Things are not as they seem, the times are much darker, the culture much worse, and the reality far more dire than any pessimist could conjure. Simply averting your gaze, thinking positive thoughts, or spending mindless hours in meditation will not alter the reality in which you exist one iota. There are dark forces at work in the world today creating havoc, causing confusion, and spreading destruction. Cataclysmic events and massive destruction are now a regular occurrence, the old 100 year measuring stick now reduced to months. Deadly hurricanes and supercell storms now pummel us, flooding even mountainous areas costing the lives of many and millions of dollars in damage. The 24/7 news cycle is no longer enough to explain the constant barrage of bad news, make no mistake, these events are happening, and alarmingly, with much greater frequency.
It would be enough if the events I speak of were limited to natural disasters, sadly that is not the case. We have school and workplace shootings to contend with. Laboratories and manufacturing facilities are burning for days and dispersing poisons over many miles. Water pipes are bursting flooding homes and businesses. Rape and murder are now common place in society. In fact it has become its own special form of entertainment with entire channel lineups dedicated to it, and people are watching, by the millions. Human trafficking is now a thriving and growing threat in every city and town across the country.
Things aren’t just bad, they’re getting worse. Wars and rumors of wars are spreading across the globe. The reports from these wars would make an ancient Roman blush. No longer content to shoot the enemy and leave them dead, they now cut off their genitals, rape women and children with such ferocity that it breaks bones, and then burn their bodies. Ethnic cleansing and genocide are now underway on multiple continents. Incoming missile sirens are now commonplace in cities across Europe and the Middle East. The sadistic pride and demonic lust in which this is done is truly sick, but also for the discerning, leaves no doubt where the source of this evil emanates.
You might think with all of this going on at once that it would drive people to their knees in prayer, back to their Bibles in study, and their local congregation for encouragement, fellowship, and instruction. After all, isn’t that what happened in the aftermath of 9/11? Isn’t that what normally happens after a catastrophe, whether natural or man made? It appears that is no longer the case. We have become numb to the pain and misery laid bare on emotionless screens both large and small. Churches are emptying out and closing their doors. A society distracted by war, mayhem, murder, and porn no longer have time for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And there it is, the crux of the matter, the point of the narrative, and the moral of the story. It’s an old one…story that is. The people of this world are more enamored by the god of this world than the God of creation. The people are more interested in the condemnation of one another than the God of salvation. The people are more fascinated by their idols than the God of glory. The result of which has led us to a degrading society at every level in which women are seen as objects of pleasure and men are seen as forces of labor, and neither are seen in the image of their Maker. The fear of the Lord which has profited generations has been thrown out with the garbage, and replaced with the love of self and placed center stage for all to emulate and worship. The world goes on and the earth goes round and round until the cries of His people and the groaning of creation become deafening.
Then it stops.
And when it does stop, God leaves no doubt who put an end to it. No one is left wondering what happened. Noah, in the fear of the LORD, prophesied for over 100 years of the coming destruction. The fruits of his labor were eight souls and 2 of every living creature. Jeremiah, in the fear of the LORD, prophesied for over 40 years regarding the coming Babylonian invasion and destruction of the temple, imploring them to return to the God of Israel. Jesus, in the fear of the LORD, proclaimed repentance, forgiveness, and salvation to a people who had become “dull of hearing.” Again their temple was destroyed and His message taken to foreigners. Likewise, 2 witnesses, in the fear of the LORD, will prophesy for 1,260 days regarding the days to come. Most will mock, but many will heed the call leading up to the coming days of vengeance. It is the fear of the LORD that is foundational and transformational in the days to come. If we are to stand we must do so in the fear of the LORD.
Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good?Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
Psalms 34:11-14 NKJV
It’s a rhetorical question isn’t it? After calling us to listen to the wisdom in his teaching of the fear of the LORD (YHWH), David asks, “who desires life?” As opposed to death I think most of us would raise our hand. Next, “who loves many days,” as opposed to a short life, again, I think most of us would say ‘Amen.’ And what would we hope to see with those added days of life? “That he may see good,” not calamities, catastrophes, and disasters. We’re also probably not interested in seeing more injustice, more degradation, more detestable acts of violence and vile acts of madness. We’re looking for love, beauty, wonder, forgiveness, gratitude, and peace, or at least we should be.
Living in the fear of the LORD affects our speech, not just what we say, but how we say it. That speech affects our pursuits, our actions, and what we strive toward. An individual who speaks good and strives for good, will do good. Why would they do this? They have moved on from being lovers of self to lovers of God. Their passions have been transformed, no longer seeking and serving their selfish desires, they seek the common good looking for ways to help others, not exploit them. They now see their brother (man) and sister (woman) in the likeness of God, someone with infinite value to God and others. They are no longer a need to be met, a goal to be attained, an object to possess, they are all children of the Most High and a treasure to be adored and cared for, not lusted after.
To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion— A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:2-7 NKJV
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” One might well ask, “who among you would like to be wise?” Seek first the fear of the LORD. “Who among you would like to make better decisions?” Seek first the fear of the LORD. “Who among you would like better understanding?” Seek first the fear of the LORD.
The fear of the LORD is awe inspiring, reverential, fully cognizant, and always aware of His presence. Rather than being someone to hide from, the Psalmist hides in Him as a refuge. Rather than a terror to be avoided, the Psalmist follows Him closely and eats at His table. Rather than a distant maleficent deity, the Psalmist declares a provider and protector.
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Psalms 34:8 NKJV
The fear of the LORD is a humbling of oneself and esteeming of others. It is the acknowledgment that how we treat others reflects our view of God. If we have a small and demanding view of God we will treat others the same. If we have a large and gracious view of God, we will likewise lift others up and show our gratitude.
We submit ourselves to God as the one and only Sovereign in the fear of the LORD. We know and trust the LORD. We study His Word. It is life changing, life altering, and life giving. The Word of the LORD breathes life. The prayers of those who fear the LORD accomplish much. Our submission is not a sign of weakness but of strength, for we know the deeds of Him in which we place our faith.
Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; For surely there is a hereafter, And your hope will not be cut off.
Proverbs 23:17-18 NKJV
The fear of the LORD generates in us an intense and righteous hatred of evil. Our desire once for it is now changed and we seek only to turn from it. We can’t stand to watch it. Hearing it makes us wretch. Speaking of it turns our stomachs. Understanding there is always a victim keeps us from it. Clinging to the LORD and desiring no separation from Him strengthens our resolve against it.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.
Proverbs 8:13 NKJV
The fear of the LORD is a blessing. The new covenant came in the fear of the LORD. YHWH graciously gave his one and only Son to pay the penalty and wages of our sin that we would have eternal life. This He did willingly, not out of compunction, suffering a sinners death on our behalf and being laid in a sinners tomb. Only to rise 3 days later, conquering sin and death that we might live. What a blessing and privilege to walk in the fear of the LORD.
Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure with trouble.
Proverbs 15:16 NKJV
The fear of the LORD leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.
Proverbs 19:23 NKJV
In his song, Calling Out Your Name, Rich Mullins caught glimpses of God in the fertile plains, the flight of a hawk, and a flaming sunset. These moments alone with the LORD did not frighten him, but informed his knowledge of, and inspired his worship to the Creator. Our view of God may have grown too dim with all of our distractions. The roar of the world too deafening to hear God’s whisper. The constant busyness of our lives too chaotic to be still and know that He is God. But, it’s not too late…yet.
Well the moon moved past Nebraska, And spilled laughter on them cold Dakota Hills, And angels danced on Jacob's stairs, Yeah, they danced on Jacob's stairs
There is this silence in the Badlands, And over Kansas the whole universe was stilled, By the whisper of a prayer, The whisper of a prayer
And a single hawk bursts into flight, And in the east the whole horizon is in flames, I feel thunder in the sky, I see the sky about to rain, And I hear the prairies calling out Your name
I can feel the earth tremble, Beneath the rumbling of the buffalo hooves, And the fury in the pheasant's wings, And there's fury in a pheasant's wings
And it tells me the Lord is in His temple, And there is still a faith that can make the mountains move, And a love that can make the heavens ring, And I've seen love make heaven ring
Where the sacred rivers meet, Beneath the shadow of the Keeper of the plains, I feel thunder in the sky, I see the sky about to rain, And I hear the prairies calling out Your name
From the place where morning gathers, You can look sometimes forever 'til you see, What time may never know, What time may never know
How the Lord takes by its corners this old world, And shakes us forward and shakes us free, To run wild with the hope, To run wild with the hope
The hope that this thirst will not last long, That it will soon drown in a song not sung in vain, And I feel thunder in the sky, I see the sky about to rain, And I hear the prairies calling out Your name
And I know this thirst will not last long, That it will soon drown in the song not sung in vain, I feel thunder in the sky, I see the sky about to rain, And with the prairies I am calling out Your name
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