Those who fear Him
There is a secret of the Lord. There is an eye of the Lord. There is an angel of the Lord.
There is a secret of the Lord. There is an eye of the Lord. There is an angel of the Lord.
We who believe want to hear this secret, to know that His eye is upon us, and to be protected by the surrounding of His angels.
We want to call unto Him and have Him answer us with, “great and mighty things which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3)
And then to have Him extend an invitation to, “Come up here and I will show you,” as we are escorted by and in the midst of the angels. (Revelation 4:1)
We want these things and we may even plead for them, but, as is often the case, we have not because we “ask amiss, that we may spend it on our pleasures.” (James 4:3)
Yet what is improper and wrong about the way we ask? It is this - We ask according to the pleasure of what “seems right to a man,” but not “according to what is written.”
For is it not written:
“The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him.” Ps. 25:14
“The eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him.” Ps. 33:18
The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him.” Ps. 34:7
And the promises for those who fear Him do not stop there, for is it also not written:
“There is no want to those who fear Him.” Ps. 34:9
“His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land.” Ps. 85:9
“So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him.” Ps. 103:11
“He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.” Ps. 145:19
“The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him.” Ps. 147:11
“Surely I know that it will be well with those who fear God.” Eccl. 8:12
These words also echoed by Mary in her exclamation of praise, as it is written in the first chapter of Luke, “His mercy is on those who fear Him; from generation to generation.” (Luke 1:50)
And finally, is it not written as the words spoken by a voice coming from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great.” (Revelation 19:5)
With just a quick search we see it is indeed written that the secrets, promises, mercies, salvation, and pleasures of God are all for those who fear Him.
And so we must ask ourselves, “Are we those who fear Him?”
Don’t skim past the question, for now is not a time to “rend your garments” in a purely superficial, mental acknowledgment of this truth, but rather it is an urgent matter for us to “rend our hearts,” as we ask the Lord to, “search us, know us, try us, see if there be any wicked way in us.” (Joel 2:13, Ps. 139:23-24)
Have you asked the Lord recently, “Do I fear you?”
Or, in the same intensity with which you have cried out, “Lord, watch over me, be with me, grant me wisdom, surround me with Your angels,” have we also raised our voice to Him in desperation, “Lord, increase my fear of You! I must be counted as those who fear You!”
At this point, you may be struggling to feel that it is appropriate to pray such prayers.
Do we struggle with understanding this term fear? Yes. But does that stop us from the pursuit of other mysteriously heavenly things such as the “love of Christ which passes knowledge”, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,” and a “joy unspeakable?” (Ephesians 3:19, Phillipians 4:7, 1 Peter 1:8)
We know of the vast depths of His love, peace, and joy and this does not dampen our eagerness for the gifts, in fact, it causes us to press in even more.
“Lord, we’ve known something of your love, but show us more! We must have more from You and for You and for others!”
These are normal prayers. We do not hesitate to pray them. But to ask to be those who fear Him, do we dare raise our voices?
So I say again, we have not because we ask amiss, according to the pleasure of what “seems right to a man,” but not “according to what is written.”
Come, let us remedy this matter today. As we speak together, perhaps the Lord will listen and hear us, as He did in Malachi’s time, “So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name.” (Malachi 3:16)
And perhaps the Lord will answer us favorably, as He did then, “‘They shall be Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts.’”
“Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.” (Malachi 3:17-18)
Oh, if only we and a watching world were again able to so clearly discern. Come saints, let us fear Him rightly again today.
In love,
Derek