An ineffably holy God, who has the utmost abhorrence of sin, was never invented by any of Adam’s descendants.
- A. W. Pink
Psalms of Delight...
Most of the Bible's Psalms give thanks to God on one or more levels. Commanded to do so, Christians aught to make the time to praise God for His glorious nature, creative genius and many gifts to mankind.
Psalms of Delight are written in concert with Psalms in the Night. Both series contain Modern Psalms meant to comfort and inspire those seeking the Omni-God revealed in Scripture.
Awe-Full Summary
Heaven and Earth reveal the awesome and awful nature of God in manifold ways. While other forces are at work, as the Creator and Judge, God is the Ultimate Authority over everything and everyone. Moses had his pillar of fire and we may soon have ours. Both speak volumes concerning the Awe-Full-ness of God.
Awe-Full
Modern Psalm of Delight 2
God, in a word You're Awe-full/Awful. It's as undeniable as Your existence. Creation reflects it. Scripture reveals it. Your Awe-full/Awful in every sense of the term!
First and foremost Your full of awe and wonder. As the Psalmist David said, "We've never even heard of a God like You." Frankly, what could generations who still thought the Earth was flat know about it? What ours has observed and handled with our hands is breathtaking. From the array of deep space spectrums caught by Hubble's gaze to surgeons holding beating hearts, an astounding picture's forming. From the power of nuclear energy to the intricacy of human creation, the glory of who both You and we are is coming into focus.
And what of Eternity? For all it's amazement our physical universe can't compare with the Third Heaven:
- "I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows... But I do know that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell." 2 Corinthians 12:2
- "That is what the Scriptures mean when they say “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9
- "The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness." 2 Peter 3:9-13
- "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone and I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He'll wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." Revelations 21:1-4
The Flip Side
While that sounds pretty good there's a flip side. You're not just Awe-full. You're also Awful. Terrible beyond words, our fear of You should be beyond description. As the pleasure and beauty of creation speaks of You so to its pains and horrors. It's pointless to deny it. Ask the trillions of insects and animals eaten alive. Ask the billions of children and adults mutilated or killed by war and violence. Ask the millions starving right now as they whimper "why?"
I mean no disrespect. In fact quite the opposite. I realize it's simplistic to lay evil, human and otherwise at Your feet, yet it's clear You allow it. At least for now. Equally clear is our hideous part in the matter. Nonetheless, whether we admit it or not we all know our vastly limited free will's not a rock too heavy for Omnity to lift.
My point is You're a fearful God. Creation reflects it and Scripture agrees:
- "Your wickedness will bring its own punishment. Your turning from me will shame you. You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is to abandon the Lord your God and not to fear him. I, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!" Jeremiah 2:19
- "I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me." Jeremiah 32:37-40
- "A son honors his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is my honor? and if I be a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, that despise my name." Malachi 1:6
- "Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear." Luke 12:4-5
- "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:12-13
- "Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire." Hebrews 12:28-29
More information
In the Red Dropdown Icon you'll find resources that we hope will both stimulate and facilitate your pursuit of and understanding of the God of the Bible. To get started simply place your cursor on a category of interest and see where it leads. You can also join the discussion in a variety of ways including posting comments to God Blogs as well as making comments or asking questions by email or text.
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved