To Stand In Awe

When we look at human wisdom in defining the word “awe” Webster’s Dictionary lists several meanings to the word. They are: fright, wonder and reverence. The word conveys to us the idea of having respectful fear inspired by authority.

But we can gain a more vivid impression of the word “awe” revealed in the scriptures by the account of the people of Israel as they witnessed the majesty and grandeur of Jehovah when standing in His presence. There was deep reverence or respect generated in their thoughts which produced actions exemplifying this. It was a sobering sight. It was a terrifying scene. It was a humbling experience.

We would be like King Belshazzar as we read in Daniel 5:6 “Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.” It would be such a great sight of amazement like Moses saw when he looked upon the bush that did not burn although on fire in Exodus 3:3 “And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.” He was truly amazed and stood in awe.

A similar, terrifying scene is described as the children of Israel stand in the presence of Almighty Jehovah. Just as Moses was commanded in Exodus 3:5 to show reverence before God “Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground”, we find Moses instructing the people to make themselves ready to stand in the presence of Jehovah. Exodus 19:9-11 records the instructions of Jehovah to be relayed unto the people by Moses “And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.”

Preparations had to be made to stand in the presence of Jehovah. Jehovah is Holy and we just can’t nonchalantly come into His presence as if it were a trivial matter. This was an important lesson to be learned by the children of Israel. When they saw just the presence of Almighty Jehovah they stood in awe of the terrifying image presented before them. Exodus 19:16-19 recounts “And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.”

What a sight to behold as one stood in awe at what was heard and seen. Just what was the reaction? Exodus 20:18-19 reveals to us “And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” Oh for a frail, insignificant human but to stand in awe in the very presence of Almighty God.

The people were terrified, and righty so, but there was an effect which Jehovah wanted to be impressed upon the mind of the people to stick with them for a purpose. And what was that purpose? According to Exodus 20:20 Moses tells us “… Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.” If we truly reverence and fear Jehovah and stand in awe of His nature our lives would correspond with being in compliance to His commands and instructions and thereby not living in sin.

How do you perceive Jehovah? Do you perceive Jehovah with the same awe that those of old did? “And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel” (Exodus 24:17). How do your eyes see Jehovah? Let us ponder and meditate on some thoughts.

Do we consider that each day of our life is lived in the very presence of God? Do we realize that we are standing in the presence of God and do our very best to cease from sin? Do we also consider that when we come to the assembly to worship Jehovah, that we are coming before His presence and offering our sacrifice which is our life that we have lived? Are we sober and serious in our worship to God, standing in awe in His presence, or do we treat it as a light, non-menial attendance? Do we see portrayed in the scriptures, which we just considered, the children of Israel having fun and frolicking in the presence of Jehovah? When we examine the various worships today, what is seen? Do we see sobering, serious attendance before Jehovah as though standing in awe before His presence?

I see more attention given to the pleasing and entertaining of man than to the standing in awe before Jehovah which is neglected and replaced in the public worship. And if that is what is taking place in the public worship just consider what is happening in the individual life as one offers up his or her life on a daily basis in worship to God? I do not see the fear of Jehovah being presented in various public worship services today so that we might not sin.

Do we consider that when we pray to God that we are approaching His throne and coming into His presence? I truly believe that if we seriously comprehended standing in the presence of the Almighty God, that we would find ourselves altering our actions to be conformed with our awe of God not only in our public worship but more importantly in our daily living as a pleasing sacrifice unto Jehovah. “…whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire” Hebrews 12:28b, 29. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).

Larry Bumgardner