6.18.2008

Fear of the Lord

I've been reading Tozer's book "What Happened to Worship?". In the opening chapters he mentions how we've lost the "fear of the Lord". Being the DEEP thinker I am, I wanted to know his definition of the fear of the Lord. Well, it so happens he gave me a couple.

astonished reverence, inner consciousness of the presence and nearness of God, high moral happiness because God is. Worship of God is so high that a transfer of emotions or affections doesn't exist.

I also wanted to look up some verses on "the fear of the Lord", so I did.

"Fear the Lord your God, and serve Him only..."
"What does the Lord ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways..."
"The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever..."
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..."
"He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress..."
"work out your salvation with fear and trembling..."

There are several Biblical principles that I struggle with off and on. What do they mean? What implications does it have for my daily life? Do I truly understand what it means and do I really want to? This is one of those.

Do I deep down in the bowels of my soul have a genuine fear of the Lord? Do I fear him? Not in a "fraidy-cat" sense of fear, but a knowledge that He is near, that I am in His presence, that He is with me. Do I? I don't think I really do. There are things that I'm tempted by that I don't think I'd be tempted by if there was a sense of God's nearness in my life. I think the number of prayers that go out from my heart in the course of a normal day would triple if I understood the fear of the Lord.

I want it. I really do. I like the thought of having a "secure fortress". Of beginning wisdom in my life and watching it grow. I need that.

Do I fear Him?




2 comments:

  1. Wow, that is a powerful question- probably a question that EVERYONE should ask themselves. And definitely something I would like to STRIVE to do.

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  2. My dear son - keep contemplating the meaning of the fear of the Lord, it is pivotal...I'd love to hear more of your thoughts on this. I miss you!!!

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