Psalm Meditation 982
Palm/Passion Sunday
April 14, 2019

Psalm 76
 1 In Judah God is known, his name is great in Israel.
2 His abode has been established in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.
3 There he broke the flashing arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah
4 Glorious are you, more majestic than the everlasting mountains.
5 The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil; they sank into sleep; none of the troops was able to lift a hand.
6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both rider and horse lay stunned.
7 But you indeed are awesome! Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused?
8 From the heavens you uttered judgment; the earth feared and was still
9 when God rose up to establish judgment, to save all the oppressed of the earth. Selah
10 Human wrath serves only to praise you, when you bind the last bit of your wrath around you.
11 Make vows to the LORD your God, and perform them; let all who are around him bring gifts to the one who is awesome,
12 who cuts off the spirit of princes, who inspires fear in the kings of the earth.
(NRSV)

Awesome is a word that has come to mean cool, groovy, neato. Everything that causes the slightest flutter within us will be awesome to at least one of us. So in this psalm calling God awesome is to add one more bump on the mountain of awesome things. I know that language changes and evolves, and I am happy to use a language that is alive and transforming on a seemingly daily basis. Awesome is one of those words. However, let us dust off an old school definition when calling God awesome.

The definition that works for God is one who inspires awe, one who leaves us open mouthed and trembling with a mix of fear and excitement as we realize we are in the presence of amazing holiness. The awesomeness of God is far beyond the excitement we feel in the presence of a new puppy or a new vehicle. The awesomeness of God has us wanting to get closer in excitement while at the same time wanting to run away in fright leaving us frozen in place. The awesomeness of God is beyond words though we will find ourselves using as many as can spill out of our mouths at once to attempt a description.

I am sure we will continue to describe everything as awesome until the next all inclusive word comes along. I know I do. I invite us to know that in some cases the word means so much more than it does in general use. God is awesome in a way that is exponentially more than a new kitten or puppy. God is awesome in a way that stops us in our tracks, brings us to our knees, moves us to action, and reminds us that there is one who staggers our imaginations and loves us beyond measure.

April 8, 2019
LCM