GOD IS GREAT AND GOOD
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
Isaiah 57:15
Additional Reading: Jeremiah 10:6; Revelation 4:11; Psalm 106:1; Psalm 119:68 (Optional: Luke 18:19)
In the classic children’s book series, The Chronicles of Narnia, the reader is often reminded that Aslan is not a tame lion. When the eldest Pevensie girl, Susan, is told that Aslan is a lion, she says, “I’d thought he was a man. Is he–quite safe?” The friendly Mr. Beaver responds, “Safe? . . . who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” Like Susan, who had misconceptions about Aslan, we often have misconceptions about God. A lot of these misconceptions arise when we downplay either God’s greatness or His goodness. When we talk about God’s greatness, we refer to attributes that belong to Him alone—such as infinity and omnipresence. When we talk about God’s goodness, we refer to His attributes that humans can also have—such as mercy and kindness. If you focus only on God’s greatness, you may have a hard time believing that He loves you, especially under challenging circumstances. But if you focus only on God’s goodness, you may start to think of Him as a “tame lion” who lacks power.
In Isaiah 57, the prophet rebukes the Israelites for their unfaithfulness. Instead of worshiping the one true God, they have turned to the powerless gods of surrounding nations. The people don’t remember their great and good God, for if they did, they could never worship another. Isaiah had a profound revelation of God’s greatness, often giving Him the name the Holy One of Israel. He reminds the people that God is the All-Mighty who dwells in the high and holy place and inhabits eternity. But Isaiah doesn’t stop there. He then reminds the people that the Lord is the one who is with the lowly in spirit. Not only is He a great God, awesome and holy, but He is good, reviving those who come to Him in humility and repentance. Surely a God such as this is worthy of all our worship. But so often, we’re like the Israelites. We forget how awesome our great and good God is. We allow other people, objects, ideas, goals, dreams—the list goes on and on—to steal the worship only He deserves. This week, we will be exploring the attributes of God in two categories: His greatness and goodness. In considering His greatness, we’ll learn that He is transcendent, unchanging, and sovereign. In looking at His goodness, we’ll examine how God is just, long-suffering, and kind. As we meditate on God’s greatness and goodness this week, may the Holy Spirit reveal our misconceptions and hidden idols, that we may redirect all of our worship to the only one who is worthy. Write down your thoughts on today’s devotional. Pray that God will continue to speak as you reflect.
Which aspect of God’s character is harder for you to believe—His greatness or His goodness? Why do you think that is?
List all the reasons you believe God is worthy of your worship.
BECAUSE GOD IS GREAT AND GOOD,
HE IS WORTHY OF OUR WORSHIP.
NOTES
REFLECT
PRAY
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
Isaiah 57:15
O God in heaven, there is none like You. You are great, mighty, and powerful, yet You are good, kind, and just. None of Your characteristics overshadow the others. You are worthy of my worship, not only because of what You have done for me, but because of who You are. You are an awesome God. Lord, I pray that this week Your Holy Spirit would teach me to better understand Your greatness and Your goodness. Open my eyes to see You at work in my life and in the world around me. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
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Ito pa ang sinasabi ng Kataas-taasang Diyos, ang Banal na Diyos na nabubuhay magpakailanman: “Nakatira ako sa mataas at banal na lugar, pero nakatira rin akong kasama ng mga taong mapagpakumbaba at nagsisisi, para sila’y palakasin ko.”
Isaias 57:15 ASND
Basahin Din: Jeremias 10:6; Pahayag 4:11; Salmo 106:1; Salmo 119:68 (Opsyunal: Lucas 18:19)
Sa The Chronicles of Narnia, isang klasikong kuwentong pambata, ang mga mambabasa ay madalas na pinaalalahanan na si Aslan ay hindi isang maamong leon. Nang sabihan si Susan, ang pinakamatandang babaeng Pevensie, na si Aslan ay isang leon, sinabi niya na, “Ang akala ko’y isa siyang tao at ligtas tayo sa kanya. Hindi ba siya mapanganib?” Ang palakaibigang si Mr. Beaver ay sumagot, “Ligtas? . . . sino ba ang may sinabi tungkol sa pagiging hindi mapanganib? Siyempre mapanganib siya. Pero mabait siya. Sinasabi ko sa iyo, Siya ang Hari.” Tulad ni Susan na may maling opinyon tungkol kay Aslan, may mga mali rin tayong pagkakaunawa tungkol sa Diyos. Marami sa mga ito ang nagmumula sa hindi pagkilala sa kadakilaan o kabutihan ng Diyos. Sa tuwing ipinapahayag natin ang kadakilaan ng Diyos, tinutukoy natin ang mga katangian na mayroon ang Diyos lamang, tulad ng Kanyang kawalang-hanggan at pagiging pinakamakapangyarihan sa lahat. Sa tuwing ipinapahayag natin ang kabutihan ng Diyos, tinutukoy natin ang mga katangian na maaari rin nating makita sa mga tao, tulad ng awa at kabaitan. Kung itutuon mo lamang ang iyong pansin sa kadakilaan ng Diyos, maaaring mahirapan kang paniwalaan na mahal ka Niya, lalo na sa gitna ng mga mahihirap na sitwasyon. Subalit kung itutuon mo naman ang iyong pansin sa kabutihan lamang ng Diyos, maaaring maisip mo na Siya ay isang “maamong leon” na walang sapat na kapangyarihan. Sa Isaias 57, sinaway ng propeta ang mga Israelita dahil hindi sila naging matapat. Sa halip na sambahin ang nag-iisang tunay na Diyos, naniwala sila sa mga walang kapangyarihang diyos-diyosan ng mga bayan na nakapalibot sa kanila. Hindi naalala ng mga tao ang kanilang dakila at mabuting Diyos, dahil kung naalala nila, hindi nila magagawang sumamba sa iba pa. Si Isaias ay nagkaroon ng isang malalim na pananaw tungkol sa kadakilaan ng Diyos na kadalasan ay tinatawag niyang Nag-iisang Banal ng Israel. Ipinaalala niya sa mga tao na ang Diyos ang Pinakamakapangyarihan na nananahan sa banal na lugar at sa kawalang-hanggan. Subalit hindi dito huminto si Isaias. Ipinaalala niya sa mga tao na ang Panginoon ang siyang kasama ng mga taong nawawalan ng pag-asa. Hindi lamang Siya dakilang Diyos, kahanga-hanga at banal, kundi Siya rin ay mabuti, na nagbibigay-buhay sa mga lumalapit sa Kanya nang may pagpapakumbaba at pagsisisi. Tiyak na ang ganitong Diyos ay karapat-dapat na tumanggap ng ating ganap na pagsamba. Subalit kadalasan, tayo ay katulad ng mga Israelita. Nakakalimutan natin kung gaano kahanga-hanga ang ating dakila at mabuting Diyos. Pinahihintulutan natin ang ibang tao, bagay, kaisipan, layunin, pangarap—at kung anu-ano pa—upang nakawin ang pagsamba na Siya lamang ang karapat-dapat na tumanggap. Ngayong linggo, titingnan natin ang iba’t ibang katangian ng Diyos na hinati natin sa dalawang pangkat o kategorya: ang Kanyang kadakilaan at Kanyang kabutihan. Sa pagsasaalang-alang ng Kanyang kadakilaan, matututunan natin na Siya ay higit na nangingibabaw sa lahat, hindi nagbabago, at makapangyarihan. Sa pagsasaalang-alang ng Kanyang kabutihan, matututunan natin na Siya ay makatarungan, matiyaga, at mahabagin. Habang pinag-iisipan natin ang kadakilaan at kabutihan ng Diyos ngayong linggo, nawa’y ipakita sa atin ng Banal na Espiritu ang ating mga maling kaisipan at mga diyosdiyosan,
upang maibaling natin ang ating pagsamba sa nag-iisang karapat-dapat na tumanggap nito. Isulat ang mga naisip mo tungkol sa debosyonal ngayong araw. Ipanalangin na patuloy na mangusap sa iyo ang Diyos habang lalo mong pinag-iisipan ang mga ito.
Anong aspeto ng katangian ng Diyos ang mas mahirap para sa iyo na paniwalaan—ang Kanyang kadakilaan o ang Kanyang kabutihan? Sa palagay mo, ano ang dahilan nito?
Itala ang lahat ng dahilan kung bakit naniniwala ka na ang Diyos ay karapat-dapat na tumanggap ng iyong pagsamba.
DAHIL ANG DIYOS AY DAKILA AT MABUTI, KARAPAT-DAPAT SIYANG TUMANGGAP NG ATING PAGSAMBA.
MGA NATUTUNAN
PAG-ISIPAN
MANALANGIN
Ito pa ang sinasabi ng Kataas-taasang Diyos, ang Banal na Diyos na nabubuhay magpakailanman: “Nakatira ako sa mataas at banal na lugar, pero nakatira rin akong kasama ng mga taong mapagpakumbaba at nagsisisi, para sila’y palakasin ko.”
Isaias 57:15 ASNDO Diyos sa kalangitan, wala Kang katulad. Ikaw ay dakila, malakas, at makapangyarihan, ngunit Ikaw din ay mabuti, mahabagin, at makatarungan. Walang isang katangian na nakahihigit sa iba. Karapat-dapat Kang tumanggap ng aking pagsamba, hindi lamang dahil sa ginawa Mo para sa akin, kundi dahil sa kung sino Ka. Ikaw ang Diyos na kahanga-hanga. Panginoon, ipinapanalangin ko na ngayong linggo, ako ay maturuan ng Iyong Banal na Espiritu upang higit na maunawaan ang Iyong kadakilaan at kabutihan. Buksan mo po ang aking mga mata upang makita ko ang Iyong mga ginagawa sa aking buhay at sa mundong nakapaligid sa akin. Sa pangalan ni Jesus, ito ang aking dalangin, amen.
GOD IS GREAT AND GOOD
The God who is highly honored lives forever. His name is holy. He says, “I live in a high and holy place. But I also live with anyone who turns away from their sins. I live with anyone who is not proud. I give new life to them. I give it to anyone who turns away from their sins.”
Isaiah 57:15 NIRV
Have you ever told anyone, “Great job!” or “Good job!”? Maybe you have a friend who dances really well, bakes the most amazing cookies, or always wins at computer games. Maybe you have a friend that paints gorgeous landscapes: mountains, seas, and sunsets. You can really tell that friend that they did a great job! But how about when you look at real mountains, real seas, and real sunsets? Would you just tell God, “Great job, God! Keep it up!” It might be nice—but it’s not the sort of thing you would say to God. That’s because telling your friend that they did a great job or a good job is totally different from what we mean when we say “God is great and good.”
The passage from Isaiah that we just read says that God is highly honored and that He is holy. That means there is no one like our God. He is the highest of the highest. When we think of Him, we should be in awe and wonder. In short, He is awesome!
God deserves our praise and worship. When we say praise, we rejoice at what He has done in our lives. When we say worship, we thank God for who He is and what He has done to and for us. He is a great and good God.
God is good, and we are not. Because of our sin, we were separated from God. He could have just let us all be separated from Him and experience eternal death. But God loved us so much that He made a way for us to live, by trusting in Jesus Christ. How can we not love a God like that? Though He is great and good, the highest of the highest, He gave us a clear path to reach Him directly.
I WORSHIP GOD BECAUSE HE IS GREAT AND GOOD.
REFLECT
Is it easy or hard for you to believe that God can do a miracle in your life? How can meditating on His character and word help make your faith stronger?
Write down three ways God has been great or good in your life.
PRAY
Dear God, there is no one like You. You are great, mighty, and powerful, but You are also good and kind. You are worthy of my worship not just because of what You did for me by giving me a straight path to You, but because of who You are: great and good. Please teach me to better understand Your greatness and goodness. Show me the things you are doing in my life and in the world around me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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