Psalm 1 is the wisdom Psalm which describes two lives. There are only two – a life with God or a life without God. Every person, everywhere is living one or the other of these two lives.
I believe that without holy fear there can be no joyful, increasing confidence. I don’t have to tell you that I’m not talking about being scared or afraid – but the wisdom of increasing AWE and a deepening revelation of WHO and WHAT God is, always was and always will be. Through the years I’ve been told that godly fear is simply respect and reverence. That is certainly part of it but I think there is a deeper meaning and more to comprehend. We can reach for a quality of holy fear which will increase and colour our worship. For me – my fear increases along with awe – the better and more I know God. All that God is and WHO totally God is, is beyond my grasp and comprehension. But I don’t have to remain on the outer fringes.
Just a few verses to remind us of what the fear of the Lord is and how it is related to our wisdom – knowledge and understanding of God and our relationship with Him. Am I wise enough to recognize that this day is a gift and I have these moments to convert myself from the natural to the spiritual by the enabling of the Holy Spirit - - my choice, His power?
Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom – the starting point. If that is where wisdom begins then I certainly need the fear of the Lord because wisdom is the choice part of knowledge. I might have a lot of knowledge but if I don’t have the wisdom to use it obediently – my knowledge will be a hindrance to my spiritual growth.
Psalms 18:28 – The Lord illuminates my darkness, my confusion and gives me the light of understanding and insight.
Psalms 34:7-9 – The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him. He protects us from danger and from error. His protection includes discernment and we have nothing to fear. PLUS – there is no want to those who worship Him with godly fear.
1 Timothy 6:11 – True godliness is the loving fear of God.
2 Peter 1:8-9 – These qualities produce a desire to seek growing godliness and an increasing knowledge of God. A Christian without this desire lacks wisdom and by choice is spiritually blind.
Proverbs 4:18 – The light shines brighter all the way Home.
Are you afraid of them? Are they really killers – life enders? No, not for Christians. What am I talking about. Things like heart disease, cancer, strokes, serious illnesses, car accidents, plane crashes and etc. and etc. Not for one second do I ignore or diminish the dreadful suffering which accompanies these conditions. But – consider with me – doesn’t the pain itself press the switch on our focus and swing it upward? Jesus has risen and death no longer reigns. Therefore nothing can kill me – PLUS – all my days (Psalms 139:16) were written in Your book before even one of them existed. This should give us an entirely different viewpoint. I don’t see these afflictions as the off-ramp from temporary mortal life – BUT – the ON-ramp to our eternal, full-orbed, glorious life – beyond our present comprehension – the immortal LIFE for which we were created and redeemed.
We can allow ourselves to be plagued by many fears about the physical, material, financial and much more. They can become an enemy which distracts us from our quest for growing holy fear and pure wisdom in our deepening knowledge of God.
Let’s determine to fear the Lord in the right way so that we’ll be fully equipped to fear nothing and no one else.
Paul speaks (Romans 3:18) of people who have no fear of God before their eyes. There is something terribly amiss in their outlook on life. Is this condition possible for a Christian? I think a person who lives in carnality – pleasing self – watching and reading whatever they want – going wherever they choose – is a person so lacking in wisdom that they are not wise enough to realize their poverty and danger. How much shame – pain – sorrow will a Christian feel who hears God say (Isaiah 48:18) Oh, that you had obeyed Me, then your peace would have been like a flowing river and your righteousness like the abundant waves of the sea.
I’m not an expert but the longing in my heart drives me to pursue knowing God as perfectly as possible. I’m thrilled and thankful for the very real sense of God Presence – but – as Moses did (Exodus 33:18) I’m asking the Lord to show me the glory of God and that I will progressively know the God of glory.
We are told (Hebrews 4:16) to come boldly to the Throne of Grace – not brashly but with joyful confidence. Whether or not we have joyful confidence would depend on our wisdom. What is wisdom? Knowledge – insight – understanding – about what? About the God we know well enough to be wise enough to fear Him and the awe that comes from knowing His magnificence – power – love fills us with joy and confidence. I don’t think we’ll spend much time praying to Someone we barely know. How could we have confidence in God if He is almost a Stranger to us? When we pray do we rush right to the requests on our list or does holy fear prompt us to begin with consideration and meditation on WHO it is to WHOM we are speaking???
As my knowledge of God increases and as I explore the wonders of my God – my wonder and reverential awe will revel in the stunning beauty and holiness of His attributes and characteristics and the deep genuine sweetness of His Person. This will produce expanding awe and holy fear and trembling joy and admiration which will lead me to growing heart-filled adoration.
Like me, you are probably praying for awakening and revival in our church assemblies and asking God if there’s enough time for one more Martin Luther (by faith alone in Christ alone through Grace alone) or Billy Graham (the Bible says) to present the Gospel world-wide. As I was talking to the Lord about these things a new thought came. We need God’s Word to know Him but many churches have departed from the Truth. God said (Amos 8:11) I will send a famine, not of bread or water but a famine for hearing the Words of the Lord. It is high time for all Christians (Haggai 1:5,7) to consider our ways. Government leaders are at their (Psalms 109:28) wit’s end and are filled with confusion as this world is being prepared (Daniel 12:1) (Revelation 6:2) for the coming of Antichrist.
Could it be possible that the disasters and chaos all over the world – are God’s present-time evangelists? People who refused to listen to the Gospel – will terror and will tragedy compel some to realize how much they need Jesus? There is (Isaiah 45:6-7) no God besides Me, I Am the Lord and I create physical calamity. God does nothing without purpose. I am more assured, than I am of my own name, that nothing will thwart God’s purpose and nothing and no one will ever impinge on God’s total controlling Sovereignty.
Years ago I heard that God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in ordinary times and shouts to us in our troubles and sorrows. I think God is shouting to our world right now – and also it’ a wake-up call to Christians to the signs of the times as we observe and hear (Romans 8:22-23) all creation groaning.
For ourselves, we would do well to pray for a spirit of wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17-18) in the deep knowledge of Jesus Christ. Why? Because – one time it was (Exodus 33:20) no man can see My face and live. But now – (2 Corinthians 4:6) God has shone in our hearts the light of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God and it is revealed in the face of Jesus Christ.
The treasures of darkness (Isaiah 45:3) and the hidden riches of secret places are for those who trust and obey and spend time in the secret place with God.
If your God is as big to you as He forever truly is – your biggest giants will dwindle down to smaller than grasshoppers. If you truly believe – not just mental assent – but truly believe (Romans 8:28-29) that God works in the ALL THINGS to make us like Jesus, nothing will upset you and you’ll be amazed at what it will do for your patience. His purpose is not just for earth-time.
OSWALD CHAMBERS – “It takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman after His own purpose”.
Does this verse (Daniel 11:32) excite you? The people who know their God shall prove themselves strong and will stand firm and do exploits for God! What a challenge and possible triumph in the very region of darkness. I want to know HIM that well.
The Lord God Who is so far above and beyond us set billions of stars (Isaiah 40:26) in place, calls them all by name and not one of them is missing. And yet we can talk to Him about everything including the most personal physical details – and He not only listens to us but also answers our questions. Who has a god like unto our God Who listens to us? It has been well said – He is nearer than our breathing, closer than our hands and feet.
Dr. A.W.Tozer said “Know God as perfectly as possible”.
As I pursue the knowledge, insight, understanding and wisdom of knowing God – He brings a wealth of spiritual benefits to me. And the more I know of God – such wisdom will increase my holy fear and joyful confidence.
