The Fear of GOD - Proverbs 12-15 Listen to Proverbs 12-15
Happy Monday Morning! I hope that you had a peaceful weekend, and have a fresh outlook on the week.
Have you been keeping up with the reading of Proverbs? The book is full of wisdom on day to day life, plus, if you have a child, especially a son, Proverbs gives so much direction for their lives.
We have created a page in our site dedicated to the Proverbs, I know that there are times when I would like to find some verses on certain subjects for either teaching or personal, but it is hard to search an entire book. We have broken up the Proverbs into topical subjects, to make it easier for you to find and study the bible. I pray that this helps, here is the new page; Wisdom of the Proverbs.
Focus Verses
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of
knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline." -
Proverbs 1:7
"To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech." -
Proverbs 8:13
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." - Proverbs 9:13
"The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom,
and humility comes before honor." - Proverbs 15:33
Thought for the Day
About a month ago I had a lady e-mail me, and express that her boyfriend had a hard time acceptng the phrase "Fear the Lord." To him the word "Fear" was a bad or negative word. Why does the Bible and GOD ask us to fear Him? You fear a bully in school, you have a fear of flying, or maybe you are afraid of dying. In our culture, "Fear" is an emotion that rules us by a negative. So why the word "Fear"?
Let me give you two examples that hopefully change your view of the word "Fear."First off, let's face it, who really fears GOD anymore? Today, GOD is not a god to be feared, HE is a passive being. We have taken this amazing being, and fit HIM into a box so our minds can think we can understand HIM. In our culture, usually when something goes wrong we end up blaming GOD. The reason that HE is passive is because we do not want HIM interfering in our lives, or we do not expect that much from HIM anymore.
When the Bible was written they did not have the scientific knowledge that we have today. So, to look at the use of the word "Fear" you have to look at it from the writer's point of view. Here are two examples:
We understand what creates a tornado; warm air, mixed with cooler air spins together in the clouds, as it spins more violently, it reaches down to earth and destroys whatever it touches. We have taken GOD out of the creation of this, we call it science, or mother nature. Can you imagine Solomon witnessing a tornado? This cloud came from the heavens, it must have been GOD. If I were Solomon I would fear this tornado, and pray that GOD would protect me from this terrible thing.
Here is another example, imagine you are with Moses when the earth splits open and swallows up Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. They went down to the grave alive with everything they owned. Then if that were not enough, fire came from the LORD and consumed 250 men for sinning. Numbers 16:31-35
To the men and women of the Bible, GOD was this amazing force that had the power to consume them if they were disobedient. They knew this was a powerful being, and respected it. To us..... well, we struggle some days to even believe that GOD does exist, and as far as HIM being powerful...... well..... HE never gives me what I want, so how powerful can HE be?
My other thought is that we misuse the meaning of the word "Fear." I looked up "Fear" in a dictionary, and here are the results. I think that we should use or remember the meaning #4.
1. a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.
2. a specific instance of or propensity for such a feeling: an abnormal fear of heights.
3. concern or anxiety; solicitude: a fear for someone's safety.
4. reverential awe, esp. toward God.
5. that which causes a feeling of being afraid; that of which a person is afraid: Cancer is a common fear.
Reverential Awe....... I like that much better, don't you? I hope that maybe you have a different outlook on our Fear of the LORD or Reverential Awe of the LORD. :-) Have a wonderful day! - Jim
Bible Trivia
Match: Ravens
a) Fed Elisha by the Jordan River
b) Fed Noah on Mount Ararat
c) Fed Elijah by the Kerith Ravine
Hint: 1 Kings 17:2-4
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Have a BLESSED Monday!!
2 comments:
Who are you? We have never seen you post on here before? Where in Cali are you going?
Bible Trivia
Match: Ravens
a) Fed Elisha by the Jordan River
b) Fed Noah on Mount Ararat
c) Fed Elijah by the Kerith Ravine
ANSWER: c) Fed Elijah by the Kerith Ravine
1 Kings 17:2-4 (New International Version)
2 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah:
3 "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan.
4 You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there."
Granny Rambles:
Every time I read this I can hear how we would probably murmer and complain against RAVENS bringing us food to eat. Well apparently many before us have thought the same.
It has been thought so strange that they have tried to find or offer many many other explanations for meaning of the word used here: to make out the Orebim, which in our version has been rendered "ravens," to be as the word is used (in Eze. 27:27) "merchants or Arabians (2Ch 21:16; Ne 4:7); or, the citizens of Arabah, near Beth-shan (Jos 15:6; 18:18). But the rendering used here as the black bird is found to be by far the most accepted and preferred to the above suggestions. Elijah was miraculously fed by ravens, there is no need for us to wonder or even need to care where they found the bread and the flesh, for God would direct them.
Many have asked, how could he eat from such an unclean source.
Since Elijah did not feed upon them, but was fed by them and supposing any uncleanness by touch, the law might be dispensed with in an extraordinary case, it is very remarkable that such creatures should be employed in this way, which are birds of prey and are so griedy over their food they are known to neglect their own young.
One last thought is that Elijah was in hidding and the Raven would have been a common bird found in the area of his hidding, so they would not draw undue attention to their coming and goings.
Reading this is always a reminder to me that I should never look at things through my natural eyes. Cause I might be missing Gods provesion for my life.
IN CHRIST
Ecc.3
Donna
PS
Remember the first time a Raven was mentioned in the Bible. It was the first bird that Noah released.
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