Our God Is An Awesome God
We live in a world filled with challenges and stress. It is all too easy to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of our problems. We are often preoccupied with the difficulties of life, the hardships our situations bring, the mountains we must climb, and the rivers that we must cross. We become so involved with ourselves, and our problems become so overwhelming that we forget the greatness and the power of God. It is good to be reminded of the greatness of God.
In today’s passage, David reminds us of the importance of turning our eyes from the challenges and difficulties of life and focusing on the greatness and awesomeness of God. God is not in trouble; he’s not trying to figure out what to do; he’s not scared of the issues of life like you and me; he’s not confused; he’s not aloof, but he’s alive and actively involved in his creation. He never changes; he’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. Our God is an awesome God.
Whatever your situation, whether you are a believer or skeptic, I want to know and experience the awesomeness of God in your life.
Big Idea: God is awesome and wants to demonstrate his awesome power through you.
An awesome God deserves our worship (vv.1-2)
Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
Ascribe to the Lord Glory and Strength.
Approximately 2,000 to 2,500 new plants are discovered every year. Approximately 18,000 new animal species are found every year. Astronomers typically discover hundreds of new exoplanets every year. Yet, men often try to claim the glory and strength for themselves about things God has created. We are usually prone to hero worship, worship of technology, and worship of everything except God. David is calling us to ascribe glory and strength exclusively to the self-existing God. Kings and kingdoms must recognize the majesty of God, knowing that their well-being is inextricably linked to their dependence on God.
Giving glory and strength to God is not merely a mental exercise but a deep commitment of the heart and the verbal expression of God’s greatness. After witnessing the power of God that separated the Red Sea for about 3 million Israelites to cross on dry land, Moses sang to the Lord, recognizing the awesomeness of God in Exodus 15:11, “Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”
The disciples of Jesus came to him and requested that he teach them how to pray. Jesus taught them what we call today “The Lord’s Prayer.” He ended the prayer by declaring the awesomeness of God—For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. It all belongs to the king of kings and the Lord or Lords. Ascribe glory and strength to God. All worship must be to God only.
Ascribe to the Lord the Glory due to his name.
For the third time, the writer admonishes us to ascribe to God the glory, but this time, the glory is due to his name. In today's world, the name of the Lord is taken for granted. People curse with the name of the Lord; they swear by the name and do all kinds of things in the name. The name of God is to be revered and glorified.
When Moses encountered the presence of God in the burning bush in Exodus, God told Moses to go to Pharaoh and tell him, 'You must let my people go to the wilderness to worship me.' Moses said when they asked me who sent it, what should I say. Tell them, I AM that I AM sent you, for I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is Jehovah in every situation we face. He is the I AM … in whatever happens to be our need.
Later, when God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments, the second commandment pertained to the name of the Lord. "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." Exodus 20:7. Give the Lord the glory that is due his name." The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it, and they are safe." Proverbs 18:10.
Jesus again taught the disciples to pray in honor of the Lord's name. "Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come. He told the disciples in Mark 16:17-18. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. There is power in the name of the Lord, so give glory to the name of the Lord. Paul declared in Philippians 2 that Jesus humbled himself to death on the cross and rose again; because of that, he has been given the name above every name that at the mention of his name, every knee shall and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
Let's bow before him in sacred awe. In the past, God's people limited their worship only to the temple, where people gathered to sing and praise the Lord. The beauty of his holiness then had to do with the clothes of the worshippers and the architecture. Today, our worship is not limited to a building and physical trappings, but we do so from a pure heart as we lift holy hands to the Lord. We worship God in spirit and truth.
An awesome God Speaks (vv.4-9)
The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders,
the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion[b] like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
God still speaks
David, in this Psalm, expresses the awesomeness of the voice of the Lord: It is powerful, full of majesty, divides the flames of fire, shakes the wilderness, strips the forest bare, makes the deer give birth, and causes all to give glory to him. God, the creator of the universe, speaks to his creation. He told the world into being—in the beginning, God said, let there be the heavens and the earth, and it was so…. Several times in the Old Testament, God spoke to His people and His creation.
God speaks to all its creation
Jesus spoke to the winds and waves, and they obeyed him. He spoke to a tree, and it obeyed. Jesus addressed the situations and circumstances of people who came to Him for help, and their conditions improved. The voice of the Lord is speaking to mankind every day through various means. Not only is God speaking to us today, but he wants to speak through us. All we need to do is to slow down and listen to what is trying to tell us.
All of his creation must cry, “Glory”
The fitting response to God’s voice is nothing to worship and cry to him for “Glory.” And in his temple, all cry, “Glory!” You cannot hear God’s voice and become indifferent. You cannot hear God’s voice and continue life as usual. God’s voice will move your heart, his voice will transform you, and his voice will surround you with love and draw you into his presence.
When the Israelites heard God speak to Moses, they were so scared that they told Moses we do not want to die. Go and spend time with God, and then come tell us what He says. In Hebrews 1:1-2, the writer said, “In the past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.”
An awesome God rules over everything (vv.10-11)
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever. The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood.
“The Lord sits enthroned over the flood.” To build and expand on that truth, he declares, “The Lord sits enthroned, King forever.” The word “flood” appears only here and in the flood narratives of Genesis 6–11. It is the ultimate and supreme example of Yahweh’s glory, sovereignty, power, and majesty over the waters and over all creation.
The Lord gives strength to His people.
The God who has the strength to bring the flood of Genesis is the God who can give me strength for the day and each and every moment. The phrase his people is crucial. To his people and only to his people does he promise strength.
The Lord will bless His people with peace.
The last phrase of verse 11 parallels the first but with a different and complementary emphasis. The phrase “his people” appears again. “Gives strength” finds a companion in “blesses his people with peace” (Shalom). The storm has passed. The Lord is King overall. He is completely and majestically in control. God’s people experience peace, shalom, and wellness of life in all its aspects when they recognize his awesomeness in their lives and worship him.
Are you sick and tired of challenges in life? Are you overwhelmed with life’s endless struggles? God is awesome and wants to demonstrate his awesome power through you. He wants you to worship him and ascribe glory and strength to him. He wants you to worship him in the splendor of his holiness.
Whatever your situation, the awesome God wants to speak to you today. He wants to have a good time with you, just as he did with Moses, David, and the disciples of Jesus. Will you listen to him? Will you create room to listen to him? Will you allow his voice to guide and direct you? He loves you so much, and he wants you to enjoy his presence and power.
However chaotic your situation might be, he wants to come and rule in your temple (life). He wants to sit on the throne of your heart. Will you invite him today to be your Lord and Savior of life? Instead of you controlling your life, will you allow him to take charge and give you strength for every situation you might face in life? Will you allow him to bless you with peace that transcends all understanding?
Big Idea: God is awesome and wants to demonstrate his awesome power through you.