Tag: fear of the Lord
Bet on God for a sure thing!
Scripture reading for July 27th: Isaiah 31-35
“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or seek help from the Lord. Yet He too is wise and can bring disaster, He does not take back His words. He will rise up against the house of the wicked, against those who help evildoers. But the Egyptians are men and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out His hand, he who helps will stumble, he who is helped will fall; both will perish together.” Isaiah 31:1-3
Our state and nation are obsessed with gambling. Our governor and elected officials are constantly trying to find a way to institute more revenue through gambling. The state horse racing industry has lobbied hard to add casinos to the racetracks in hopes of snaring more money and preying on those with gambling addictions. I have been in Kentucky for over thirteen years, and this issue has come up nearly every year. Oh that the words of God recorded in the prophet Isaiah’s writing would be heard!
Now I know that Isaiah wasn’t writing about gambling or horse racing. He was writing to God’s people who had a tendency to trust in man rather than in the Lord. It was a problem in Isaiah’s day and is still a problem today. Men and horses are flesh. The flesh profits us nothing; it is the Spirit that will bring life and peace. (Romans 8:6-8) If we would just fear the Lord, all the treasures of security, righteousness, justice, wisdom and knowledge would be ours. (Isaiah 33:5-6)
If you want a real tip for a winning ticket for life, don’t bet on the horses! Fear the Lord and humbly trust in Him and He will bless you with all your heart desires and far more!
“The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He will fill Zion with justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.” Isaiah 33:5-6
Contrasts and choices!
Scripture reading for July 7th: Proverbs 10-13
Contrast is a literary device used in many of the proverbs to help convey truth. The righteous man is wise and fears the Lord and the wicked man is foolish and hates God’s Word and God’s laws. Let’s look at these two types of people and evaluate our own lives. I often say that if a person is not good for anything else, he can always be a bad example!
Proverbs 10:1 states that the foolish son brings grief to his mother. The foolish man is lazy and sleeps during harvest instead of working. (Proverbs 10:4-5) The wicked man’s mouth is filled with violence and his hatred causes dissension and strife. (Proverbs 10:11-12, 31-32) The wicked earn wages of punishment and poverty. (Proverbs 10:15-16) The fool finds pleasure in evil conduct and lives in fear and dread of punishment that is sure to come upon him. (Proverbs 10:23-24) The wicked have no hope! (Proverbs 10:28, 11:23) Their own ways insure judgment and ruin in their lives and in the lives of those around them. (Proverbs 10:27-29) There will be shouts of joy when the wicked perish from the land. (Proverbs 11:10) God detests those with perverse hearts and makes sure they will be punished! (Proverbs 11:20-21)
But the righteous man is a joy to his father! (Proverbs 10:1) His righteousness delivers him from death and hunger and lack. He enjoys plenty because he gathers the crops during harvest season. (Proverbs 10:3-5) He is blessed and his memory is a blessing. (Proverbs 10:6-7) He is always open to correction and is teachable. (Proverbs 10:17) His mouth is a fountain of life. (Proverbs 10:8-11) He is a man of integrity and his love covers over many wrongs. (Proverbs 10:12) He enjoys a long and joyful life because his way is the Lord’s way! (Proverbs 10:27-29) His life blesses the city he lives in and he prospers! (Proverbs 11:10-11) He is generous and gives, yet gains even more! (Proverbs 11:20,24-25) He is a tree of life and wins souls to the Lord’s way! (Proverbs 11:30)
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out which way is the most profitable and blessed! If you are wise, you will enjoy the blessings listed for the righteous! If you are a fool and unteachable, no one can help you! The choice is yours!
Mighty in the Land!
Scripture reading for June 26th: Psalms 111-118
We all want the best for our children! As a parent, I will sacrifice for my children that they might fulfill their destiny and become great in the Lord and honor Him. I will do whatever it takes to provide for them, protect them, and instruct them to fulfill their God-given purpose! God’s Word gives us the secret of how to secure the blessing of God on our children and see them become ‘mighty in the land’! (Psalm 112:2)
Psalm 111 praises the Lord for His faithfulness and mighty deeds on behalf of those who fear and honor Him. God is always gracious and compassionate on those who fear Him. He provides food for them and keeps His covenant! (Psalm 111:4-5) He has given them the land of other nations and shown His great power to His people! (Psalm 111:6) God has provided redemption for His people and given them His holy and awesome name! (Psalm 111:9) Knowing how to live life successfully and having wisdom flows from the fear of the Lord!
Psalm 112 continues in this same vein of thought. When a man fears the Lord, he finds great delight in God’s Word and commands! (Psalm 112:1-3) Those who obey the Lord and listen to His commands find His blessings! His ears are attentive to their prayers. In contrast, His face is set against those who do not fear Him and but cling to evil! They will quickly perish from the land. God delights to bless His children and make them mighty in the land.
Those who fear the Lord will have light in darkness! Remember the children of Israel had light during the plague of darkness! (Exodus 10:21-23) Those who fear the Lord are generous and give. They conduct their affairs with justice, doing what is fair and right in the sight of God because they respect Him. Because of this, they will never be shaken! (Psalm 112:5-6) They will have no fear of enemy attack, war, or economic downturn! He has promised them victory over their enemies! (Psalm 112:8-10) Those who trust in the Lord and fear Him will lack nothing! I am praying today for our children and grandchildren and church family to be mighty in the land!
Healthy fear!
Scripture reading for January 25th: Exodus 19-20
God carried the whole nation of Israel out of slavery in Egypt with a display of His power in the plagues. They walked out of Egypt, laden down with silver and gold and other valuables. God’s presence guided them in the Pillar of Fire and in the Cloud. God was in their midst and provided miraculously in sending the manna and quail and then providing water from the Rock. These children understood the mercy of God, but their fear of God was lacking! This holy fear is the best foundation for a good connection with a Holy God. (Proverbs 1:7)
God led the children of Israel to Mt. Sinai where He gave instructions through Moses to the people. They were to refrain from sexual relations, wash their clothes, and consecrate themselves in preparation for hearing God. (Exodus 19:10-16) On the morning of the third day, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud, and a loud trumpet blast. When the trumpet sounded, everyone in the camp trembled with fear! (Exodus 20:18-19) The people begged Moses to speak to them, but did not want God’s voice.
God’s purpose was to instill in them the “fear of God to keep them from sinning.” (Exodus 20:20) The ten commandments that Moses received revealed God’s standard of holiness. They are the mirror for our soul showing our own need of mercy and forgiveness. They drive us to God for mercy through His Son, Jesus Christ. It is only by grace that we are saved from the penalty of sin. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
As you read Exodus 20:1-17 today, ask the Lord to reveal his holiness to you and open your eyes to your need for holy fear. Look at the commandments and see how they help us to love God and love our neighbor. For those who have trusted in Christ, the Holy Spirit now writes the law on our hearts and brings us into the fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:1-3) Jesus perfectly obeyed the law by following the Spirit!
“Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” Exodus 20:20
A time of peace!
Scripture reading for June 14th: Acts 9:26-43
God’s Kingdom is always in conflict with the kingdoms of this world and of the devil. We are told to stand in the full armor of God in this conflict. But even in conflict, God grants times of peace where He also works in the hearts of men to bring about His purposes.
“Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.” (Acts 9:31) After Saul was converted, the wave of persecution caused by his misguided zeal subsided and a time of peace settled over the church. The Holy Spirit strengthened and encouraged the believers. The Father’s gift was invaluable in each of these new disciples. They found boldness and power to share the Gospel and see the church grow in numbers. Their proper respect for God, the fear of the Lord, helped them to stay focused and live holy lives.
In this atmosphere, Peter traveled about the countryside ministering to the saints. He visited Lydda and there was used to heal a man who was bed-ridden for eight years. This miracle brought many new believers into the church there.
In Joppa, a disciple named Tatitha who was a faithful worker in the church became ill and died. The church sent two men to find Peter who was near there. Peter came and found a number of widows mourning Tabitha’s passing. Peter knelt down by the bed where her body was laid and spoke to her, “Tabitha, get up.” She immediately opened her eyes and they helped her up. This miracle brought many others to faith in the region around Joppa!
Good news travels fast and God promised to confirm His word with signs and miracles. This early church did not just sit around during the time of peace, but continued in faith and good works. Their lives were marked by expectation of God’s supernatural power and intervention. They were sharing their faith with those outside and seeing people come to faith! They lived in the fear of the Lord and holiness brought God’s presence. May your life and church family be marked by a time of peace like this one!
Prepare to meet your God!
Scripture reading for September 12th: Amos 3-5
Amos was a country preacher who used plain language that cut to the chase! Country people don’t beat around the bush. They call it like it is. This is a good trait, but sometimes lacks tact in the eyes of those who are more refined! Amos likely made a few people pretty mad! In Amos 4:1 he called the women of Samaria “cows”. These women were likened to the well-fed cattle of Bashan, a farming area east of the Sea of Galilee. They were demanding drinks from their husbands and were oppressing the poor and needy while they enjoyed an abundance. Amos promised them that God’s punishment was on the way.
Amos told the people to go up to Bethel and sin. They were religious people who loved to put on a show. They boasted about their offerings as if they had produced them all by themselves. God had tried to correct them and get their attention, but to no avail! They would not return to God with humble and contrite hearts! (Amos 4:6, 9, 11) God had sent famines, plagues, war and trouble to wake them up but they failed to respond. The final call was for them to prepare to meet their God! (Amos 4:12) God had power that should have been revered! He was now ready to call them to stand before Him in judgment and the results would not be pretty!
These religious people said that they longed for the day of the Lord! Amos told them that it would be a day of darkness, not light for them! (Amos 5:18) It would be like a man fleeing from a lion, only to meet a bear. Because their hearts were not in their religious devotion and assemblies, God hated their songs, festivals, feasts and offerings! He wanted justice and righteousness, not a religious show! (Amos 5:24)
As we read about this farmer-preacher, we see that he spoke truth in plain language. The times he lived in were a lot like ours. We need to be sure we are seeking the Lord with our hearts, and not just words and ritual. We must hate evil and love good! We should be working in our day for justice and compassion for the poor. The day of the Lord is coming! Will you be ready?
“. . . prepare to meet your God, O Israel.” Amos 4:12b
Don’t bet on the horses!
Scripture reading for July 27th: Isaiah 31-35
“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or seek help from the Lord. Yet He too is wise and can bring disaster, He does not take back His words. He will rise up against the house of the wicked, against those who help evildoers. But the Egyptians are men and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out His hand, he who helps will stumble, he who is helped will fall; both will perish together.” Isaiah 31:1-3
Our city, state and nation are obsessed with gambling. Our state governor and elected officials are constantly trying to find a way to institute more revenue through gambling. The state horse racing industry is lobbying hard to add gambling casinos to the racetracks in hopes of snaring more money and preying on those with gambling addictions. I have been in Kentucky for twelve years, and this issue has come up every year. Oh that the words of God recorded in the prophet Isaiah’s writing would be heard!
Now I know that Isaiah wasn’t writing about gambling or horse racing! He was writing to God’s people who had a tendency to trust in man rather than in the Lord. It was a problem in Isaiah’s day and is still a problem today. Trusting in man and horse-power is folly. Man and horses are flesh. The flesh profits us nothing; it is the Spirit that will bring life and peace. (Romans 8:6-8) Isaiah went on to tell the people the real key to all they needed. If they would just fear the Lord, they would have all the treasures of security, righteousness, justice, wisdom and knowledge. (Isaiah 33:5-6)
If you want a real tip for a winning ticket for life, don’t bet on the horses! Fear the Lord and humbly trust in Him and He will bless you with all your heart desires and far more!
“The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He will fill Zion with justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.” Isaiah 33:5-6
Is man a maggot in God’s sight?
Scripture reading for May 28th: Job 25-28
Bildad opened his final argument by citing the power and dominion of God. He then questioned that in light of God’s greatness, how can man who is born of woman be right with God? (Job 25:4) This is a good question and the answer implied by Bildad is found in other writings of Scripture. Romans 3:10 says that there is none righteous, not even one (Psalm 14:1) . Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The problem with Bildad’s statement is in his understanding of God and man’s relationship. Bildad stated that man was like a maggot in God’s sight, only a worm. (Job 25:6) This view is neither encouraging or accurate!
Job refuted Bildad by asking him what spirit was speaking through him! Job’s counter-argument was that he would continue to trust God, even if he didn’t understand! (Job 27:2-6) God was his only source of hope and encouragement! God’s character and wisdom were worth more to Job than anything this earth had to offer. (Job 28:12-13)
The bottom line for Job was that the fear of the Lord was wisdom and understanding was to depart from evil! (Job 28:28) Let’s think about this for a minute. Respecting God and His authority is the very core of wisdom. We can only live our life successfully if we have this attitude present in our life. Respecting God is part of the character trait of humility. God, Himself, is humble! Jesus Christ taught his followers to come and learn from Him, because he was humble of heart! (Matthew 11:28-30) By respecting God and being humble we are able to follow God and learn from Him. We can then live successfully by faith and not be destroyed by our sight! We know from God’s word and character that there is a definite “good” and a definite “evil”. We walk in understanding when we depart from evil and do good!
God is the most precious one in our life. Job came to this conclusion as he was forced by the circumstances of a trial to live by faith. He did not have all the answers, but he knew the one who did and who would help him! He steadfastly held on to what he knew and persevered and we can too! We are not a worm but a precious child of Father God!
Famous last words!
Scripture reading for April 2nd: 2nd Samuel 21-24
These are the last words of David: ” The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel’s singer of songs: “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; His word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.’ (2nd Samuel 23:1-4)
David, the shepherd boy, anointed King by the Lord, speaks prophetically under the Spirit of the Lord. His last words are inspired by the “Most High”, “God of Jacob”, “God of Israel” and “Rock of Israel”. The Bible states that no prophet speaks on his own but is moved on by the Holy Spirit. ( 2nd Peter 1:20-21) He writes not so much for himself, but for those who will follow him in the walk of faith. David writes out of nearly 70 years of walking with the Lord and living a life of faith.
David left a mighty legacy for us. His Psalms are prophetic of the coming Messiah: his life, suffering and death! As a young boy, he knew God as his own shepherd. Jesus Christ is the good shepherd who so cares for His sheep that he lays his own life down for them.
David knew God as the “Rock of Israel”! That Rock was a firm place to stand in the trials that continually came to this man. That Rock was a source of water and refreshment in a dry and weary land as David was being pursued by his enemies. His Psalms flow with an anointing of truth and grace that make them easy reading for people from every age and generation. David’s fear of the Lord and humility make him stand out as a leader. Even though David lived over 3000 years ago, his last words still speak faith to us and encourage us to press on to meet our great “High God”! May we ponder these “last words” for more understanding and grace!