Listen, you foolish and senseless people, with eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. Have you no respect for me? Why don’t you tremble in my presence? I, the LORD, define the ocean’s sandy shoreline as an everlasting boundary that the waters cannot cross. The waves may toss and roar, but they can never pass the boundaries I set. [Jeremiah 5.21-22]
I heard something said and had a check in my spirit about it. It was told to a group of people as fact that fear is not of God and that the "fear of the Lord" just means to respect Him.
The problem with this is that people don't tremble in the presence of those they respect! And, God asks through Jeremiah why people do not tremble in His presence. What's more, in the context of Jeremiah 5, those who don't tremble in God's presence are implicated to have no respect for God! And, if that's not enough, this condition is said to be found among foolish and senseless people that have eyes but don't see and ears but don't hear.
The remainder of today's OYCB reading has various references to God's anger and destruction even revealing that King Josiah, after hearing from the Book of the Law, tore his clothes in despair!
When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair. [2 Kings 22.11]
This indeed sounds like respect, but respect specifically to the extent of fearing God's judgment! To confirm this fear and despairing before God was an appropriate response before God, a prophecy through the prophetess Huldah was given to Josiah:
“But go to the king of Judah who sent you to seek the LORD and tell him: ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the message you have just heard: You were sorry and humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I said against this city and its people—that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the LORD. So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city.’” So they took her message back to the king. [2 Kings 22.18-20]
Josiah's response before God that Huldah described is very much FEAR! Fear, as in being afraid of God's judgment!
And, all of this was just in today's OYCB reading. How much more does the rest of the Bible support a healthy trembling kind of fear of God including the words of Jesus Christ Himself!
“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. [Matthew 10.28]
I don't know how much more clearly it could be said. Fear God!
Father, may our churches and leaders proclaim only Your truth. May I only proclaim Your truth. Help us to be students of all Your Word, not just our favorite passages. So be it.
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