The fear of the Lord is not actually fear at all. It is a deep and worshipful respect for Him. Fear produces blind obedience. Respect cultivates faithful obedience. Why fear the One that can save you? Did those trapped in the World Trade Center fear the rescue workers as they came? Or do the residents of Haiti fear those who bring food and water? Of course not. The Lord does not wish for us to fear Him either.
"In reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is strong confidence, and His children always have a place of refuge." Proverbs 14:26, Amplified
It seems there have been a lot of forts which were boasted as impenetrable. But in the end, they were always brought down. Even structures that were said to be inescapable, like Alcatraz, had its share of escapees. But the Lord is a true refuge, He truly is a strong tower. "And I shall give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand." (John 10:28-29, NKJV) In the context of the verse, the language points to a cupping of two hands, one over the other. We are promised as the children of God that we will never be snatched out of the faithful grasp of our Lord. However, we are never told that we cannot willfully leave the loving and tender grasp of our Lord. A strong tower, a place of refuge is only good when someone seeks shelter within. This is not to say that He cannot work miraculously despite my indignant disobedience and still protect this wayward heart. The question is, why would one want to leave the confines of his refuge?
"Reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death." Proverbs 14:27, Amplified
Again, this respectful fear of the Lord is described as a fountain of life. Jesus met many different persons in His ministry. One in particular, He had an unusual conversation with. Jesus had asked for a drink from the Samaritan woman at the well. She politely denied His request but was kept the line of communication open. The woman was so focused on the physical. "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water." (John 4:10, NKJV) Later she asked for this living water because she did not want to have to draw from the well anymore, because He had stated that she would never thirst again. She was missing the point, as we many times do. It is not a physical refreshment, but a spiritual one. Jesus is that one and only satisfaction. Drugs, booze and sex are not only destructive, but we also need more and more and more. Jesus will be, and is, that satisfaction. He has the power to save from death. Every one dies. What is being conveyed here is the Second Death, or eternal separation from God: Hell. Jesus is that satisfaction, salvation and refuge from the flames of Hell. We, as children must trust in His protection and His refreshment. Everything else is a lie.
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