Hopeful ramblings…
I fear, it’s time we had a little less confidence and a little more fear.
Psalm 47:2 “For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.”
This fear is rooted in the reality that God reigns supreme. This world is His. And all who have power are accountable to Him.
Psalm 47:7-8 “For God is the king of all the earth… God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.”
None of us are open to the wisdom of God for his world, without the fear of God. Without fear, we determine our own values, we define our own problems and we devise our own solutions!
Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
In the book of Proverbs, 14 times the fear of the Lord is tied to some aspect of living in wisdom and understanding.
When God’s character and sovereignty are ultimately revealed, it will evoke the response of fear and worship from all.
Revelation 15:3,4 “…Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, For your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Life will be better for all, if we would open our hearts and minds to this reality now. My fear is that whomever we elect, God will need to teach him/her or them the lesson of Nebuchadnezzar. Reading Daniel 4, God loved King Nebby and his world enough to force him to realize his pride and God’s right to rule and reign. It took a humbling downfall to get him there. But he got there.
Daniel 4:37 “I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”
Now, just in case we Christians are tempted to say, “Yeah, that’s right Donald! That’s right Hillary!” That same fear must reside deep in our hearts. It is not fear of the world. It is not fear of a ruthless, vindictive God. It is fear of the God who rules and reigns over His creation. Let’s call it supreme respect and awe. It compels us to long for his salvation and live under his rule, leadership and authority.
It has been a mark of God’s people. And it should be again. It empowers our witness and enhances our effectiveness.
Acts 9:31 “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.”
2 Corinthians 5:11 “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.”
I don’t really know how I’ll vote. But what I hope to see before election day is a crack in the facade of self-confidence and a glimpse of humility, however small it may be. I pray that this fear would also reside in me.
It is only in humble fear that any of us will be ready to receive the wisdom of God.