Awe – A profound emotional response to something that challenges or overwhelms your understanding.
Religion would have you believe that awe is fear, dread, or reverence. But awful can be profoundly good, or profoundly bad.
God used this word 3 times, all of which occur in the Masoretic Text Old Testament book of Psalm. In every occurrence, awe is good.
The first mention is Psalm 4:4 which is an instruction to “stand in awe”. But the reason to be in awe of God is not detailed until Psalm 33; the profound and overwhelming things that God designed and accomplished, as well as how he accomplished them. And Psalm 119:161 shows the effect; focus on God’s awesomeness, not on circumstances.
Notice in Psalm 119:161 that our heart should be stabilized and strengthened by the Word of God.
It is at this point that religion misses the boat. What is the Word of God?
- In the Old Testaments, both the Masoretic Text Old Testament and the Koine Greek Old Testament, all of the Word of God was to Israel only; no gentiles allowed.
- At the writing of the book of Psalm, the Word of God referred to by David, was the Law and the Prophets (the Old Testaments).
- Today, in the Dispensation of Grace, which focuses on gentiles and includes Israel, the Word of God is comprised of an understanding of Israel’s Testaments [their Old Testaments (Genesis – Acts 13) and their New Testament (Hebrews – Revelation)].
- However, today, God is operating through provisions given to all men in the Gospel of Grace (Romans – Philemon).
If you try to serve or please God today by applying Scripture that God gave to Israel in their Old Testaments, and His promise to Israel in their New Testament, you are acting in unbelief and calling God a liar.
See also Faith, Fear, God, Grace, Law, Lord, Sin, Testament