Today’s Reading:
Psalm 66:1-9
“Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind” (v.5, NIV)

The scriptures’ authors especially in the Old Testament, severally describe God as awesome. Awesome is defined as an inspiring overwhelming feeling of reverence or respect; dread; admiration or fear; a kind of greatness; something not ordinary. The Psalmists were generally appreciative of the awesomeness of God. In Ps. 89:7, God is said to be more awesome than all who surround him. The author of Ps. 145:3 says that God’s greatness is unsearchable. In Ps. 68:35, God is said to be awesome in his sanctuary. Moses in Deut. 10:17 described God as the God of Gods and Lord of Lords, great, mighty and awesome; and in Deut. 7:21, he described God as a great and awesome God. Aside from the Psalmists, other authors like Job in Chapter 37:22, says “out of the north He comes in golden splendour, God comes in awesome majesty”. Also, Nehemiah said in Neh. 1:5, that God is a great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him.
Aside from God’s awesomeness in respect of his being/nature, several references are also made to his awesomeness in character and qualities. In Neh. 1:5, God is described as the awesome covenant – keeping God. In Deut. 32:4, He is described as the Rock, whose work is perfect and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just. The merciful nature of God is confirmed in Deut. 4:31, where it says, God is a merciful God who will not abandon or destroy his people or forget the covenant He made with their ancestors. The Psalmist in Ps. 147:5 says, great is the Lord, and mighty in power, and his understanding has no limit. The forgiving character of the awesome God is stated in 1 John 1:9. Also, in 2 Chr. 19:7, it is said that there is no injustice or partiality or bribery with him. Beyond all these, the awesomeness of God is very evident in His deeds (works), especially to mankind. In our Today’s reading, in Vs 3 & 5, references are made to how awesome are God’s deeds/works, towards mankind, which are awesome and righteous deeds. Evidently, these awesome deeds have been visible since the time of creation and up till date. In the account of creation in Gen. Chapter 1, because God in his awesomeness was so mindful of mankind, He created anything he would need to live life on the earth, before creating him. Awesome thoughtfulness! Above all, He created man in His image and likeness.
Furthermore, when so soon after their creation, the man and woman disobeyed Him, yet in his awesomeness, he immediately put in place, the process of reconciliation back to him, as found in Gen. 3:14-15. It is no exaggeration to say that throughout the entire scriptures, God’s awesome deeds were and have been to, and for the sake of mankind. Moses in his first five books of the Bible, described the awesome deeds of God towards Israel, his chosen race (nation), which He used as example for the rest of mankind. No wonder the Psalmists in our Today’s Reading in Vs 6-7, 9-12 and in Ps. 65:5-13, describe the awesome deeds of God for Israel. They were very awesome indeed. Apart from his awesome deeds to entire nations, many instances occurred when God showed his awesome deeds to individuals such as Jacob, Moses, Joshua, David, and also those in the New Testament days, such as: the disciples, Paul and the followers, as recorded in the book of Acts. The awesome deeds of God to mankind in the New Testament days and today’s church are evident, starting from the complete work of salvation, done and given by Christ – his death, resurrection, ascension and on to the promise and gift of the Holy Spirit (Ps. 139:14; Rom 8:5; Acts 1:8, etc.). The response of the church and individual believers to the Great Commission (Mk. 16: 15-20) is expected to manifest the awesome deed of God, through a great harvest of souls into his kingdom.
In response to God for the gifts of awesome deeds, mankind ought to praise our God, letting the song of His praise be heard (Ps. 66:8); shout for joy to him (v1) and sing the glory of his name, making his praise glorious (v1-2).
CHRISTIE KUPOLUYI
Prayer:
Father, we are indeed in awe of You and thankful for your awesome deeds to mankind, in Jesus name.
Father, we cannot thank You enough for Your thoughtfulness towards mankind as a whole, and to each and every one of us, in Jesus name.
Precious Lord and Saviour, we appreciate , our awesome deed of salvation and gift of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name.
Oh Lord! help us to not take your deeds to us in vain, but rather work out our salvation with fear and trembling, in Jesus name.
Father, please wake the church up to rise to the responsibility of the Great Commission, so that our nation will be evangelised, in Jesus name.
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