Are You Beholding God’s Power and Glory?

March 22, 2022

Beholding God's Power and Glory

Are You Beholding God’s Power and Glory?

By Brooke Holt

“So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.” (Psalm 63:2–4)

David was on the run, from cave to cave through the wilderness. Surely, he was too distracted for his quiet times, right? No, David made time to set his heart and his mind on the Lord. He remembered his times in the tabernacle, where he beheld the glory of the Lord. He remembered God’s faithfulness in his life. When he could not get to the tabernacle to worship the Lord, David understood that God’s presence was not limited to just the tabernacle. David could experience his power and his glory even in the wilderness.

In the middle of his challenges and fears, David called himself to worship. Why? Because David knew he had no power in himself to save himself. David knew that all power and glory belonged to the Lord. But he also knew that alongside that power and glory was the Lord’s steadfast love. That steadfast love was David’s foundation and hope. He even proclaimed that the steadfast love of the Lord was better than life.

How did David experience the assurance of God’s love when his life was out of his control? David lived in the truth of God’s Word. God sits on the heavenly throne (Psalm 47:8). God alone has power and glory (Psalm 63:2). God loves his people with a steadfast love (Psalm 18:50). God’s love was enough for David. It moved him to trust, persevere, and worship.

Paul wrote to his prodigy Timothy, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17, NIV). God knew that you would have wilderness times in your life as well. He knew that there would be times when you don’t understand why things go the way they do, even when you worship him and serve him. Why these traumas; why these challenges; why these losses? You can ask why, or you can learn from this God-breathed Scripture written by David in the wilderness. You can turn your heart, mind, and spirit to the living God who has all power and glory and who loves you with a perfect, steadfast love.

Christ Jesus is the forerunner of our faith, and his Spirit anchors our souls in the hope of God’s promises (Hebrews 6:18–19). We can draw near to God in faith and ask him the tough questions that trouble us. And his word consoles us: “When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul” (Psalm 94:19). God is faithful, and he can turn our greatest challenges into places of sweet worship. We can start by remembering who God is, celebrating what he has done, and trusting what he is yet to do.

Reflection:

How is God inviting you to remember his power, glory, and steadfast love today? How is he calling you to worship him in your wilderness? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Related Resource:

Let's face it, the Christian life is hard. Relationships take work. Christians forget. Sometimes it is tempting to go back to the days when God was not the center of our lives - to backslide. We are all faced with tremendous pressures to drift away from intimacy with Jesus and the community of the Church. However, the Lord invites us to pay attention, to move forward, to draw near, and to live lives of worship. Draw Near: Hebrews on Christian Worship is a small group Bible study on the Book of Hebrews intended to lead participants into a deeper intimacy with the living God in the context of New Testament worship. Draw nearer to God in authentic worship today!