God's Limitless Glory
God’s Limitless Glory
Psalm 113:1-3
God’s glory[1] extends far beyond all of our conceivable boundaries. His glory is greater even than our ability to imagine it. Now that is a glory in a category all by itself, don’t you think?—even beyond the reach of our own imagination!
The Psalmist provides three clues that spell out God’s limitless glory. But, let’s observe, first, that he calls on us to praise the LORD. This is the meaning of the Hebrew term, “Hallelujah.” You’ll find it at the beginning and ending of the Psalm. This literary technique is called an inclusio and provides an thematic envelope for the Psalm itself. We are to praise God at the beginning and at the ending as well.
And the Psalmist exhorts the servants of LORD to praise Him, not only the priests or the prophets or the kings, but the servants, the faithful Israelites assembled for worship. They are to praise His name.
Now let’s look at the first clue as we track God’s limitless glory. God’s name is to be praised “now and forever more.” Observe:
May the LORD’s name be blessed now and forever more. Ps. 113:2
That is a temporal indication. God’s name is to be praised from the moment the author penned the Psalm and on into eternity. Never to cease. There are no limits in eternity when God’s name is to be praised. It will never end, never cease, never go quiet. Imagine how glorious God must be for that to occur. Endless glory. Limitless glory. Ponder heaven.
After a game-winning touchdown or a thrilling performance on the piano or an awards ceremony, or even the inaugural address by the President, applause follows for a few seconds or, in certain cases, for a few minutes. But no one receives eternal acclaim. No one. The praise eventually quiets down and comes to a full stop. It becomes quiet. But not for the LORD. There are no time limits in eternity for the praise of our LORD. Endless praise. Endless glory. Ponder that for a moment and for life!
There’s a second clue as well. Observe:
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
praised be the name of the LORD. Ps. 113:3
Recognize the limits? If “now and forever more” is a temporal indication of God’s glory, then sunrise--east to sunset--west is a spatial indication. There are no limits geographically to the glory of God. So, both in time (“now and forever more”) and space--from the east to the west--there are no limits where God’s name is to be praised and where His glory is not recognized. His glory and praise exceed time and space, going beyond all our conceivable limitations.
From time to time, nations gather to honor men and women who made a difference in their national experience. For example, after the Allied victory in the war in Europe in May 1945, the British government invited General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, over across the pond to give him formal thanks for his victorious leadership.
Eisenhower had commanded armies from Britain, Canada, France, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, India, and the US, a real east and west team. For twenty minutes, on June 12, 1945, he addressed the great men of England in in a packed Guildhall, the 800-year old city hall. The response to his speech (applause) and his three years of service (gratitude) was lengthy as it was thunderous. But the applause was limited to Englishman. Even General Eisenhower’s praise had geographical limits. Countless nations of the world were not involved. But there is no limit spatially or eternally to the glory of God. God’s glory is limitless.
Finally, there’s a third limit mentioned by the Psalmist. Observe:
High over all the nations, the LORD,
over the heavens, His glory. Ps. 113:4
The LORD is high above the nations and His glory is even above the visible heavens. The horizontal indication of God’s glory from east and west is now complemented by the vertical extension—high above everything else.
The LORD must look down far below to see the nations and the heavens. Inconceivable. God’s glory is so exalted that it extends beyond all limits, even above the highest heavens. There is nothing higher than the glory of God.
God’s praise extends beyond all boundaries and all our conceivable limits. God’s glory is timeless, boundary-less, and limitless. It exceeds beyond all of our conceivable limitations. God’s glory is limitless.
It is no wonder that the Psalmist calls us twice to say, Hallelujah! Praise the LORD!
Thank you for reading.
Photo Credit: Jerry Smith
[1] The Hebrew word for glory literally means something heavy. It comes to mean significance or importance. To speak of God’s glory is to refer to His importance and significance. God is the most important and the most significant person in the universe. He has no equals.