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PSALM 8:9 “OH LORD, OUR LORD, HOW MAJESTIC IS YOUR NAME IN ALL THE EARTH!” (NASB, RSV, NIV)
“O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” (KJV, NKJV)
“O Jehovah, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” (ASV)
Most Christians have heard a rendition of this Scripture in song famously sung by Sandi Patti. If you haven’t heard it or would like to hear it again, go to this website address:
https://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=UIgeisMkJjw
You won’t have to listen to this song very many times to solidly remember the verse, “Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.” And, you probably like listening to Sandi Patti sing a lot more than you do me!
Of course, even if you have the words to the verse memorized now, you still need to remember where it is found: Psalm 8:9. If you have already gone through the first course of memorization in Book 1, you know how to do this by now. Take note how long it takes you to memorize the verse and reference. It will probably be quick. Well done!
Majesty is one of those themes we aren’t real familiar with in America. We would never give any President the title of “your majesty.” They are much more familiar with the concept of majesty in the oldest monarchy in the world, the United Kingdom. While Cheryl and I were stationed in England on two separate tours with the Air Force, we could see this demonstrated regularly.
Every British citizen can tell you all about their monarch. They might complain about the very high cost to support the royal family, but put any one of them in front of the queen and you would watch them turn into respectful, almost worshipful adoration of “her royal highness.”
I don’t mind the other translations saying “how excellent is your name,” but it kind of loses the same meaning as the word majestic. Webster uses synonyms for majestic such as imposing, stately, grand, magnificent. Have you ever thought of Jesus in those terms? Those of us who witnessed the royal wedding of Charles and Dianna in 1981 remember those superlatives being used to describe the event. How imposing and stately that was!
Put a British citizen before Queen Elizabeth, and now King Charles, and you will see some serious bowing, honor being given, succumbing to how grand and magnificent one perceives their presence to be that it makes you wonder why. I honestly think that despite any misgivings, the average Brit loves the pomp and circumstance that comes with the recognition of royalty.
Where is that kind of love and respect for our Lord? Bowing before the Lord…even kneeling for prayer…is an often forgotten act. Many times I’d rather complain about how loud the volume of music is during praise and worship rather than praising and worshipping. How quickly we just choose to forget that we are in the presence of greater royalty than the world has ever known.
So, while you are learning this precious verse and committing it to memory, take some time in quiet meditation and prayer and recognize the true meaning of the words. Jesus, you are worthy of our praise! Your very name is worth us honoring, respecting and loving with all our hearts. O Lord….OUR LORD…how majestic is your name in all the earth. Other Scriptures tell us that all creation…even the heavens and the universe…worship and cry out praise to You. Here on this earth that you have blessed us with, why should we do any less?
Questions to ponder: What most effectively distracts you and draws you away from total worship of the Lord? How do we find it so easy to take for granted the greatest, most awe-inspiring things in life while devoting so much time to worthless endeavors? How long has it been since you approached our awesome Lord on your knees? What is it about kneeling in prayer that is so hard…yet might also be so important? Is it so easy to imagine bowing before a man who has been appointed king of a nation and so hard to visualize the realness of bowing before our God? Try that out right now.
Other Scriptures to consider: Psalm 103 “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!” Psalm 34 “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” “Praise the Lord and sing praises to him all you peoples.” Rom 15:11 “They shouted, ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.’” Luke 19:38-40
Consider: https://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=NpdRhdt-7xs "Majesty, Worship His Majesty"
 
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