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Jade
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Proverbs 31:30
2 stars|4 comments|July 10, 2008|252 reads
 




 

31:30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

 

This excerpt interests me, makes me think and ask questions. Like why do we need to fear the lord in order to be praised? I do not fear the Lord. I never have. I have been many things towards him, angry, refusing to believe and acknowledge but never afraid.

I understand how charm and deceit along with beauty and vain can get in our way in life and prevent us (us being man and women alike) from doing what we should, not only as Christians but simply as humans.

So, I sit here tonight thinking of this and I realize maybe the fear of the Lord is not so much fear of him but fear of disappointing him. That I can relate with. So many choices in our lives today, like sleeping in on a Sunday morning - the only day you have off all week - vs waking up yet again at what seems like the crack of dawn to attend worship. Fear of disappointment. Not the disappointment of not going to worship - for as long as you live a "christian" life as exemplified by the Bible and by society in general then you are doing what the Lord needs you to do at that moment.

The disappointment lies in knowing we could have, should have done more and have not. Letting a moment pass by. Disappointing the Lord. Fear of Disappointment. I fear that. Am I doing the right thing? Going the right places? I fear I have let down the Lord in so many ways. Is that the fear this example speaks of? Or is this fear simply something different for all of us. Each of us have our own meaning of fear...

Disappointment leads to anger and wrath leads to the banished child sent to the corner to weep and think of their wrong doing.

Do I fear the Lord?

Not in general.

I fear I will disappoint him, and in turn disappoint my self. Loose my honour.

Just some thoughts from a tired brain this evening...

-- Jade


 
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Jade
 Jade
July 11, 2008

So a friend of mine put a different twist on this for me... I find it interesting.

She thought it was quite possible that the word fear has been "lost in translation"  and could quite possibly mean more along the lines of respect vs actual fear as we know and perceive it to be today. 

Changes it entirely with that new twist... interesting.

Mike n Laura
 Mike n Laura
July 11, 2008
Building on your thought of fearing disappointing the Lord, is there even a bit of concern about what the consequences will be if you fail him, deny him, turn your back on him? Just curious. I don't go around with a conscious fear of God either, though when I meditate on his attributes, his strength, the awe of his might and power, I admit it gets a little intimidating.... Interesting thoughts!
Jade
 Jade
July 12, 2008

Mike,

I do not think there is a concern about the consequences so much as the fear of knowing he will be disapointed in me. Just knowing that I have done something so grave so big and that He is disapointed in me... Nothing worse then knowing someone is disapointed in you, or at least nothing worse to me. 

Just gives me a horrible rotten feeling, and I don't want to have that feeling coming from Him! (or anyone for that matter)

So saying that its not a fear of the Lord so much as its a fear of my self and that I am not upholding a good 'Christian' standard.

In church this prayer gets me the most (something we say most every Sunday) because it is what most of my 'fear' is based on... 

Celebrant:  Most merciful God,
People:  we confess that we have sinned against you
in though, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us,
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your name. Amen.
Celebrant:  Almighty God have mercy upon you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
People: Amen.

Deb Rockwell
 Deb Rockwell
July 12, 2008
I have been taught that fear of the Lord, means to be in awe of Him and His power.  I don't think he wants us to be afraid of Him...so like your friend said, I think of fear as being more awe and respect that being afraid of Him.