What does "great and awesome God" reveal about God's character in Daniel 9:4? Setting the Scene Daniel 9:4: “I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments.’” Daniel is in exile, studying Jeremiah’s prophecy, burdened for Israel’s sin, and driven to prayer. His very first words about God frame the entire confession. What “Great” Reveals • Unlimited power—He rules history and empires (Daniel 2:21; Isaiah 40:22-23). • Incomparable majesty—No rival or equal (Exodus 15:11; Psalm 145:3). • Unchanging supremacy—He remains sovereign even when His people are displaced (Psalm 90:2; Malachi 3:6). • Generous magnitude—His mercy and faithfulness are as vast as His might (Psalm 103:11-12). What “Awesome” Reveals • Inspires holy fear—His presence shakes earth and heart (Exodus 19:16-19; Psalm 99:1). • Provokes worship—“For the LORD Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:2). • Executes righteous judgments—Nations tremble because His justice is perfect (Deuteronomy 10:17-18; Revelation 15:3-4). • Displays miraculous works—Signs in Egypt, the Red Sea, and Babylon’s furnace all declare His awe-inspiring intervention (Deuteronomy 7:21; Daniel 3:24-28). Great + Awesome Together • Absolute authority married to overwhelming majesty. • Power that cannot be resisted yet is never arbitrary. • A God big enough to rule empires and near enough to hear a captive’s prayer. Linked Covenant Faithfulness Daniel immediately adds: “who keeps His covenant of loving devotion.” Greatness and awesomeness do not distance God; they guarantee the reliability of His promises. Compare: • Nehemiah 1:5—“O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion...” • Jeremiah 32:18—“You show loving devotion to thousands...the great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD of Hosts.” Implications for Life • Confidence—Our prayers rest on God’s limitless capacity and steadfast loyalty. • Reverence—We approach with joyful fear, never flippantly (Hebrews 12:28-29). • Obedience—Covenant-keeping love calls for command-keeping lives (John 14:15). • Hope—If God remained great and awesome in exile, He remains so in every personal trial (Romans 8:38-39). God’s greatness assures us He can act; His awesomeness reminds us He will act in holy, covenant faithfulness. |
    |