“And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations. Who will not fear You, Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous deeds have been revealed'” (Revelation 15:3-4 NLT).
This passage alludes to the song of Moses and the Israelites that commemorated their safe passage through the Red Sea in Exodus chapter fourteen. A closer look at this song from Revelation 15:3-4 highlights four important elements. The first element involves the magnificent works of God: “Great and awe-inspiring are your works, Lord God Almighty…’ (CEB).
From the majestic waves that crash upon a beach, to the beauty of a glorious sunset, to the wondrous expanse of a starlit night, God’s creation showcases these great and marvelous works. If these wonders of creation inspire such awe, how much more awe-inspiring is the One who created them?
So the first element of this passage involves the things God has done. The next component references God’s character: “Just and true are your ways…” This reminds us that God never interacts with us in a false or unjust manner. Instead, the qualities of truth and justice characterize His relationship to humanity. As we’re reminded in the Biblical book of Psalms, “…the Lord is righteous; He loves righteous deeds. The upright will see His face” (Psalm 11:7 HCSB).
The next element involves God’s worthiness: “Who will not fear You, Lord, and glorify Your name?” Once again, this reference to “fear” conveys a sense of reverence, honor, and respect. Our text from Revelation 15:3-4 thus makes use of a literary tool in the form of a rhetorical question. When our author asks, “Who shall not fear You, O Lord,” the assumed answer is, “no one.”
Finally, we have a reference to the act of glorifying God’s name. In the original language of Revelation, the word “glory” expresses “…a good opinion that results in praise and honor for the person under consideration.” (1) It also conveys the characteristic attributes of excellence, preeminence, and dignity. A contemporary definition of this word includes “very great praise, honor, or distinction bestowed by common consent; renown.” (2)
So, taken together, these qualities should encourage us to acknowledge and glorify God for the things He has done. It should also prompt us to give Him the credit and respect He richly deserves.
Image Attribution: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
(1) G1391 – doxa – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1391/kjv/tr/0-1/
(2) Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words. (2025). In Dictionary.com. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/glory