I have a friend whose son has a movie opening in theaters nationwide this weekend. It is a horror film. I am not a huge fan of that particular genre. Because of our friendship and because I have hosted a movie review show for over 30 years I’m checking it out. As far as that type of film goes this one is well written and well done. The thing about horror movies is that they are designed to create fear in the viewer and keep them bouncing in and out of that state. Through sight and sound they manipulate the viewers heightened expectation of something unexpected occurring. In this verse Solomon is talking about fear of our Heavenly Father. He wants us to simultaneously see God as our all loving, caring eternal parent and ‘fear’ Him. This seems somehow out of alignment. For the unbeliever a soul gripping, devastating fear of eternal separation is a legitimate way to understand fear of God. However, for those of us who love our redeemer the fear throughout scripture is best described in Hebrews 12 as “worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ’God is a consuming fire.” As a result of living by this kind of fear of God we get the opposite of the fear that my friend’s son wants to create in his movie. We get safety, satisfaction, and true and complete joy from living in the proper “fear of the Lord”. What could be better? Today fear God with awe and reverence and live in joy and peace. #BeTheEdge
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NIV
