Fear or what?
We know and experience fear…that gripping attack in the pit of our stomach or a gnawing unease of dread. Indeed this strong emotion serves terrorists as they attempt to paralyze and defeat our nation. We know that feeling when the diagnosis is bad, when the check bounces, when jobs are threatened and the economy falters. Avoiding fear often motivates our attempts to control our worlds, to cushion the risks, to protect ourselves from this experience.
We know and experience fear…that gripping attack in the pit of our stomach or a gnawing unease of dread. Indeed this strong emotion serves terrorists as they attempt to paralyze and defeat our nation. We know that feeling when the diagnosis is bad, when the check bounces, when jobs are threatened and the economy falters. Avoiding fear often motivates our attempts to control our worlds, to cushion the risks, to protect ourselves from this experience.
This past Wednesday we studied the story from II Samuel 6 regarding David’s desire to return the Ark of the Covenant to a central place of worship in Jerusalem. Regrettably his eagerness trumped his responsibility to transport the Ark according to the revelation of God. (Numbers 4:12-18) David did not, as was often his custom, “enquire of the Lord.” Instead it would appear that David assumed God would honor any sincere worship offered Him as the Ark was moved. (II Samuel 6) and that assumption cost Uzzah his life.
David was first angry and then fearful. That fear led him to rediscover God’s instructions on how to transport the Ark. His second attempt to bring the Ark to Jerusalem was successful, even though he embarked on it with fear and trembling. Proverbs 1:7 instructs us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Even Jesus spoke of not fearing those who kill the body, but the one who has power over life and death. (Matthew 10:28-31) And Jesus adds the promise comparing our value as much more valuable than the sparrows.
When we train our children not to run into the street, we must often make them fear us, since they do not understand fully the danger they might encounter in the street. A healthy fear of God can motivate me to obey even when I don’t understand the dangers fraught in disobedience to His clear revelation. God’s great love warns us of the consequences of failing to understand His holiness and casting ourselves on His mercy and provisions. The fear of the Lord is indeed the beginning of wisdom.
Gwynne Johnson
Gwynne Johnson currently serves on the Board of Entrust, Inc., an international education and training mission where she authored the Entrust curriculum, Developing a Discerning Heart. She recently served as Co-Chair of the training project, Christian Women in Partnership, Russia and as Senior Director of Women's Ministry at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. Gwynne has a M.A. in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. She currently lives in Huntsville, Texas with her husband of 58 years, Don. She works part-time in her daughter and granddaughter's bakery "The Best Box Ever," where she gets paid in cookies.
