TERRIBLE

TERRIBLE

“He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.” Psa. 76:12

Perfect in the fact that there is nothing lacking in Him that ought to be present in the one and only God of the universe. In His person or being He is perfect. We need to have that same attribute in order to rule and reign with Him in His Kingdom that is coming. He will take us to that end. Jude 24.

In His will or purpose He is perfect (Rom. 12:2). In His word or pronouncements He is perfect (Psa. 19:7). In His work or performance He is perfect (Deut.32:4). In His way or procedure He is perfect (Psa. 18:30; 2 Sam. 22:31). And in His gifts or presents He is perfect (James 1:17). The multiplicity and infinity of His splendors so far exceed anything that man can ask or even think that Paul is moved to exclaim, "O the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out" (Rom. 11:33).

When all these perfections of God are gathered into one grand picture displaying the solitariness of God, the rational creature that in some sense comprehends them in part is moved to spiritual and physical prostration in His presence. He is moved to exclaim that God is "terrible," to use the term of the King James Version. More correctly, the word means awesome or awe-inspiring, that is, humbled to the point of worship or consuming adoration. Moses encouraged the people of Israel with this term (Deut. 7:21). Bowed in prayerful worship, Nehemiah used this term in a pagan court (Neh. 1:5). The psalmists in their songs of praise resorted to this expression (Psa. 47:2; 76:12).