The Benefits of Fearing the Lord
I was reading Psalms 103 this morning. It is a psalm I have read many times, but this time I noticed the references to fearing the Lord. I am not sure why I did not realize the significance of these verses before, but it really hit me this morning.
The Lord pities those who fear Him, not everyone, but those who fear Him. (v.13) What is the reason for that? He is like a father who pities his children. All of us who have children know what that is saying. We tend to give our kids more slack, because we love them. This is true mainly when we feel they are really trying to do the right thing and live in the right way. When they are rebellious, we do not pity them. God is the same way with His children. He cuts us some slack when we fear Him, because He knows we are dust. This is a benefit of fearing God. This is not that we can get away with anything, because we won't try to get away with anything if we fear God. It is that when we fail, He is extra merciful, if we fear Him.
Look at verse 17, too. His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, to such as keep His covenant and remember His commandments. What a blessing! If we are fearing the Lord and trying in earnest to live in covenant with Him and keep His commandments, His mercy remains on us. You know what mercy is don't you? Mercy is not punishing us as much as we deserve. We are still punished, but just not as severely. That only holds true for those who fear the Lord. Others are sternly corrected by a Loving but Holy God, who hates sin. Why is that? They are trying to get away with sin, and He can't be merciful in that case. It would only lead to more sin.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 105-106 and I Corinthians 3.
The Lord pities those who fear Him, not everyone, but those who fear Him. (v.13) What is the reason for that? He is like a father who pities his children. All of us who have children know what that is saying. We tend to give our kids more slack, because we love them. This is true mainly when we feel they are really trying to do the right thing and live in the right way. When they are rebellious, we do not pity them. God is the same way with His children. He cuts us some slack when we fear Him, because He knows we are dust. This is a benefit of fearing God. This is not that we can get away with anything, because we won't try to get away with anything if we fear God. It is that when we fail, He is extra merciful, if we fear Him.
Look at verse 17, too. His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, to such as keep His covenant and remember His commandments. What a blessing! If we are fearing the Lord and trying in earnest to live in covenant with Him and keep His commandments, His mercy remains on us. You know what mercy is don't you? Mercy is not punishing us as much as we deserve. We are still punished, but just not as severely. That only holds true for those who fear the Lord. Others are sternly corrected by a Loving but Holy God, who hates sin. Why is that? They are trying to get away with sin, and He can't be merciful in that case. It would only lead to more sin.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 105-106 and I Corinthians 3.