The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 20:20,
"Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.'"
As God spoke from Mt. Sinai the Israelites began to tremble. As they witnessed the thunder and lightning and heard a trumpet and saw the mountain smoke they begged Moses to have God just speak to him - and he could tell the people what he said. They couldn't bear to have God speak to them directly.
Moses' response to them appears somewhat contradictory on face value: "Do not be afraid" and "that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." Don't be afraid but be fearful of God?
I take this to mean that there is a difference between being scared of God versus having a reverential fear of him. It appears to me the Israelites were in a panic or a fright due to what they saw and heard. A fright that would not last long with them (they promptly plunged headlong into sin during this whole episode).
On the other hand, holding to a fear of the Lord is something different altogether from simply being frightened or in a panic. The book of Proverbs talks about having a fear of the Lord:
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:7.
"To fear the Lord is to hate evil..." Proverbs 8:13.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10.
Here is a proverb that is very enlightening, "The wise fear the Lord and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure." Proverbs 14:6. Another one holds great promise, "The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble." Proverbs 19:23. There are a number of other proverbs that touch on the fear of the Lord, but these provide a good sampling.
Rather than a state of panic or abject fright, the fear of the Lord speaks of, as Merriam-Webster puts "reverence": "profound adoring awed respect", "honor or respect felt or shown" and "devoted deferential honor to : regard as worthy of great honor." Under the term "fear" the dictionary also provides, "profound reverence and awe especially toward God". I think they have it just about right.
In case we somehow adopt the thought that we no longer need to harbor a fear of the Lord in our hearts in this church age, here is something Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Philippians 2:12-13.
Peter reminds us, "Since you call on a Father who judges each person's work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear." 1 Peter 1:7.
In the book of Revelation, in a passage that speaks of something yet to come, an angel says to all who live on the earth, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." Revelation 14:7.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know. A blog with all my posts can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
"Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.'"
As God spoke from Mt. Sinai the Israelites began to tremble. As they witnessed the thunder and lightning and heard a trumpet and saw the mountain smoke they begged Moses to have God just speak to him - and he could tell the people what he said. They couldn't bear to have God speak to them directly.
Moses' response to them appears somewhat contradictory on face value: "Do not be afraid" and "that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." Don't be afraid but be fearful of God?
I take this to mean that there is a difference between being scared of God versus having a reverential fear of him. It appears to me the Israelites were in a panic or a fright due to what they saw and heard. A fright that would not last long with them (they promptly plunged headlong into sin during this whole episode).
On the other hand, holding to a fear of the Lord is something different altogether from simply being frightened or in a panic. The book of Proverbs talks about having a fear of the Lord:
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:7.
"To fear the Lord is to hate evil..." Proverbs 8:13.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10.
Here is a proverb that is very enlightening, "The wise fear the Lord and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure." Proverbs 14:6. Another one holds great promise, "The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble." Proverbs 19:23. There are a number of other proverbs that touch on the fear of the Lord, but these provide a good sampling.
Rather than a state of panic or abject fright, the fear of the Lord speaks of, as Merriam-Webster puts "reverence": "profound adoring awed respect", "honor or respect felt or shown" and "devoted deferential honor to : regard as worthy of great honor." Under the term "fear" the dictionary also provides, "profound reverence and awe especially toward God". I think they have it just about right.
In case we somehow adopt the thought that we no longer need to harbor a fear of the Lord in our hearts in this church age, here is something Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Philippians 2:12-13.
Peter reminds us, "Since you call on a Father who judges each person's work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear." 1 Peter 1:7.
In the book of Revelation, in a passage that speaks of something yet to come, an angel says to all who live on the earth, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." Revelation 14:7.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know. A blog with all my posts can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
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