The High & Lofty One

by Tiffany S.
from Virtuous Daughters, January 2014~Volume 13, Number 10

​“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, Whose name is Holy;
I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”—Isaiah 57:15
 
What a delight to study God’s character as revealed in His Word! When I consider His impeccable character, His unmatched beauty, His magnificent power, I declare with the psalmist, “What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that Thou visiteth him? For Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour….O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8) What a mighty God we serve! Yet He cares for us as the sheep of His pasture, He holds us in His right hand of righteousness, He knows the number of hairs on our head, He puts our tears in a bottle...what love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God (1 John 3:1)!

​There is a difference between God’s natural attributes and His moral attributes. The Lord’s natural attributes are uniquely His; they never can or will apply to human beings. These attributes are sometimes difficult to comprehend from our limited human perspective; however, the knowledge that our almighty God possesses these divine characteristics provides incredible comfort, security, and encouragement. “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it….How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!”—Psalm 139:6,17
 

Natural Attributes of God

• Transcendence. God is above His creation. (Is. 57:15)
• Immanence. God is involved within His creation. (Is. 57:15, Col. 1:7, Eph. 4:6)
• Eternity. God has no beginning or ending; time does not limit Him. (Ps. 90:2)
• Infinity. God is not limited by space. (All His attributes are without limit.) 1 Ki. 8:27; Ps. 103:17; 139:7-12; 147:5; Is. 55:8-9; Jer. 23:24)
• Immutability. God does not change. Ps. 102:24-27, Is. 46:9-10, James 1:17
• Omniscience. God is all-knowing. Ps. 139:1-4; Is. 40:26; 46:10; Rom. 11:23; Ps. 147:5; Heb. 4:13; Rom. 11:33-34 It should be understood that just as God is omniscient of His own free will, He may also choose to suppress knowledge. For instance, He chooses to blot out our transgressions and to not remember our sins (Is. 43:25, Heb. 8:12).
• Omnipresence. God is “everywhere present in the universe in the whole of His being.”* (Ps. 139:7-10, Jer. 23:23-24)
• Omnipotence. God is all-powerful. He can do whatever He wills. (Gen. 17:1, Rev. 4:8, Job 42:1-2, Jer. 32:17, Matt. 19:26, Rev. 19:6, Col. 1:16-17) Bible Doctrines for Today explains, “God can do anything in harmony with His nature. He does not do things that are foolish, self-contradictory (e.g. make a square circle), sinful, unworthy of deity, or against the promises He has given in His Word. For instance, God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). God limits His omnipotence both by His Word and by His will.”*    

 
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God’s moral attributes apply to His relationship with mankind. As believers, we should strive to emulate these qualities as part of endeavoring to glorify Him. When we get to heaven, we will be “like Him” in these characteristics (1 John 3:2).
 
Moral Attributes of God

• Holiness. God is morally perfect and pure; because of this, He demands the same standard. In God’s mercy, He has made a Way (Jesus Christ’s righteousness) for us sinful humans to be reconciled to Him. We can only approach God through the holiness of Jesus Christ. (Ex. 15:11, Ps. 22:1-3, Matt. 27:46, Rev. 15:4, Rom. 5:1-2, 1 Pet. 1:16)
• Justice. God must act in accordance with His laws; sin cannot go unpunished. God is the only One Who determines how restitution takes place because He is the One Who has been wronged through our sin. He has ordained that each person must pay for his own sin debt or accept God’s perfect Substitute—and He has given us the free will to make that choice.
• Righteousness. God always does what is right. He keeps His promises. (Gen. 18:25, Neh. 9:7-8, Dan. 9:16, 2 Tim. 4:8)
• Love. God expresses His care for those He loves. His love is sacrificial. (Jn. 15:13; 3:16; Rom. 8:32)
• Mercy. God shows compassion by not giving the sinner what he deserves. (Rom. 5:8; Mic. 6:8; 7:18)
• Grace. God bestows unmerited goodness and love—He gives to the sinner what he does not deserve. (Eph. 1:6-7; 2:7-9; Tit. 2:11)
• Goodness. God deals bountifully with us. (Ps. 145:9, Matt. 5:45)
• Truth. God cannot lie; He only tolerates truth. (Num. 23:19;
• 1 Kings 8:56; Jn. 14:6; 17:17)

 
I hope some of this is an encouragement to you as you press on to know Him more. Studying the attributes of God drives me to love Him more passionately and serve Him more fervently. He is worthy of our praise! O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together!
                                     
*definition from Bible Doctrines for Today by Michael C. Bere

Note: The Knowledge of the Holy is an excellent book by A.W. Tozer that is filled with rich insight and encouragement regarding the attributes of God. I highly recommend it!