Since history began, creation has inspired a sense of AWE in people. The opportunities for awe are as varied as creation itself: a sunset, a mountain top vista, the birth of a baby, a honeybee in a colorful flower. As technology has developed, and we see to the microscopic level or deep into the universe, our awe has only increased! The Hubble and James Webb telescopes have brought us amazing images of far flung galaxies-each with billions of suns and planets.  Microscopes have unlocked microscopic processes that have a fine-tuned accuracy and intricacy.

With amazing technology, we see farther and describe natural processes more accurately, but creation still stirs the same ancient feeling in humanity. That sense of awe brings with it deep questions and yearnings for the “why” and “who” behind it all.  Awe of creation stirs in us a desire for the transcendent – the meaning and reason behind the universe. As Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “God has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart.” Awe of creation is meant to stir our hearts to consider the awesome eternal creator of it all!

Many scriptures encourage us to consider various aspects of creation as a way to draw near to the Creator. Today we look at Psalm 19 not just as a beautiful song about creation and the creator, but as a guide on how to let the AWE of creation connect us to the awesome creator. 

In Psalm 19 The Psalmist begins (1-6) by turning his attention to the sky and being awestruck at how it declares God’s glory. In this section the writer focuses on how God even controls the mighty sun, which runs across the sky like a strong man. Verse 7 shifts from general to special revelation as the writer extols God for His word. The psalmist finishes by Encountering God personally in verses 12-14 expressing a personal confession of repentance and a plea for God to help him see and overcome his own sinful struggles. The AWE of creation set the Psalmist on the path to deeper connection to the awesome creator. This psalm can also guide us so that those stirrings of awe in our heart at nature’s glory can draw us into an encounter with the creator of it all. 

Psalm 19 and the acronym A.W.E. give us a simple method to connect with creation as a way of drawing close to the Creator.

Attention. Turn your attention to something in creation with an open heart toward the creator What feelings/thoughts does it stir up?  What does this part of creation reveal about the creator?

 Psalm 19: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. ² Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. ³ There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. ⁴ Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, ⁵ which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. ⁶ Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

   The Psalmist turns his attention to the sky. In particular he focuses on the sun and how it charges across the sky. Nothing can escape the sun; “nothing is hidden from its heat.” If you have ever sat in the shade for a while, you know that what once was shady is sunny after a couple hours. How much more, therefore, can one not hide from the creator of that sun! The sky and sun proclaim God’s glory, it is His handiwork. Although it doesn’t proclaim it with words, the message of the creator of it all goes across the globe just like the sun. Verse 4: “Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” This is “general revelation”.

Command to pay attention or consider creation as a way to connect with the creator is all over scripture. Psalm 8 calls us to consider the night sky (astronomy), Psalm 139 proclaims the wonders of the human body (biology), and Jesus himself taught important truths by pointing to examples from creation.

While it is easy to be “blown away” with awe at the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls, even the little things of creation can stir us if we would just pay attention. The crystals on the window from a cold winter’s night have a geometric beauty that can stir the soul.

Scripture commands us to pay attention to how the created order points to the glory of the creator. So step 1 in following Psalm 19 is to turn our attention and consider some part of creation. We can do this every day.

 God’s word or message goes out in a general sense through creation (that is why creation is often referred to as “General Revelation”), but general revelation only reveals so much. For instance, if the sun is powerful and inescapable, how much more powerful is the creator! But many questions remain: Is that powerful God still active in the world? Does this God want to burn us? These questions require “special revelation” to answer. Special revelation is when God reveals his word or message in human language. Step 2 is considering God’s word, which the Psalmist turns to in 19:7-11.

⁷ The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; ⁸ the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; ⁹ the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. ¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. ¹¹ Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

  Word. Following Psalm 19’s pattern, the message of God’s creation pushes us to His revealed word. The Psalmist first considered creation, but then in 19:7 turned to how the word of God is also beautiful and so valuable in guiding a person into God’s will and blessings. God’s word gives us answers to those stirrings from creation: “This creator is more powerful than all these things beyond me, but is he knowable, is he loving? Why did he make it all?” God’s word, or special revelation, is where God reveals himself in human language so that He can be known.

Once we pay attention, how does God’s word (scripture) inform what you noticed in creation? It can be something concrete and direct, like noticing an eagle and that reminds you of Isaiah 40:31, “they who wait for the LORD shall mount up with wings like eagles . . .” Or noticing something that reminds you of a general biblical concept-like a fallen tree reminds you of mortality and that we will stand before God. Look at the created thing through the lens of God’s word.  

The need for God’s word is crucial to both Jewish and Christian understanding. God has revealed himself, he has spoken to and through people. Just like God has put laws into nature, like gravity, like the speed of light, he has a moral law to guide and form us. As God’s image bearers, and moral agents, God reveals His will and ways to us.

When we think of “law” we think of constraints and reluctant obedience, but the Psalmist sees the law as beautiful, sweat as honey, and valuable like gold. Because the law (which is the Hebrew word Torah, which refers to all of God’s revelation) reveals who God is in an even more particular way, it is particularly valuable and beautiful. The bright morning sun speaks to the radiance of the God who made it, but God’s word reveals that this God is also abounding in love and wants to share his radiance with creation. So we interpret what we see through the lens of Word.

 A side note on the term “God’s word” – Jesus is also referred to as the Word (John 1:1-4). Jesus is God’s ultimate self-revelation! Through Jesus God has not only communicated in human language, but human flesh. While we can know someone through their writings, we can now them even better through a personal relationship! That relationship is possible because God made himself known through Jesus. In Jesus Christ we have the perfect intermediary between our Creator God and created humanity.

Because God has revealed himself in his word to be a personal God, that awe can bring us to an Encounter. Psalm 19:12-14 concludes on this note of encounter:  ¹² Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. ¹³ Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. ¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

  Encounter God. The psalmist finishes by encountering God personally, entering into a conversation with God in verse 13. The writer expresses a personal confession of repentance and a plea for God to help him see and overcome his own sinful struggles. This encounter should be a two-way conversation when you talk TO God and then listen for anything FROM God.

To God: Lift up thanks or praise to God for the things He has created and that you are able to enjoy them. The scriptures are full of calls to praise God for His wonderful work. Psalm 148 calls on all of creation: sun, moon, the seas, animals, everything to praise their creator. 

From God: What do you feel God is telling you today?  Whatever you noticed, especially when it has prompted you to seek and exalt God, has become an opportunity for you TODAY. Remember considering the word is so important to discerning what God is saying. People often hear what they want to hear, so God’s written word is the standard by which we measure whatever we think God is saying today. Go from the transcendence of the creator to the intimacy of a personal God who speaks to His people. The psalmist, perhaps from contemplating the inescapability from the sun’s rays, knows that the creator’s light will expose sin in his life, even hidden sin that he can’t see on his own. So he humbly calls on God for help. He wants to be transformed so that his words and deeds are pleasing to the creator. The Psalmist has had a personal encounter with the creator, but he began his journey with turning his attention to consider creation’s testimony about the creator, then the testimony of the word, until the inner testimony of the Spirit applied these things to him personally.

Discussion questions:

Describe the last time you were filled with awe over creation?

What occupies your attention most of the day? When could you set aside time to pay attention to creation with a heart open to the creator?

How might incorporating the AWE method improve your prayer time? How might it create difficulties?

Do you see the importance of looking at creation through the lens of God’s word? What are potential dangers of neglecting the word in this process?

Practice it! Go and try the AWE method above. What do you feel God is telling you today?