Consider if you would for a moment what the word Awesome means. Originally the word awesome was associated with terror. Nowadays it’s more associated with wonder. Like something is so fantastic or great. It’s been watered down. Something that is awesome should also be somewhat terrifying. So God’s awesome deeds are deeds that we can’t quite get, they have an aspect that is a bit scary when we really think about them. Let’s look into this more yes?
Psalm 65:5-8
5 By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas;
6 the one who by his strength established the mountains,
being girded with might;
7 who stills the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the tumult of the peoples,
8 so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.
You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.
God’s Awesome Deeds
In this passage the author tells us that God’s awesome deeds are an answer to us. He tells us “by awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness”. We see throughout the Old Testament how often we turn away from God, seeking after our own solutions. And yet God’s answer to that… righteousness.
Can you make sense of that? Would that be your response? God is so much greater then we are. More caring, more loving, more capable of wrath, and just so much MORE. When you stop to think about that, aren’t you just a wee bit terrified?
If not consider this
God is the one who established the mountains by his own strength.
He is the one that is the hope of the ends of the earth.
Stiller of roaring seas, and waves, the the noise of people.
The Tumult of the Peoples
When I read the words the tumult of the peoples in my mind I picture a mighty throng of people milling about in a noisy confusion. Not a happy throng by any means, but one that’s just “too peopley” for lack of a better term. Sometimes we are just too much even for ourselves. And God, God himself, can still all the angry muttering, and confused words, and milling about. He settles us.
THAT blows my mind when I stop and think about it. Thinking of people as a wild rushing uncontrolled wave of a ocean or lake… and God saying, hey, settle down. It’s all good now, settle settle. God can do that so quickly.
I can well understand now the disciples amazement at Jesus calming the storms. They were rightfully in awe of him, holding a terrified wonder of his abilities.
Be Joyful!
If God can build mountains, and settle wild waves, and calm the tumult of people….. it’s no small wonder that in our awe of him we are joyful. Am I wrong? The very fact that we have morning and evening should make us shout for joy too! Consider what all it takes for the world to turn in it’s orbit smoothly. God, who established the mountain and calms seas and people, you think he doesn’t rule the skies and the rotation of the earth?
Think about all he does.
Does it not just fill you with joy at how he works? How he keeps everything operating smoothly? I know, I know. I often don’t even give a thought to it. My life has it’s routines of I go to bed, the sun comes up, I rise and go about my life. The moon does it’s thing and I simply pay it no mind. But if I stopped to think it… and these verses are making me think about it… God built mountains! He quiets the noisy and restless! He keeps everything going that is going. Without him…. the world, that I so much take for granted, would fall apart! So will I make more of an effort to be joyful! Join me won’t you?
Let us covenant together to remember the awesome deeds of God!