WHO, THEN, ARE THOSE WHO FEAR THE LORD?
Psalm 25
“The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.” (ESV)
As we have seen, those who fear God are those who walk in integrity and uprightness because these are godly qualities. Since none of us can ever hope to do so perfectly, our fear of him should lead us to seek his forgiveness for our sinful ways.
God responds to these people who fear him, offering his friendship and sharing his concerns. It is unimaginable that such a relationship can ever take place between mortal man and immortal God yet God makes it possible. The question is whether we understand what it means to be invited into such a position and whether we embrace (and not abuse or debase) the privilege accorded to us.
The Psalmist has no such problem. He shares with God his loneliness and affliction and distress. He shares with him the troubles he is facing. He shares with him his insecurities, and he shares with him his concern for his nation.
The joy of the fear of the Lord is the fact that he embraces us. Of course this is only made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross but what we need to understand is that a relationship requires the input of two parties. The modern Christian often misunderstands this and assumes that once we get on the programme everything should work; all that is needed then is maintenance: weekly church attendance, baptism and communion and perhaps some degree of participation in church activities. This, of course, is a mistake. The most important relationship is the Christian’s relationship with God; everything else must serve this.
“My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.”