2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Calendar
STAND IN AWE OF GOD’S WORD
SATURDAY, MARCH 23
Psalm 119:161
Psalm 4:1-5
“Stand in awe, and sin not:
commune with your own heart
upon your bed, and be still.”
STAND IN AWE OF GOD’S WORD
To stand in awe is to shake because of godly fear. It is the right attitude before the holy and terrible God, whose words are equally holy and terrible. God’s children have this reverence towards the Word because they value it as much as the Source of the Word. When saints tremble before God, they tremble also at His Word. When they love the LORD their God they also love the Word of their God. They are one. No one can claim that they love God, and yet transgress His Word.
When great men persecute: Princes represent great men who have power and authority. They can command to harm and bring false allegations against the psalmist. It is tempting in such distressing situations to bow down to them, and to transgress against God’s Word. But the psalmist knows that he must fear God more than the powers on earth.
When without cause they persecute: When persecuted because we have done wrong, we can say that God allows it because of our transgressions. However, when the psalmist is persecuted without a cause, it is daunting. It is indeed disheartening to think that though we have not done any wrong, yet we are wrongfully labelled. They put into our mouths words that we have not uttered. They falsely assume things of us and we are portrayed as sinners by their words. Under such situations, it is easy to justify that exacting vengeance is right. It is easy to explain that fighting against them is just and fair. We may be quick to say that we can feel righteous indignation accompanied by such actions.
The psalmist is right to stand in awe of God’s Word instead. To fear God and to submit to His Word is more important for him than to exact vengeance against the persecutors. Read Matthew 10:28.
Dear reader, are you more afraid of the earthly authorities than the Lord? Do you want to please your bosses and CEOs rather than please the LORD and His Word? Weigh the matters and consider what is more fearsome: the temporal persecution or the eternal damnation that awaits those who transgress the Word of God.
THOUGHT: Do I fear the Word of God most?
PRAYER: Father, help me to fear Thee and Thy Word rather than men.