Fear the Lord and Fear Not; Awe and Reverence for GodSample

Fearing God Provides an Abundance of Good Things from the Lord

Here are some excerpts from Psalm 103, that remind us of God's overwhelming goodness to those of us who fear Him! (Verses 2-5; 10-12):

• Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
• He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 34:7 tells us "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them." We are so protected and blessed as we live in God's family. Certainly, troubles come our way, but God walks with us through all of them as He promises in Psalm 23:4; "Even though I walkthrough the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

Psalm 34:9 says it again slightly: "Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing." God listens to those who fear Him (Psalm 61:5), gives them a long life, and promises them a Godly heritage if they teach their children to fear the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:2). In fact, Psalm 103:17 broadens God's promise infinitely, "But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children." Psalm 111:5 promises us that God provides food for those who fear Him, and that He is a covenant keeping God.

Jesus amplified on this wonderful promise in Matthew 6:25-33; "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. . . Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Is there any reason you would not want to run quickly into the arms of our loving God? He provides beautifully for all who fear Him and put their trust in Him!