If you were to ask someone who God was, chances are they could recite a list of religious words and philosophical theories to you. If not, they'd probably shift their stance uncomfortably, point their thumb to the ceiling and whisper with a nervous laugh, "he's the big guy upstairs in charge of everything." Or, ask a young child the same question, and they'd come up with a more imaginative answer. Her eyes would widen, followed by a lift of her eyebrows and she'd exclaim, "He's kind of like Santa Claus, with the white hair and deep voice, except shinier."
Where are all of these ideas coming from? What is the root of these creative illustrations? They're all different because they're all dependent on an individual's perspective--an attempt by a limited human mind to understand an unlimited God.
When you want to get to know someone more, like a famous actress or actor, one would assume that you'd look into a biography of sorts. Well, it turns out that the Bible can be likened to God's autobiography. It is the "Word of the Lord," acting as a link between humans and the spiritual realm. In order to get a more accurate picture of who "the big guy upstairs" is, let's take a look at the words He uses to describe Himself:
Psalm 97:1-7
1 "The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad;
let the distant shores rejoice.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him
and consumes his foes on every side.
4 His lightning lights up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory."
Psalms 97 is only one of the many chapters in the Bible that describes God in comparison to things of this world. I've broken down these six verses in smaller segments, since in this case, it will be easier to discuss them out of context. Read on to the specific verses to see them described in detail.
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