"When to Stand"

 

“When to Stand”

 

During the high school years I was in the orchestra. At concert time we all stood when the conductor walked onto the stage. While on jury duty in Manchester I was seated on a case when the bailiff called out “All rise” which we did when the judge entered and took his place on the bench. And on TV we’ve seen an audience come to its feel when the President came in and stood behind the podium. The commonality in these instances is respect for authority and leadership.

Since last September I’ve led the Men’s Bible Study in our community in an interactive discussion of the Minor Prophets and together we’ve discovered how much they have to say to us today. As I prepared for our look at Habakkuk a phrase jumped out at me: “…I stand in awe of your deeds. O Lord.” (3:2) and my mind went back to my school and courtroom experiences. I then checked my concordance (I still use a printed one) and found other passages that referred to standing in awe of God’s presence (Ecclesiastes 5:7; Isaiah 29:23) and His Word (Psalm 119:120) plus “…the people stood in awe of the Lord and of Samuel.” (1 Samuel 12:18). And let’s not forget that during the days of Nehemiah “…as (Ezra opened the book of God’s law), the people all stood up.” (Nehemiah 8:5). Many churches, including the one we served in Manchester and our present one in Lakeland, do this when God’s Word is read.

After crossing the Red Sea Moses led the children of Israel in a song of praise by saying, “Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”(Exodus 15:11). Answer? NO ONE! In 1905 hymnwriter Charles H. Gabriel wrote, “I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus, the Nazarene, And wonder how He could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean.” And in 1987 Mark Altrogge composed, “I stand, I stand in awe of You, I stand, I stand in awe of You. Holy God, to whom all praise is due I stand in awe of You.” (Emphasis added throughout.)

Before we stand in respect to anyone or anything else let’s do so before God. That’s when to stand—and to do so in awe!

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

(For more on the awesomeness of our God check out “A Misused Word.")