What does it mean to say that something is ‘awesome’? In the excitement of the moment, or with the thrill of an event it’s not uncommon to hear someone say, “That movie was awesome!”. But how much attention or thought do we give to how and when we use this awe inspiring word.
By definition, we consider something to be awesome when that ‘something’ is inspiring awe or showing characteristic of awe. OK…then what is ‘awe’? Again, by definition, awe is ‘an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like.’ For emphasis, I want to say that again; awe is ‘an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like.’ If we say, ‘That car is awesome!’ are we truly saying that it evokes feels of reverence, admiration and fear? It might be that we ‘just loved’ that movie (admiration), but do we really have reverence for a form of entertainment or fear for an inanimate object? We toss “awesome” around almost like we abuse the term “love”. (The Greek language could help us here; Eros, Philoe, Storgy and Agape) But what really makes you awestruck? What is it in your life that makes you sit back and say, ‘That’s awesome…”?
The word “awesome” is not used in the King James version, but it can be found several times in the NKJV as well as other translations. Interestingly enough, all but one come from within the Old Testament.
Genesis 28:17…Jacob after his dream of the ladder going up into heaven, called the place awesome
Exodus 34:10…God telling about the covenant He was going to make with His people would be awesome
Deuteronomy 7:21 and 10:17…awesome God; & 21…awesome things God has done; 28:58…the name of God
Judges 13:6…angel of God, very awesome
2 Samuel 7:23…what God did for His people and the land
1 Chronicles 17:21…what God did for His people
Nehemiah 1:5, 4:14 and 9:32…all refer to the great and awesome God
Job 10:16…show His power (awesome); 37:22…around God is awesome majesty
Psalm 45:4…teach You awesome things; 47:2…Lord is feared (awesome); 65:5…You answer us in awesome deeds; 66:3 & 5…His works and deeds are awesome; 68:35…Awesome God; 76:12…kings of the earth fear Him (have awe); 99:3…praise His great and awesome name; 106:22…God did awesome things; 111:9…Holy and awesome; 145:6…God’s awesome acts
Song of Solomon 6:4 & 10…awesome as an army with banners
Isaiah 28:21…extra ordinary work; 64:3…You did awesome things
Jeremiah 20:11…the Lord is like an (awesome) champion
Ezekiel 1:18 & 22…vision of the wheel of fire;
Daniel 2:31…image of the statue was awesome; 9:4…great and (awesome) God
Joel 2:31…great and (awesome) day of the Lord
Zephaniah 2:11…the Lord will be (awesome) to them
Acts 2:20…the great and (awesome) day of the Lord
Each of the proclamations noted above are directed to God or something God has done. Our God IS an awesome God and He is deserving of all praise. Daniel 9:4, “I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: ‘Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments…’. “
Next time, before you hand out that compliment of awe, remember there is only one deserving of our ‘overwhelming admiration’. Each of us will take a stand for what we believe. It might be openly standing for what’s right or quietly standing in reverence and awe. This song should serve as a prayer we offer to God. Nothing else is His equal; I stand in admiration, fear and reverence to Him.
You’ll go to the movies and enjoy the show, and yes, that brand new car is pretty impressive, but what do you really admire? Is this world what you hold in reverence? Do we bow in fear of how ‘awesome’ our life is? My prayer is that we all come to see our God, and Him only, as AWESOME.
I Stand in Awe [LINK]
You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom
Who can fathom the depths of Your love
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty, enthroned above
And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You!
Thanks…would that we all come to recognize that only ONE should be given the reference of ‘awesome’. Have you noticed how the word is so loosely dropped these days? At the same time, it would be OK (in my opinion) to recognize a storm as awesome or say the Grand Canyon is awesome…because I see those as the work of God’s hand. As a matter of fact it might be advisable to recognize the power of the storm as coming from the powerful hand of God… “O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds Thy hands have made. I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder; Thy power throughout the universe display…then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee; how GREAT Thou art…”
This was a great message and good reminder! Thanks for the song link and scripture references.