Good Morning “God Fearers”. Today we are in Psalm 111.
The Psalmist reminds us of Gods incredible works - they will not be forgotten. Throughout Psalms we have seen many references to God and His care towards those who “fear Him”. This Psalm is no different.
Furthermore as the Psalmist ends this Psalm we are told that “Fear of the LORD (Yahweh) is the beginning of wisdom.” Psalm 111:10
It’s important to be reminded… this word “fear” has largely been watered down. The word here is “yirah”. In fact every time we see the word “fear” in the Old Testament it is some form of the word “yirah”, or “yahre”. In the New Testament it’s always Phobeo, it comes into our language as phobia. Yes the word includes the concept of reverence, and awe… but why do we leave out the fact that it also means afraid, terror, dreadful - pants wetting, fall like dead men fear? Those are the words used in all these passages and more: Deuteronomy 6:13, Ecclesiastes 12:13, 1 Samuel 12:14, 12:24, Job 28:28, Psalm 128:1, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 9:10, 19:23, Matthew 10:28, Matthew 28:4.
In fact over 300 times in some form or another we are told to fear God… same 2 words.
Somehow being “afraid” of a Holy God who Himself charges us to be Holy even as He is Holy (Leviticus 19:2, 1 Peter 1:16) messes with our categories. We don’t want to be “afraid” of our benevolent grandfather in the sky… but shouldn’t we be?
Google fear of the LORD, and you will find near endless hits that say being afraid is NOT what is meant. We’ve watered down the word, so let’s think logically. If no fear, of even consequences… why would I obey? The child who does not fear his father, at least in the early stages doesn’t obey. The butt whooping results in a natural and frankly healthy fear (Proverbs 13:24).
Somehow discipline has been removed from the attributes of real love. Satan has turned Scripture on Its head and convinced us of the opposite. If we don’t fear God, and the discipline He brings, why would we obey God? Out of sheer love? Eventually we may obey our parents out of love, but as children that’s not the case. What child has not shuttered hearing, “You just wait until your father gets home.” Look around. How well is the watered down version of “fearing God” working in our world? No fear no obedience.
Scripture chronicles Gods long history of disciplining His children - even unto physical death - both before and after Jesus. Jesus death brought salvation from condemnation. The loving Father still corrects His children. That should cause us to fear. (Proverbs 3:11-12, Hebrews 12:4-13, Revelation 3:19)
1 John 4:18 tells us that there is no fear in love, that perfect love drives out fear. But read on and you will see that the one who fears has not been made perfect in love. We are indeed a process.
Through the Love of Jesus we are indeed made righteous before God. He is working in us and will carry on to completion the good work He began at salvation (Philippians 1:6). However; as we stumble along the way, may we never forget that God loves us enough to bring the hammer when we got it coming.
May that acknowledgment breed in us Holy Fear that compels us to be obedient.
If “fear of The LORD is the BEGINNING of wisdom”, and we understand wisdom as knowledge, or in this case Scripture applied, but we have no fear… do we ever grow up in The Word and become obedient to it? Maybe that’s why the Psalmist ends with vs 10 - “all who follow His precepts have understanding.”
Love you all! Dig in!
The Psalmist reminds us of Gods incredible works - they will not be forgotten. Throughout Psalms we have seen many references to God and His care towards those who “fear Him”. This Psalm is no different.
Furthermore as the Psalmist ends this Psalm we are told that “Fear of the LORD (Yahweh) is the beginning of wisdom.” Psalm 111:10
It’s important to be reminded… this word “fear” has largely been watered down. The word here is “yirah”. In fact every time we see the word “fear” in the Old Testament it is some form of the word “yirah”, or “yahre”. In the New Testament it’s always Phobeo, it comes into our language as phobia. Yes the word includes the concept of reverence, and awe… but why do we leave out the fact that it also means afraid, terror, dreadful - pants wetting, fall like dead men fear? Those are the words used in all these passages and more: Deuteronomy 6:13, Ecclesiastes 12:13, 1 Samuel 12:14, 12:24, Job 28:28, Psalm 128:1, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 9:10, 19:23, Matthew 10:28, Matthew 28:4.
In fact over 300 times in some form or another we are told to fear God… same 2 words.
Somehow being “afraid” of a Holy God who Himself charges us to be Holy even as He is Holy (Leviticus 19:2, 1 Peter 1:16) messes with our categories. We don’t want to be “afraid” of our benevolent grandfather in the sky… but shouldn’t we be?
Google fear of the LORD, and you will find near endless hits that say being afraid is NOT what is meant. We’ve watered down the word, so let’s think logically. If no fear, of even consequences… why would I obey? The child who does not fear his father, at least in the early stages doesn’t obey. The butt whooping results in a natural and frankly healthy fear (Proverbs 13:24).
Somehow discipline has been removed from the attributes of real love. Satan has turned Scripture on Its head and convinced us of the opposite. If we don’t fear God, and the discipline He brings, why would we obey God? Out of sheer love? Eventually we may obey our parents out of love, but as children that’s not the case. What child has not shuttered hearing, “You just wait until your father gets home.” Look around. How well is the watered down version of “fearing God” working in our world? No fear no obedience.
Scripture chronicles Gods long history of disciplining His children - even unto physical death - both before and after Jesus. Jesus death brought salvation from condemnation. The loving Father still corrects His children. That should cause us to fear. (Proverbs 3:11-12, Hebrews 12:4-13, Revelation 3:19)
1 John 4:18 tells us that there is no fear in love, that perfect love drives out fear. But read on and you will see that the one who fears has not been made perfect in love. We are indeed a process.
Through the Love of Jesus we are indeed made righteous before God. He is working in us and will carry on to completion the good work He began at salvation (Philippians 1:6). However; as we stumble along the way, may we never forget that God loves us enough to bring the hammer when we got it coming.
May that acknowledgment breed in us Holy Fear that compels us to be obedient.
If “fear of The LORD is the BEGINNING of wisdom”, and we understand wisdom as knowledge, or in this case Scripture applied, but we have no fear… do we ever grow up in The Word and become obedient to it? Maybe that’s why the Psalmist ends with vs 10 - “all who follow His precepts have understanding.”
Love you all! Dig in!
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