"The fear of God" is a phrase used over and over again in the Bible. I get what it means, as in I understand the meaning of the words...but I always sensed that I was missing this truth within me. What does it mean to "fear God?" I think I'm respectful of Him, recognize His awesomeness, His vastness, His omnipotence, omnipresence, etc...doesn't all that add up to fearing Him? Well, I just kind of always assumed that it did. I figured because I acknowledged all these big/amazing/awe-inspiring aspects of the Lord, that - well, I must fear Him, right?
Wrong.
At least for me.
One thing that has been taking root in me lately is a fear of God. I think I'm making the first scratch on the surface of what all that entails. You see, I've been studying Him through the Old Testament...how He dealt with His people. I have been understanding what it meant to follow Him then - the Law, the sacrifices, the temple, the Kings and priests, etc. I've found myself being offended at some of what I'm learning of Him. I'm annoyed at the complexity of it all. I'm dismayed at the killings He ordered, the curses He brought down, the punishment of death that befalls folks way too often for my sensibilities. I'm overwhelmed by the (seeming) intolerance for what seems to me to be pretty expected fallen human behavior. I'm exhausted by reading about the hundreds of prescribed sacrifices and how the entire society had to pretty much revolve around worshipping God: not because of heartfelt love for Him but because if every waking moment wasn't focused upon it, it actually couldn't even get done. I'm seeing aspects of His character for the first time. The purity He is. The perfection that He is. The uncompromising nature of Him.
Beyond my feeling sorry for the Israelites, overwhelmed and exhausted by their lifestyle and annoyed with God for being so anal and over-the-top...I think what is beginning to set in is fear. Fear of God. I think I'm maybe cracking the door open on pieces of Him previously unexplored in my faith. I'm understanding why our casual approach to Him could be mistaken for disrespect or plain old ignorance of Who He Really Is.
I think I'm starting to get that He didn't DO those things to Israel to make their lives difficult and tempt them into disobediance...He just IS those things. And we can't be in His Presence like we are. And yes, there are a whole lot of hoops you had to jump through if you even wanted to try. I guess that means He is Holy.
If you've read this far, you're just reading some processing of mine about His Holy Nature and how it's beginning to enstill this "fear of God" thing that I've so often read about in the past. No conclusion. No answers. Just processing.
Do you know Him like this?
Pursuing Dreams
1 year ago
3 comments:
I don't have any answers either - but I like reading your processing and hearing more about the journey your on.
Genesis 11:1-9 really made me think more about the "Fear of God" today! For something (language) that can be so unifying, yet so incredibly divisive amongst nations, God allowed confusion by turning their language into "babble". (As you know in this passage, this was Him-correcting)
There is an utter fear that is instilled in my heart. To think that at one time all people could communicate the same language?! No barriers in our tongue. And... yet I'm taken to real accounts TODAY when the Holy Spirit comes down like Fire, this is often a way that He will unify people of different nations... He lifts that division & grants a gift of tongues, all for His glory!
I see His character here as being "Firm & Intolerant". Yet, today when He lifts this...clearly He is "Merciful"
I'm like you in that I'm starting to see "The Fear of God" a different way & quite frankly I'm taken to my knees by it. It is good!
No, I don't really get this. I was just reading the other day Psalm 25:14 "The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them." and I was wanting to know more of what it means to fear him. I'm asking him to show me more of what it means and looks like.
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