My wife and I are reading through the Psalms in our evening reading and occasionally a nugget of the Psalms jumps out of the page. Don’t you love it when, after years of reading the “Old Book” passages become alive, reinforcing old teachings or simply warming your heart.
This is the book of Psalms, and it is rich.
In our previous post, I supplied an introduction to this psalm that may be beneficial for review if you have not read it. Psalms for Psome – Ps 34 – A
Lets continue with Psalm 34
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Fear of the Lord. It is seldom mentioned in our churches and we are the weaker for it. And yet, what exactly is the fear of the Lord. Based on this short snippet from the hand of David, we find the following.
- Groups who fear the Lord are protected by an angel
- Groups who fear the Lord are delivered by the angel
- Groups who fear the Lord are exhorted to experience the Lord
- This is not something that would be encouraged by a “fearful” presence, so something must be more complex than what we default to.
- Groups who fear the Lord find Him good
- The man who fears the Lord is blessed.
- Fear of the Lord seems to be related to refuge – Interesting!
- Groups who fear the Lord have no lack
- Fear of the Lord is related to the One who supplies all of our need.
- Groups who fear the Lord lack no good thing
- Notice that fear seems to be connected with seeking the Lord.
- In my earthly understanding, when I fear something, I tend to think of avoiding the one who causes my fear, yet the fear of the Lord is the equivalent of seeking the Lord – Very Interesting!!
- Fear of the Lord can be taught.
- The fear of the Lord is not a simple emotional reaction to a threat, as I often consider fear. The fear of the Lord is a state of mind that is to be learned, practiced and lived in.
A story of relating to fear has been helpful for me. As you may know, I work with railroads, and a healthy fear of trains is a beneficial attitude on site. They are powerful monsters of mass and motion, and if I follow a few principles the Class 1 Railroads have laid down, I can work around and with these behemoths safely. At times, these massive mechanical projectiles are hurtling through a space at high velocities, unable to stop. Standing on the train I’m safe. Standing 15 ft away from the tracks I’m safe. Standing on a bridge over the tracks I’m safe. During these times, I am amazed at the trains, their shear massive size and unyielding power.
Yet if I stand in front of a train, I am doomed! A dead man. Without hope. One spot that I shouldn’t be. On the tracks. Why do I stay off the tracks. Fear of the train!
Why should you stay off the wrong side of God. You will be doomed.
Yet any location you take to view the train, other than on active tracks, you will be safe, and possibly enjoy some benefit of the train. You may find, as I have, that trains are fantastic mechanisms of strength and power.
Likewise, learn of God and His Son Jesus Christ, taste and see the benefits of such a good and loving Creator. In all of your learning of the goodness and mercy of the Lord, do one thing for me.
Stay off the tracks!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.
Considering the Bible 