confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared. [psalm 119:38]
a right view of God is what we seek–right theology is important to understanding who it is that we worship. we want to know God! i know that i am often guilty of emphasizing God’s love and acceptance, while minimizing God’s holy and terrible wrath. when we see God only as kind and approachable, we will–in the face of the cares of this world–fear man and not the God who spoke the universe into existence with power and glory. we will worry and be turned inward to our comforts and lusts when we do not feel the weight of the God of justice who is holding back his wrath for a day when it will be poured out upon those who do not fear his name.
fearing typically has negative connotations, but not this kind of fear–fearing God leads to life!
we will be blessed if wear fear him [psalm 128:1, 128:4]
we will obey his commandments if we fear him [exodus 20:20]
we will hate evil if we fear him [proverbs 8:13]
we will have confidence (in him) if we fear him [proverbs 14:6]
we will walk with uprightness if we fear him [proverbs 14:6]
we have life when we fear him [proverbs 19:23, proverbs 14:7]
we will have wisdom if we fear him [proverbs 9:10, psalm 111:10, job 28:28]
we will seek holiness by fear of God [2 Corinthians 7:1]
we will feel godly grief and seek eagerly the things of God if we fear him [2 corinthians 7:11]
God daily is confirming his promises to us. God commands us to put off the fear of man and seek our him–to stand in awe of him. yes, by Jesus’ blood we can freely enter the throne room of grace, but once there, we join the chorus of all creation:
“‘holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God almighty,’
who was, and is, and is to come.” [revelation 4:8b]
and:
“you are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created;
and have their being.” [revelation 4:11]
let us fear, and in turn, worship you, o God!
~conor eastman