THURSDAY May 18, 2017
Walking in the Fear of God
Then I said, “What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?” - Nehemiah 5:9
Nehemiah reminded the leaders in his strong rebuke to walk in the fear of God. Why? They were already suffering because of their enemies. They were making matters worse! Had they forgotten God’s Law?
And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul - (Deuteronomy 10:12).
David, at times, failed to walk in the fear of the Lord. When this happened he committed adultery with Bathsheba. She then became pregnant with his child and David had her husband killed in battle. The Prophet Nathan confronted David, and told him the consequences of his sin: However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die” (1 Samuel 12:14).
Joseph’s story helps us to understand how to walk in the fear of God. Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph. He had the opportunity to sin but he said to this brazen woman:“There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he[Potiphar] kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
Walking in the fear of the Lord means we should stand in awe of who God is and to seek to please God in everything we do. At times we fail, but He is gracious towards us. King David knew God’s character and penned: The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. Oh how we need to fear the Lord!
Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants
of the world stand in awe of Him.
~Psalm 33:8~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!
