Fear

October 21

Using the commonly held definition of the word ‘fear,’ to be afraid of, Psalm 147:11 makes no sense. Here David says, “The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.” The thoughts within the verse itself are contradictory, based upon our common usage of the word ‘fear.’

But in this psalm, and throughout the Bible, the word has a totally different meaning, which is, ‘reverential awe.’ The Lord delights in those who hold Him in reverential awe, who put their hope in His unfailing love.” When we understand the meaning of the word fear, the passage makes complete sense.

We extol the Lord our God because He is wondrous in majesty and matchless in power. We are in awe of Him, not only for the glorious realm in which He abides but because He reaches out to us from that place that is beyond our ability to conceptualize and touches us by His Holy Spirit and awakens our dead spirit—then wraps us in His love!

When this happens, we may allow our praise to redound through the corridors of heaven as did the prophet’s in Isaiah 40:31, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength! They will soar on wings like eagles! They will run and not be weary! They will walk and not faint!” We are in awe of the majesty of the One who gives our strengthened hope wings through His unfailing love!