My God is a terrifying God. He is holy, sovereign, and almighty. Recently I was struck by this and given a vision of God as such through the Holy Scriptures. A couple sundays ago Erik Thoenes, continuing the series we're going through on the book of Daniel, read and preached from Daniel 10, which I will quote because it is powerful and you should read it.
"I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.
"And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.
"Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. And he said to me, 'O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.' While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Then he said to me, 'Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words [...]'
"When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, 'My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength. For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me.' Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. And he said, O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong! So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, 'Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me'[...]" and the lord after strengthening him presents this overwhelming, vivid vision of prophecy to Daniel.
Though it does not say expressly, I believe that this man is the Christ, long before the incarnation chronologically, and if not, at least an angel/messanger representing God, and in that case, we are to be all the more in awe of Him seeing that He is greater than His messengers.
God is terrifying. If we know Him and see Him as He is, we will fall down before Him trembling and with no strength of our own. Yet He is also is gracious and abounding in love so that He will reach down and touch us, strengthening and comfort us that we might stand before Him in His strength, ready to hear Him, worship Him, serve and obey Him.
A.W. Tozer says in his book The Knowledge of the Holy (which I'm reading for my Old Testament class)
"The low view of God entertained almost universally among Christians is the cause of a hundred lesser evils everywhere among us. A whole new philosophy of the Christian life has resulted from this one basic error in our religious thinking.
"With our loss of the sense of majesty has come the further loss of religious awe and consciousness of the divine Presence. We have lost our spirit of worship and our ability to withdraw inwardly to meet God in adoring silence. Mordern Christianity is simply not producing the kind of Christian who can appreciate or experience the life in the Spirit."
I'm seeking better know God, and understanding this about Him has been curcial. I want to worship Him genuinely and live for Him passionately, faithfully, & joyfully.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
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