My own hand laid the foundations of the earth,
    and my right hand spread out the heavens;
when I summon them,
    they all stand up together.

This reminds me of that seemingly throwaway line in Genesis 1:16:

”He also made the stars.”

When I made the step up from Junior to senior school, I found (as you possibly did) that there was a palpable difference in atmosphere and tone. It felt much more strange and scary. I mean, when I was in the Juniors, I’d always respected the Head. But at High School, when a head (or deputy head) walked into the room, you had to stand. Perhaps even more intimidating, were one or two other teachers, who had a certain presence, and who made it clear, ‘Whenever I walk into the room, You stand!’ I appreciate that they might not have bothered some of the other students, but they frightened me. They inspired a certain awe.

I love the picture painted here, in Isaiah, of God’s personal involvement in the creation of ”the heavens and the earth” (Gen.1:1). See the double reference to His ”hand”. Note how all He has made stands in His presence in response to His call. Truly, ‘our God is an awesome God.’ Some human teachers may have worked out how to cultivate a certain aura, but the Lord of all is truly to be ‘feared’ – i.e. to be revered and worshipped.