HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div
“Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.” Proverbs 23:17
The fear of the Lord — is a grand and significant Old Testament phrase. It depicts a state of mind and heart which is absent today — but which I must seek to nourish and foster within my own soul.
It is fear felt towards the Lord. Do I think, as much and as deeply as I should, of His dazzling and awesome attributes? His justice cannot be tarnished. His holiness is without flaw. Before the splendour and brilliancy of His Majesty, the angels veil their faces with their wings; cherubim who know and seraphim who burn — feel themselves unworthy as they stand adoring His pure and hallowed throne. His is the sevenfold radiance of divinity. Ah, He merits my reverence and my fear!
But it is also fear felt by the Lord Jesus. Many a year after Hebrew psalmists and prophets and sages had finished their course and borne their testimony — God lived and moved, laboured and wept and died, among men — God in the person of my Saviour Jesus Christ. And, when He was here, He knew well this sober and befitting grace: “He was heard,” the Scripture tells me, for “His godly fear.” Hebrews 5:7. In my culture and habitual exercise of fear, I am in the best company. I hold fellowship with my Redeemer and my King.
So beneficial a fear . . .
- will deter me from sin,
- will deepen my watchfulness and my holiness,
- will increase my diligence,
- will enable me, always and everywhere, to practice the presence of God.
In many directions, countless times, it will benefit my life. I should cultivate it more.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” Proverbs 9:10
