Today’s reading is Psalm 119.
Be Very Afraid and Have No Fear
Yesterday, we were surprised in SAMEKH to read about hating the double-minded and demanding evildoers depart. Today, we get to the last line of SAMEKH and we are surprised again:
My flesh trembles for fear of you,
and I am afraid of your judgments.
-Psalm 119:120 (ESV)
We don’t even get to hedge, claiming this “fear” is “merely” a reverential, worshipful awe. It’s not. This is the same word used in Isaiah 2:10, 19, to describe how people should act before the judgment of the Lord, hiding under rocks and holes in the ground for terror before the Lord.
Surely, this psalmist loves the Lord. Doesn’t perfect love cast out fear? (see 1 John 4:18). Are we who love God’s Word to be terrified, trembling before the Lord, afraid of His judgment? Or are we to declare love has cast out terror and we have nothing to fear?
Yes.
Take SAMEKH as a whole. Yes, the last line talks about terror, but look at vs. 114:
You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in your word (ESV).
Unlike the terrified folks of Isaiah 2:10, 19 who hide under rocks and in caves, the psalmist actually hides and finds shelter in God. Does that sound like terror before God? Or does that sound like confidence because of God? The psalmist further pleads with God to be the upholding strength to give him safety. Is that terror or is that hope?
Now, which is it? Is God the terrifying deity before whom there is no protection and from which we will try to flee? Or is He the shelter, shield, and safety so we have nothing to fear?
The answer is, frankly, that depends.
If we decide to be the double-minded, evildoers who reject the Lord’s statutes and pursue wickedness, we should be afraid of God. We should be very afraid. Though we think of ourselves as valuable silver, if we spurn God, He will spurn us like dross. Our cunning plans to escape His judgments will be vain. In that state, there is nothing left for us but to be terrified of God’s judgments.
The psalmist, however, because he is terrified of God’s judgments has chosen a different path. He has chosen to submit to God’s judgments, follow God’s Word, love the Lord’s Law, and seek God’s strengthening hand to keep His statutes. Because he is afraid of the Lord, he has no reason to be afraid of the Lord.
I know that sounds odd. Consider an illustration. If I fear getting a speeding ticket, what will I do? I’ll obey the speed laws. Because I obey the speed laws, I have no fear of getting a speeding ticket. Because I’m afraid of getting a speeding ticket, I have no reason to be afraid of getting a speeding ticket.
SAMEKH demonstrates the same point in our relationship with God. When we realize God’s judgments are terrible on those who linger in and pursue evil, holding God at arm’s length, continuing in evil and as enemies, we fear them. We are terrified of them. We can either be like the demons who believe and merely tremble (see James 2:19), or because of our fear we can seek the only safety there is. We can seek forgiveness and strength in the Lord, learning from, loving, and living by His Word. Then our terror has led us to have nothing to fear.
Be afraid of God. Be very afraid. That is the only way to be completely unafraid of God.
Praise the Lord!
Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 119 (vss. 113-128).
PODCAST!!!
PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
How does Psalm 119:113-128 admonish you?
Read the Bible 