What is God’s Majesty?

The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty;
the LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength;
indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.

Psalm 93:1

In the 1980s, Christians in Southern California began to sing the worship song “Majesty,” written by Jack Hayford, pastor of the Church on the Way in Van Nuys. Before long, this song was being sung throughout the world by millions of people. For years, it was one of the most popular of all contemporary worship songs. I wouldn’t be surprised if this song has been sung more often by more people throughout the world than any other recent hymn or praise song.

But, when we sing “Majesty,” do we really know what we’re singing? We’re supposed to worship God’s majesty. That sounds right. But what does it mean?

I expect most of us have a gut feeling about what God’s majesty is. It has to do with God’s strength and glory. Kings and queens are called “Your Majesty” in recognition of their sovereignty. So God’s majesty may also be about royal authority. We might also be inclined to equate God’s majesty with greatness. All of these notions of majesty are wonderful. Surely they represent attributes of God that compel us to worship. But can we get clear on the actual definition of “majesty?”

The English word “majesty” comes to us from the Latin word maiestas, which means “greatness or dignity.” In the Hebrew original of Psalm 93, the word translated into English as “majesty” is ge’ut (pronounced guh-OOth). The standard Hebrew-English dictionary defines this word as, you guessed it, “majesty.” It is closely related to the word translated as “pride” in a negative sense (ge’ah). Both of these words derive from a root that means “to rise.” So, if you think too highly of yourself, then you have ge’ah, which is not good. But when it comes to God, who is utterly great, who is the God above all other gods, then ge’ut is appropriate. This word doesn’t convey God’s pride. Rather, it stands for God’s reputation among people and everything about God that deserves this glory. We might get the sense of the word by saying that God is rightly thought of more highly than any other being, in heaven and earth.

So, when it comes to Psalm 93:1, God’s being robed in majesty represents being enveloped in the esteem of God’s creatures. God’s great strength calls forth honor. God’s glory demands praise. Thus, this psalm reminds us why we worship God even as it calls us to worship. In a sense, we join ourselves to the robe of majesty that surrounds God when we worship.

Something to Think About:

When you think of God’s majesty, what comes to mind?

Do you ever think of your worship as joining you to a universal chorus of praise? How might this thought affect your worship of God?

Something to Do:

The next time you’re in a setting of corporate worship, picture God’s majesty, and let this image inspire your worship.

Prayer:

All praise be to you, O God, because you are robed in majesty. Your greatness calls forth worship. Your creation glorifies you because you alone are worthy of glory.

May I live for the praise of your glory, adding a few strands to your robe of majesty through my words and my deeds. Amen.

Explore more at the Theology of Work Project online commentary:
Mightier Than the Waves