Who is the Most High?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The "Most High" refers to God as the supreme ruler over all creation, a title emphasizing His authority, power, and majesty above all other beings. In the Bible, this title is used to highlight God’s position as sovereign over the heavens and the earth. It is a way of acknowledging that there is no one greater than Him. In Genesis 14:19–20 and Daniel 4:17, God is acknowledged as the ruler of heaven and earth, with power to control human affairs. Psalms 7:17 and 47:2, praise God for His perfect righteousness and goodness, making Him the only truly perfect king. Jesus is referred to as the Son of the Most High (Luke 1:32), revealing His divine nature and authority. The Bible calls us to recognize God as the Most High, which leads us to surrendering our lives to Him and honoring and praising Him.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Several Bible verses refer to God as the "Most High," emphasizing His supreme authority and sovereignty. In Genesis 14:19–20, Melchizedek, who is either a type of Christ or Christ Himself, blessed Abram, recognizing God as the Most High: "And he blessed him and said, 'Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!'”
• The psalmist in Psalm 7:17 praises God for His righteousness and refers to Him as the Lord, Most High.
• Psalm 47:2 exalts God's kingship and authority over the whole earth as the Most High and calls us to fear or revere Him: "For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth." God is the Most High because He is sovereign over heaven and earth, is righteous and holy, and is king over all.
• Exodus 15:11 celebrates God's holiness, majesty, and unmatched power, showing that no other being compares to Him.
• The Bible emphasizes God's unrivaled supremacy and His position as the Most High. Psalm 95:3 and Psalm 97:9 proclaim the Lord as the greatest above all gods. These verses don’t confirm that there are other gods, but they do proclaim His supremacy over all spiritual beings.
• Psalm 96:4–5 contrasts the Lord with false idols, highlighting that while other so-called gods are mere creations of human hands, the Lord alone made the heavens. God, as the Most High, reigns supreme over all creation and is worthy of ultimate worship and reverence.
• God is Most High over all, not just the spiritual realm. Daniel 4:17 emphasizes His sovereignty over earthly kingdoms, stating that He controls the fate of nations and appoints rulers according to His will, even the lowliest of men.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In Luke 1:32, Jesus is referred to as the Son of the Most High. Jesus is God’s unique Son.
• Jesus was not born of human descent but of God (John 1:13). Jesus’s divine nature makes Him the rightful authority over the throne of David. This connection shows that as the Son of the Most High, Jesus shares in God's supremacy and reign over all things, as other verses confirm (Matthew 28:18; Hebrews 1:3).
• Despite Jesus’s divine authority and supremacy, He humbled Himself by becoming a man to save us from our sins. Philippians 2:6–8 explains how He, though being in the form of God, did not cling to His divine status but took on human flesh and became obedient to the point of death on the cross.
• Jesus did this because He loves us. He died and rose again so that all who believe in Him would be saved and have eternal life (John 3:16).
• Jesus, who made all things, rules over all and sustains all righteously: “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16–17).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Proverbs 9:10 tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. When we recognize God for who He is—the Most High, sovereign over all creation—it should lead us to understand our own limitations and to worship and praise Him wholeheartedly. This truth transforms our self-perception, reminding us that we are not in control, but are instead dependent on His grace and guidance. If God were only Most High, He could be like a dictator, but He is Most High not just by power, but also by character. He alone is perfectly good, loving, and true. And He willingly sacrificed Himself, so we could be saved from our sins and find life. The Most High is always doing what is perfectly good for our good (Romans 8:28). In response to His supremacy and goodness, we are called to surrender our lives to Him, trusting in His salvation and acknowledging His lordship over all aspects of our lives, finding true fulfillment and purpose in our relationship with the One who reigns above all. This surrender involves not just a one-time decision but a daily commitment to align our thoughts, desires, and actions with His will. By placing our trust in Him, we can navigate life's challenges with confidence, knowing that the Most High is with us, guiding our paths and providing strength in our weakness. Embracing the fear of the Lord leads us to deeper wisdom, helping us to discern right from wrong and to seek justice and mercy in our interactions with others. Ultimately, living in reverence of the Most High positions us to experience His abundant life, where we can joyfully serve Him and be a reflection of His glory in a world that desperately needs His truth.

UNDERSTAND

• God is the Most High.
• The Most High is the supreme ruler over all creation because He made all things by His power.
• The Most High is not only powerful, but He is perfectly good, true, and gracious.

REFLECT

• How does recognizing God as the Most High influence your daily decisions and priorities?
• How does understanding God's supremacy as the Most High yet seeing His humility and love impact your relationship with Him?
• What are practical ways you can honor and praise God as the Most High in your relationships and interactions with others?

ENGAGE

• How do the attributes of God as the Most High—His sovereignty, authority, and goodness—intersect with the challenges faced in today’s world?
• How does the title "Son of the Most High" inform your understanding of Jesus’s role and His sacrifice for humanity?
• How can the fear of the Most High, the beginning of wisdom, lead to a transformative relationship with God?