Fearsome, Awesome God, 11/25/17

Jesus is the Lamb of God, meek and mild, the suffering servant. But he is also the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, ferocious and terrifying, the overcoming conqueror. So, yes we should love and worship God for being so loving and kind. But we also need to know him and worship him for being fearsome and awesome. Here a some beautiful scriptures that show just how awesome he is:

Psalm 18:7-15 New King James Version (NKJV)

7

Then the earth shook and trembled;

The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,

Because He was angry.

8

Smoke went up from His nostrils,

And devouring fire from His mouth;

Coals were kindled by it.

9

He bowed the heavens also, and came down

With darkness under His feet.

10

And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;

He flew upon the wings of the wind.

11

He made darkness His secret place;

His canopy around Him was dark waters

And thick clouds of the skies.

12

From the brightness before Him,

His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.

13

The Lord thundered from heaven,

And the Most High uttered His voice,

Hailstones and coals of fire.[a]

14

He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe,

Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.

15

Then the channels of the sea were seen,

The foundations of the world were uncovered

At Your rebuke, O Lord,

At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

Psalm 76:7-9 New King James Version (NKJV)

7

You, Yourself, are to be feared;

And who may stand in Your presence

When once You are angry?

8

You caused judgment to be heard from heaven;

The earth feared and was still,

9

When God arose to judgment,

To deliver all the oppressed of the earth.

Psalm 97:1-6 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Lord reigns;

Let the earth rejoice;

Let the multitude of isles be glad!

2

Clouds and darkness surround Him;

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.

3

A fire goes before Him,

And burns up His enemies round about.

4

His lightnings light the world;

The earth sees and trembles.

5

The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord,

At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

6

The heavens declare His righteousness,

And all the peoples see His glory.

So let's fall in love with him all the more for how fearsome and awesome he is and worship him with more awe than ever. Be blessed.

Our God is an awesome God. He is gentle and kind. But is he also fearsome and terrifying and holy. He is not to be messed with. Yes, he is loving and gentle and compassionate but that is not all that he is. There are two sides to God: good and severe:

Romans 11:22

Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

Steve Pursell, 11/25/17