For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightning for the rain, and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.
Psalm 135:5-7
I just got my driver’s license and decided to take a trip to Burger King for lunch. I didn’t have much experience in parking lots, but parked well and went inside to order. I came back out to my car, got it, turned the car on, and began to back out. The only problem is that I turned the wheel too soon and ended up hitting the back quarter panel of a work truck. I looked around to see if anyone was looking and saw no one. So I decided I probably got away with it and took off towards home.
Later that afternoon, I had to run a letter to the post office for my mom. As soon as I pulled out of my neighborhood, a Lexington County Deputy Sheriff pulled me over. His name was Bucky Phillips. I’ll never forget that name. He came up to my window and asked if I wanted to get in the back of his car and drive me to the West Columbia police department or if I wanted him to follow me. I decided to drive myself. I shook and sweated all the way there. That was the longest drive of my life.
I got there and was drilled by one of the officers about a hit and run that I committed at Burger King earlier. That went on for about 30 minutes. I finally called my dad, and he showed up quickly. Within about 10 minutes, my dad looked at the police officer and said, “I think that’s enough. Tell me what I need to do, and we need to go.” I had never seen my father step in the gap for me like that. I was scared, but he relieved my fear of his seeming authority over the situation. I had a new respect for my father after that day.
God is Preeminent
The psalmist was very confident. There is none like our God. The word great in verse 5 means to be remarkable or out of the ordinary. That’s our God. He is great. Why? Because He is above all other gods. His character, power, love, compassion, steadfastness, and care for people who love Him are significant and remarkable. When I think about God’s greatness, I am always drawn to the fact that I don’t deserve to experience any of it. He chooses to do that because of his exceptional love for me. That same extraordinary love is available to you as well.
God is Independent
God doesn’t ask us what is right to do, and when is the best time to accomplish anything. God does what He pleases when He the time is right for Him. This gives many of us difficulty because we are very impatient sometimes. But, God’s timing in difficult situations is always on time and always for a purpose. I have to remember that these verses are not about me, but about Him. We often read Scripture with us as the main character. Today, read this passage with God as the main character. He does whatever He pleases because He is God, and we have to trust Him that His ways are pure, and His motives are always to bring some attention to Himself and not us.
God is Omnipotent
We had a bad lightning storm at our house last night. But I was reminded that God controls all of those things. You see, God did not just set our universe in motion, spin the earth, and let us run all over it and do what we please. God is still in control of things as simple as the wind, rain, and lightning. Imagine for a minute. Every lightning strike…God did it. Every cool breeze on a hot afternoon…God did it. Do you see it? We serve a God who is excellent, needs nothing, and is all-powerful over the earth and our circumstances. There is nothing beyond His grasp or concern. He loves us with an everlasting love and is even concerned with the gentle winds.
Back to the car. So my dad shows up and tells the officer that he doesn’t have any more time to stand there and watch him wear me out and that they should either charge me or let me go. “Make a decision.” I looked at my dad that day and thought, “I sure am glad he’s here. He took control and made things all better.”
We left the police station, and when I got home, there was no anger, no punishment, and no conversation about the incident. It was as if my father just forgave me. I expected at least some kind of restriction or something. But nothing. At that point, my father displayed God’s care for me in a tangible way that I will never forget. He could have responded in a very different way. But he didn’t. He was a perfect example of God’s forgiveness, grace, and mercy in my life. Whether it was restraint or understanding how scared I was, he did something remarkable.
Some things you never forget.