Psalm 104:1-4 - October 10, 2009

Ps 104:1-4 "O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. 2 He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent 3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. 4 He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants." NIV

The majesty of God: how beautiful the description of his glorious presence. The scriptures are full of the images of God that He has left for us so that we can meditate on His glory. He. 4:16 tells us to come boldly before the throne of grace but have you considered what that means. What does the throne of grace look like? The word provides many glimpses into this glorious presence. Spend some time reflecting on the various images that are before us today. As a starting place consider these passages that describe that which surrounds Him. 2 Sam 22:12 describes the canopy around him “He made darkness his canopy around him- the dark rain clouds of the sky.” NIV Ps 97:2 takes this image even further by saying “Clouds and thick darkness surround him.” NIV
Picture yourself approaching God through a canopy or covering of clouds and thick darkness. But what is waiting for us once we penetrate this darkness? 2 Sa. 22:13 gives us a first glimpse: “Out of the brightness of his presence bolts of lightning blazed forth.” Though hidden in a canopy of darkness God Himself is a being of blazing light that shines forth from His person. Ps 18:12-13 enlarges still more on this image of God’s glory “Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. 13 The LORD thundered from heaven, the voice of the Most High resounded.” NIV
As we approach God we enter through the veil of darkness into a manifest radiance of light. As we draw near the sound of thunders and the flash of lighting fill our senses and the voice of God resounds around us. Consider the intensity of this atmosphere. The air is electric as you stand in the midst of the eternal power of God. How much of God’s presence can we endure? And yet He draws us even closer. Ezekiel sees it. There in the midst of this glorious intensity; the image of a man. Stand where Ezekiel stood for a moment and consider this; Ezek 1:25-28 “Then there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. 26 Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. 27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.” NIV There at the center of the radiance, at the midst of the throne stands a fiery man, surrounded by brilliant light.
It is powerful to consider that such a marvelous presence could be experienced by a number of different men at different times and different places. The scriptures provide such a faithful witness of the glory of God. Even at the end of its testimony the word draws us once again to consider the presence and glory of God. The book of Revelation again draws us into the courts of God and as we approach once again there is something central to the theme that we behold; a fiery man is there, waiting for us to come. Rev 1:12-16 “I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” NIV
Why are the pages of scripture full of such images and descriptions of God’s glory and majesty? Why the presence of this fiery man standing there as we approach? There is a simple answer. God desires to be known. He invites us to draw near and presents glimpses of His presence so that we can see with inner eyes the place we are drawing near to as we seek after the living God. You are welcome in His presence. He stands to greet you. He invites you to come boldly into this glorious presence. His desire is that as you encounter Him where He is you will live with Him where you are!