The fear of the Lord

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Psalm 111:10.
"The fear of the Lord -- that is wisdom." Job 28:28.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." Proverbs 1:7.
…"We know what it is to fear the Lord…" 2 Corinthians 5:11.
What does this mean… to fear the Lord? It seems a very important concept. It seems at the heart of serving God. Awe comes to mind as a related word to this phrase. When you fully encounter God, how can you do anything but fall at his feet and worship?

We constantly hear that God is love. Yet love is not God. Perhaps to understand this awesome God, you must also fear Him. He asks a simple question:

Do You Fear Me?

You claim to fear Me.
To know My awesome power.
Do you truly fear Me?
Do you stand in awe of Me?

You are mere speck of cosmic dust
Insignificant and powerless.
Nothing you can do
is of slightest worth.

Is it that you know My love
and think you can betray.
Is it that you think I must forgive
but do not know My mercy and grace?

Are you prodigal come back
for the rest of the loot?
If you truly know Me
you’d know My awesome power.

My sheep hear My voice.
Do you hear Me?
If you did
you’d fear My awesome power.
© Presbypoet, November 16, 2003


Do you fear the Lord? Do you know Him?

I heard from a friend suffering great pain. I told her I grieved with her. Pain should be our helper, to warn us of danger, yet it can be a harsh taskmaster. It seems a strange tool for a good God to use. I do have a poem from God about that, of course.

Pain
You wonder why
I allow pain.
Let you go
through suffering.
You ask for release
from pain.
Complain when prayer
isn’t answered.

Listen.
Hear Me.
Understand.
Obey.
In suffering
I refine you.
In pain
you feel Me.

Go into life’s furnace
Like Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego.*
Trust Me.
I Am.
I offer you cross.
Take it with joy.
Carry My burden
so light.

My pain
is a gift
to transform
& refine.
I burn off
your dross.
To make you
My light.
© Presbypoet, September 21, 2002

Are you in pain? Do you understand why?

This still seems a strange gift.
* Daniel 3:1-30

Five smooth Stones

God is good. It has been an amazing year. My father has survived broken back and broken ribs, my son who was depressed beyond imagining is now "fully" recovered. He is now a paid author, as well as being a copy editor for a magazine. Work seems to be coming to me, in answer to God's promise. "Trust Me. I will provide".

That is the story of David. He trusted in God. Goliath trusted in his own strength. There is a strange paradox here. God gives us strength. Yet, He tells us not to rely on it. My strengths: Intellect, poetry, understanding, are but filthy rags, yet he wants me to use them to His Glory. My question in response to David and Goliath:
How do we use our strengths without relying on them? Living in the tension. Are you aware of God being with you? Mindful of His presence, so intimate you hear Him, in the midst of the chaos.

Here is a poem that applies.
Five Smooth Stones
You try to fight
with the wrong weapons.
Don’t rely
on your own strength.
Rely on Me.
Saul tried to get David
to wear Saul’s armor.
David picked up
five smooth stones.
Like David rely on Me.
Inspired by Adolpho Moreno (translated by John Bueno) October 8, 2003 at Coalition Gathering in Portland Ore.
© Presbypoet October 8, 2003