with him. How great is our God!
Desiring God partnered with Shane & Shane’s The Worship Initiative to write short meditations for more than one hundred popular worship songs and hymns. This meditation accompanies the song “How Great Is Our God” on The Worship Initiative, Volume 2. More from this series below.
• When God Calls You Out (Oceans)
• 10,000 Reasons
• It Is Well
Great is the Lord! As great as he is in power and holiness, it is the greatness of God’s mercy that truly leaves us in awe.
