Psalm 33:18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
We live in the age of the meme. All too often, something attains the level of truth simply by the number of times it gets shared or repeated. Soon, it can become hard to untangle what really is true and what is not. Actually, the only thing modern about that is the word meme! People have long done that very thing. For example: how often to we misunderstand com-pletely ‘the fear of the Lord?’ Many people get stuck right at the beginning, with the word fear. Fear is a bad thing right? Others may have experienced an irate parent exclaiming, “I’m going to put the fear of God in you!” Generally said right before severe punishment!
But David, (and the rest of Scripture) doesn’t see it that way at all! When we take a look at today’s passage we see that the ones who fear the Lord are the ones whose hope is in Him! And not just in Him, but in His unfailing love! That doesn’t sound like a reason for fear. (The word used here in this context really means to revere. To hold in awe. Those seem like reasonable responses to an Almighty God!) Our hope is not in a God who might love today and tomorrow reconsider! The ones who fear the Lord, who reverence Him, who take Him at His word, trust in His unfailing love.
“Oh. So it’s a performance thing? I do what He wants, then He loves me?” No. Be-cause David also tells us that He has His eyes on those who fear Him. He sees us. He sees us completely and perfectly. He sees us so well that He sees everything about us. Everything! And yet, His love for us is unfailing! He Who knows me best, loves me most!
If I have a fear of the Lord, I have a relationship with Him. That relationship was initiated by Him on the cross. He paid the penalty for my sin. Then He called to me. He stood at the door and knocked. My relationship with Him then fully began when I opened the door. The more I get to know Him, the more I want to do what pleases Him. My actions didn’t initiate the relationship. HIs did. My actions, my attempts to follow His Word, are in response to Him.
I am glad that I “had the fear of God put into me!” And I am really glad that it turned out to be the best and least fearful thing that’s ever happened to me!
Blessings,
Pastor Russ
