The Fear of the Lord

I'd like to take the time to elaborate a bit more on my comments from last time, regarding my studies of the book of Job. Now that I've read the book through to the end yet again, I believe my initial conclusions bear further investigation. As you may recall, I said that Job's relationship with the Lord was based on fear. I should clarify that, and say that his relationship was based completely on fear. In other words, Job did have a genuine fear of God, but that was about all he had. He didn't really know God at all.

His inadequacy did not keep him from spouting his knowledge of God back at his three friends, as they accused him time and again of harboring some secret sin as justification for God's actions. Apparently, not only were these guys lousy in the area of Biblical counseling, but they also had a relationship with the Lord that was no better than Job's. This is evident in the way they kept hurling their knowledge at Job. Everything that was said by these men was technically accurate, but it was not applied correctly.

From this new vantage point, we begin to see the difference between knowledge and wisdom. For example, I could read, memorize, and recite all the technical specifications for building a car's engine, but until I try to put one together, I have not applied that knowledge. Wisdom comes with the experience of having applied knowledge, through both success and failure. I could just as easily memorize the entire Bible and live wickedly for the rest of my days. That also is knowledge without wisdom, because I would not have tried to apply what I had learned.

By the way, that's been done; just ask Satan. He doesn't seek to apply God's truth, either. He seeks to misapply it. His goal is to distort, disfigure, and destroy anything and everything having to do with God - His Word, His Name, and His image (specifically, man). He's the classic "tear others down to build myself up" kind of guy. That's another discussion, though. I digress.

Job receives new wisdom at the end of the book, having finally been given the opportunity to apply all his knowledge of God with the result of failing miserably. His score on the exam was a big, fat zero. (I guess mine would be too, were I in his place.) What did he learn? Simple - God is God, Job, and you're not. You might think you have all the answers, that you have God figured out, but you don't. God gives us exactly the amount of knowledge of Him we need, nothing more. You can't communicate on God's level, because He hasn't given you that authority.

God doesn't give us knowledge of how to create something from nothing. He doesn't give us knowledge of how to control Satan and His minions, or anything else, for that matter. That is His sovereign domain. He created man to bring glory unto Himself, not to take His place. He designed us to depend on Him for all things, not to be self-sufficient. He shows His love for us by providing everything we need (including salvation), and we are to give Him all the glory in gratitude for all that He does.

Are we to fear God? Absolutely! Jesus said so. That's where the relationship begins, but that should never be where it ends. Learn of Him, walk with Him, depend on Him, and give Him the glory. Every time God tells us "fear not", He's referring to our fear of something other than Himself - pain, despair, hunger, loneliness, defeat, even death. If we fear God above all else, and if we love Him above all else, our fear of everything else will slowly dissolve, because everything else is beneath Him.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus;
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

God's in control, and He always has our best interests at heart, even if we can't see it. Our Father in Heaven loves us more than we can imagine, and He deserves our respect and humility before Him. After all, He's God, and we're not.

I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. - Job 42:5-6

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. - Matthew 10:28

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. - Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility. - Proverbs 15:33

Spiritual War

It's been...what, two months? At least? Summer is supposed to be a time to relax a bit, right? I've rarely been so busy in my life! My entire summer has revolved around ministry, family, and trudging through another massive project at work...which finally started winding down today. I actually have a half hour to breathe! Yaay! What's been going on? Hmm...you mean I actually get to pause and reflect? Suffice it to say that I regret not blogging for a while. There are several lessons God has taught me lately that bear recording, but I suppose that will now have to wait for me to forget the lesson and have to be retaught. I'm great at that.

When classes started again this month, we began by diving into the book of Job. Who could possibly have trouble identifying with this guy? Okay, so you probably haven't had all of your children wiped out and everything you own taken away from you in a single day, but you have had plenty of trials. We all have, and most of us have probably thought, at one time or another, "Why is God doing this to me?" I know I have on more than one occasion. It's not a pleasant place to be, but I love it when I come out the other side having been drawn closer to the Father, as Job did.

This study reminds me of how my life has been unfolding in the past year. As I recall, almost immediately after I started taking classes, my workload increased substantially. If it weren't for all the A's I've been blessed with, I might be tempted to think God didn't want me to learn more of His Word, but I know that's not the case. The book of Job confirms that God wants us to know Him more intimately, and there is no better way to do that than by prayer and studying the Bible. What Job has helped me to do is put my own trials in God's perspective.

The first chapter of Job alone lets us know that there's a spiritual war going on all around us. God often uses the enemy's own playbook against him, in order to draw us into a more intimate relationship with Himself, and Job's case is no exception. Yes, Job was an upright man who walked with the Lord, but that relationship was built on fear. Fear is not a healthy basis for any relationship. God desires for us to know His love, and He tells us over and over again in His Word to not be afraid.

How does God start the process of revealing His love to Job? By telling Satan to hit Job with everything he has! That sure seems like a strange way to show love, doesn't it? Think about it, though - when do you draw closest to God? Is it when life is going good, or is it when you're in dire straights? If God desires a closer relationship with you, you're in for trials. They can make or break our relationship with Him. It's no wonder Peter tells us to count it all joy when bad things happen; it means God wants to be closer to us!

Despite how much has been laid on my shoulders lately, I'm draw great comfort from the words James and Peter wrote. As I draw closer to God in times of struggle, He draws closer to me. As I give Him each and every problem I encounter, my burden gets lighter. It's an incredible exchange, one which I'm slowly beginning to enjoy. Do I wish for more trials? Absolutely not, but when they come my way, I do know who to share them with - the only One who can see me through each of them to the end, my Father in Heaven. Praise His holy name!

Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, and said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. - Job 1:20-22

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. - James 4:8a

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. - 1 Peter 5:7