Almighty
the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea—
the Lord on high is mighty” Psalm 93:3, 4.
As I read Psalm 93 this morning, Athabasca Falls in Jasper National Park, Alberta, came to mind. We were a long way from the sea when we visited the falls in June, but the roar of the water as it plunged over the falls into the gorge was awe-inspiring. It was yet another reminder of just how puny we human beings are. We can run, lift weights, bulk up, jump hurdles, wrestle steers, climb mountains, swim lakes, but we are still puny creatures when compared to the strength of water that cuts through sold rock, sweeping everything before it and drowning out any voice. There is no sound system as powerful as God’s!
There is a bench at the end of the walkway that you can see in the photo. On the back of the bench is a plaque dedicated to a young man who apparently didn’t respect the mighty waters of the falls quite enough. He got too close to the edge and was swept over the falls to his death. I couldn’t sit on the bench—and no one else did while I was there. Somehow the solemn warning implied by the plaque demanded some respect.
Our God is mighty, mightier even than the thundering waters of the Athabasca Falls. If the falls deserve respect because of their power, because they are strong and we are puny, then now much more does our God deserve respect.
How does this respect show itself? For the young man who drowned it should have shown itself in obeying the warnings to stay away from the edge of the water. For us, our demonstration of respect is implied in the last verses of this short psalm.
“Your statues stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord” Psalm 93:5.
The character of the mighty water demands a certain attitude and behaviour on the part of puny humans. The character of Almighty God demands a certain attitude and behaviour on the part of puny humans as well. His laws remain firm, unchanging. Holiness is His character, and always will be. Our commitment to obedience to those laws and to modelling His character in our lives demonstrates that respect.
As we are awe-struck by the might of the creation around us, so should we be awe-struck by the King of all that is created—and respond accordingly.
“The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength” (Psalm 93:1a).
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