Awe-some, Awe-full

Psalm 112

Once again we're faced with the word "fear" as it pertains to humanity's reaction to God. This word has been the cause of my, as well as others, reason for living a life afraid of a God who exists to pass judgment.

If the church I belonged to in my youth looked at this Psalm, the message we would hear is that we have to live in such a way as to never sin or when Jesus returns to take away the righteous we'll be left behind. Nobody wanted to be left behind, especially in the kind of world the church described. Nobody wants to live with their teeth gnashing as their bodies melt away.

That word has been the cause of fear for much too long. What if, just what if we replaced the word "fear" with another, perhaps more appropriate definition of the Hebrew word "yare"; to be in awe of or to show reverence. If we did that, the opening verses of our Psalm would read, "Praise the Lord! Happy are those who are in awe of the Lord."

In our afternoon study group we were talking about moments when we absolutely knew God was present. I mentioned a time when my wife and I were sitting at a beach on the northwest shores of our island. The beach is usually empty, with maybe 1 or 2 families at the most. The beach sits a couple hundred yards from the mountainside and is literally at the end of a road, unless you have a dirt-bike or are willing to hike.

As we sat on the beach, enjoying our bento, we listened as the wind blew through the trees and the waves crashed to shore. We felt the warmth of the sun as a cool breeze brushed against our face. A family could be heard laughing in the distance as the singing of birds rode through the sky.

Then suddenly, all became still. There was no wind, there was no sound - not the waves crashing on the shore, not the leaves rustling in the wind, nothing; even the breeze stopped blowing. It was as though the earth decided to take a breath and for a moment, for a brief moment everything was absolutely still.

In that moment I knew, absolutely knew that God existed and was there at that beach. In that moment I was in awe of my God.

Our Psalm reminds us that those of us who live in awe of God and live a life of making things right, a life of seeking justice, will live lives filled with joy and peace. That kind of life is found through the unconditional love of God, the same love our Christ lived while on this earth.

Be in awe of God, marvel in God's wonders. More than that, live in such a way as those around you can come to know this same God you are in awe of.