What Does It Mean That God Is Great?
What Does It Mean That God Is Great?
A Theological Reflection on the Supremacy and Majesty of the LORD
To say that God is great is to affirm that He is infinitely superior to all created beings in power, authority, majesty, wisdom, holiness, love, and every other perfection. The greatness of God is not merely a subjective or emotional expression of reverence; it is an objective and eternal truth about His being. He is preeminent, transcendent, and matchless in all His ways. As the Creator, Sustainer, and Judge of all, His greatness demands our awe, our worship, and our full submission.
1. God's Greatness Is Incomprehensible and Unsearchable
Psalm chapter 145, verse 3:
"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable."
The Hebrew word translated “unsearchable” ('êyn cheqer) means “beyond investigation” or “without limit.” We can grasp aspects of God’s greatness, but we cannot measure it. There are no boundaries to His attributes.
Job chapter 5, verses 8 through 9:
"But as for me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause—who does great things, and unsearchable, marvelous things without number."
Job chapter 9, verse 10:
"He does great things past finding out, yes, wonders without number."
God’s greatness lies not only in what He does, but in who He is. His acts reveal His nature, but His essence remains infinite and eternal, beyond all human comprehension.
2. God’s Greatness Is Displayed in His Works and Power
Psalm chapter 86, verse 10:
"For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God."
Psalm chapter 96, verse 4:
"For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods."
The Lord’s greatness is seen in creation, in providence, and in redemption. He does what no other can do:
He parted the Red Sea (Exodus chapter 14).
He raised the dead (John chapter 11, verses 43 through 44).
He upholds all things by the word of His power (Hebrews chapter 1, verse 3).
No created power compares to the surpassing greatness of God.
3. God's Greatness Is Manifest in His Attributes
God is great in power:
Ephesians chapter 1, verse 19:
"And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power..."
He is great in love:
First John chapter 3, verse 1:
"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him."
He is great in patience:
Romans chapter 9, verse 22:
"What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction..."
He is great in faithfulness:
Lamentations chapter 3, verses 22 through 23:
"Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."
God’s greatness is not confined to raw strength—it touches every facet of His character, all of which are perfect and without flaw.
4. Jesus Christ Is the Great God and Savior
Titus chapter 2, verse 13:
"Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ..."
This verse affirms not only the deity of Christ but also His greatness in divine identity. Jesus is not “lesser” than the Father—He is fully God, equal in power and glory.
Hebrews chapter 10, verse 21:
"And having a High Priest over the house of God..."
Jesus Christ is our great High Priest, whose priesthood surpasses all others in scope, permanence, and efficacy (cf. Hebrews chapter 4, verse 14).
5. God's Greatness Inspires Worship and Fear
Psalm chapter 150, verse 2:
"Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness!"
Psalm chapter 71, verse 19:
"Also Your righteousness, O God, is very high, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You?"
Second Kings chapter 17, verse 36:
"But the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, Him you shall worship, and to Him you shall offer sacrifice."
God’s greatness commands a response. No one can truly behold His greatness and remain unmoved. To encounter the greatness of God is to be brought low in humility and lifted high in worship.
6. God Alone Defines Greatness
Psalm chapter 90, verse 2:
"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God."
God is eternal. He does not derive greatness from anything else—He is the source of all greatness. Any creature we call “great” is only great in a relative, derived, and limited sense. God's greatness is absolute, original, and infinite.
Conclusion: The LORD Is Great and Greatly to Be Praised
To declare that God is great is to affirm that He is infinitely worthy, utterly unrivaled, and majestically sovereign. From the works of His hands to the righteousness of His law, from the mercy of His cross to the judgment of His throne, He is matchless in all His ways. And our proper response is worship, humility, trust, and obedience.
Psalm chapter 34, verse 3:
"Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together."
Let us live lives that reflect our belief in the greatness of God, and may we proclaim His greatness to every generation, every tribe, and every tongue.
