Last week I was in Rocky Mountain National Park, vacationing with my family. I am a flatlander through and through, so mountains have a way of producing the fear of God in me. I am always in awe of their size – I can barely wrap my head around it.
During an afternoon drive through the park, we got out and climbed a bit on a big rock next to a lookout point. We were totally safe (which I have to write because my mother-in-law might read this), but beyond the rock we were on, the valley opened up for miles. The view was breathtaking. Standing on the top of the rock, I was experiencing a natural fear of heights, both for myself and for my kids. We held them tightly and made sure we all had secure footing before snapping a few family-selfies.
If you’ve ever had that experience, the first thing you want to do is get low and hug the ground. When we stand next to something that massive, we are keenly aware of how small and fragile we are. Our emotions, our bodies, even our souls are affected by the contrast between the mountain and the man. This must be a fraction of what it feels like to stand next to God, the one who forms the mountains with his words. The term “fear of God” took on new meaning for me as I reflected on that mountain.
The Fear of God
When Moses gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites, the Bible says God descended onto Mount Sinai in fire. God does not ascend the mountain – he descends from heaven! Here’s what the text says:
On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
(Exodus 19:16-20 ESV)
“And They Fell Down and Worshiped”
The greek word proskuneo is translated into English as either “bow down” or “worship.” (Greg Koukl – read more here) Several times in the Bible, people did more than bow out of respect to Jesus. It says they bowed down AND worshiped (proskuneo). This act of worship is reserved throughout the Bible for God alone, and is also the same worship we see from the elders in Revelation 4:
And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”
(Revelation 4:9-11 ESV)
Worship Jesus Because He Is God
Worship leaders, let’s lead in such a way that upon recognizing the magnitude of our God, we feel the need to get low and hug the ground. Let’s begin to comprehend the mystery that we share in his glory. I am again reminded of Bob Kauflin’s definition of a worship leader, and in this context find it refreshingly poignant:
“A faithful worship leader magnifies the greatness of God in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit by skillfully combining God’s Word with music, thereby motivating the gathered church to proclaim the gospel, to cherish God’s presence, and to live for God’s glory.” (Kauflin, Bob (2008). Worship Matters. Crossway.) Emphasis Added
The child Jesus was worshiped by the Magi because He was God. The man Jesus was worshiped by the disciples in the boat when he calmed the storm because He was God. The resurrected Jesus was worshiped by the women at the tomb because He was God. The King on the throne Jesus is worshiped in Revelation because He is God.
“Among the Jews there suddenly turns up a man who goes about talking as if He were God. He claims to forgive sins. He says He has always existed. He says He is coming to judge the world at the end of time. Now let us get this clear. Among pantheists, like the Hindus of India, anyone might say that he is part of god or one with god. There would be nothing very odd about that. But this man, since He was a Jew, could not mean that kind of God. God in their language meant the Being outside of the world who had made it and was infinitely different than anything else. And when you have grasped that concept you will see that what this man said was quite simply, the most shocking thing that has ever been uttered by human lips.” – C.S. Lewis
Cody Villarreal 