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A HEART THAT FEARS GOD
MONDAY, MAY 31
Deuteronomy 5:22-33

Psalm 36:1-12

 

“O that there were
such an heart in them,

that they would fear me…”

 

A HEART THAT FEARS GOD
 
Moses, in the fifth chapter of Deuteronomy, has just finished recounting to the people the ten commandments, given to the people by God Himself at Sinai. He reminds them that “these words the LORD spake unto all your assembly… and he added no more” (Deut 5:22); and that the people themselves, upon hearing “the voice out of the midst of the darkness,” said to Moses, “the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness… if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die” (vv 23-25). They asked Moses to speak on their behalf to God, and relay His words to the people.
 
The LORD was pleased with this response. “I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken” (v 28). The people had demonstrated a genuine fear of God: this was something that pleased God. “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me…!” (v 29). Mark well these words, dear reader! We have here an insight into the heart of God Himself. He desires that His people should fear Him.
 
We are not talking here of a craven fear, such as the demons have (cf. James 2:19), which is really a kind of loathing; but of a filial fear and awesome reverence ‒ a fear that drives us not away from God in hatred, but toward Him in worship. The result of this fear would be that God’s people “keep all [His] commandments always,” the consequence of that in turn being that it would “be well with them, and with their children for ever” (v 29).
 
The people of Israel, as we know, did not maintain that fear. A scant few days after that commendable confession, we find them idolatrous and debauched, made naked to their shame, yet shameless and unafraid. It did not go well with them, for “there fell of the people that day about three thousand men” (Exod 32:28). What will it be, for you and for me?
 
THOUGHT: “The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.” (Ps 36:1)
PRAYER: “Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him” (Ps 33:8)!

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