Remember that moment in your life when you were so scared that you broke into a cold sweat?
Remember when you met somebody who was famous and stammered like a little child?
Have you had the occasion to visit a great cathedral like St. Patrick’s in New York where the massive and beautiful architecture causes you to lower your voice as awe sweeps over you?
Remember when you met somebody who was famous and stammered like a little child?
Have you had the occasion to visit a great cathedral like St. Patrick’s in New York where the massive and beautiful architecture causes you to lower your voice as awe sweeps over you?
Habakkuk’s prayer is mine this morning - "LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy." (Habakkuk 3:2, NIV) I stand in need of a renewed experience of the awesomeness of the Lord. The sins of the land, an apathy about God, His Word, and His will; and yes, multiplied human needs are placing heavy demands on me. No amount of human effort, no words of inspiration will bring renewal. Only an encounter with the holy, living, ‘scare me half to death’ God will do. So, I pray the prophet’s prayer, but not without some fear.
We say, “awesome!” as if it were a pleasant thing. A little chill or thrill might be fun, but real awe is a sibling of terror! Something genuinely awesome is beyond our control; and most of the time, we do everything we can to avoid those kinds of experiences. Who really likes when life is out of control, when everything is shaken? And yet, I pray for the Living God to shake us up, to rip away our disillusions and cause us to cling desperately to His promise!
Exodus tells us about a Israel’s encounter with the Holy Awesome. They were camped at Mt. Sinai. Moses was going to go to meet the Lord and receive the Law. As the mountain quaked and smoked under His Mysterious Presence, Israel grew fearful. "Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”" (Exodus 20:18-19, NKJV) Later in the saga, with Moses gone, they set aside their holy fear, abandoned the Lord, preferring to make a lesser god - one less awesome. In one of the tragic episodes of the Exodus, Aaron gave in to their demands and made them an idol, a golden calf. Freed from the restraint of the fear of the Lord, they slide into riot. "They celebrated with feasting and drinking, and indulged themselves in pagan revelry. Then the Lord told Moses, “Quick! Go down the mountain! The people you brought from Egypt have defiled themselves. They have already turned from the way I commanded them to live. They have made an idol shaped like a calf, and they have worshiped and sacrificed to it. They are saying, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of Egypt.’" (Exodus 32:6-8, NLT)
When Moses arrived at the camp of Israel, he saw a tragic, sinful sight: "the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies." (Exodus 32:25, NIV)
Are we, like them, longing for a god less fearsome, one who we can identify with more easily?
Do we allow ourselves to resent the Lord of Glory who defies our definitions and formulas?
Are we making Him over into a lesser god, perhaps even unconsciously adopting images for Him to which we can relate?
Do we allow ourselves to resent the Lord of Glory who defies our definitions and formulas?
Are we making Him over into a lesser god, perhaps even unconsciously adopting images for Him to which we can relate?
There is no good end in that. We will lose the Majesty and slip into self-indulgent religion that lacks any real power to transform us into His holy people. When we diminish God, when we take away His majesty and make Him over as a tame god, awe disappears. With the loss of awe comes a loss of moral restraint!
God asks "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you ever build me a temple as good as that?’ asks the Lord. ‘Could you build a dwelling place for me?" (Acts 7:48-49, NLT) We must be willing to live with awe and mystery, serving the Almighty God who is holy, awesome, and worthy of our wholehearted devotion. The 21st century Christian Church is filled with sin because her theology is so impoverished. We sing "Jesus loves me, this I know...” a sweet sentiment to be sure, but there is much more to know about God. God, as seen in the face of Jesus Christ, is approachable. But, God is still the God of Sinai and the God of Whom the prophets thundered. He is the God that John met on the Isle of Patmos who revealed His sweeping plans for the triumph of His kingdom and the destruction of evil.
Let’s pray -"LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy." (Habakkuk 3:2, NIV) With an authentic humility let’s admit that God can never be defined, tamed, or explained! Admitting that God does not live in our back pocket, that He is holy, awesome, and majestic in Glory, will go a long, long way to bringing us around to serving Him acceptably in reverence. "LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy." (Habakkuk 3:2, NIV)
The word from the Word - "Then the Lord said to Job, “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?” Then Job replied to the Lord, “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will put my hand over my mouth in silence. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.” (Job 40:1-5, NLT)
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Your Great Name We Praise
Immortal, invisible, God only wise.
In light inaccessible, hid from our eyes.
Most holy, most glorious, the Ancient of Days;
Almighty, victorious, Your great Name we praise!
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light.
Not wanting or wasting, You rule us in might.
Your Justice, like mountains, high soaring above;
Your Clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
All life comes from You, Lord, to both great and small.
In all life You live, Lord, the true life of all.
We blossom and flourish but quickly grow frail,
We wither and perish but You never fail.
Great Father of Glory, pure Father of Light.
Your angels adore You all veiling their sight!
All praise we will render, oh Father of Grace,
‘Till one day, in splendor, we see face to face.
Bob Kauflin | Walter Chalmers Smith
© 2001 Sovereign Grace Praise (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (IMI))
CCLI License # 810055
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