Psalms 19:9-11
the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
Tag: The Fear of the Lord is Sweet
If we find that the fear of the Lord is burdensome to us ... too hard ... to complicated ... to much to endure ... we have missed the boat on the true meaning of what fearing the Lord really means. The writer of this psalm has outlined for us the true meaning. Note;
1. The fear of the Lord is “clean.” This Hebrew word for “clean” can be used for chemical cleanness, physical cleanness and/or ceremonial cleanness. The point the writer makes is that the fear of the Lord is the opposite of polluted or filthy ... everything the world’s system is. Confusion is not part of clean.
2. The fear of the Lord is “true.” In Hebrew poetry each line compliments or says something about the previous line. In the first line it is the “fear of the Lord” (and it is clean) but in the second line it is the “rules of the Lord,” (and they are true). When we fear the Lord we are acting and living according to His rules. That is something to rejoice over because those rules are “truth.” Truth is not confusing.
3. The fear of the Lord is “sweet.” The rest of the passage goes on to declare that the fear/rules of the Lord are sweet, and greater than gold. That is a pleasant word picture. If we are viewing the fear of the Lord or the rules of the Lord as cumbersome or burdensome, we have missed the boat on what God is doing in our lives.
4. The fear of the Lord “warns” us of certain peril. This last aspect of the fear of the Lord might be the sweetest of all. By this fear of the Lord seen via the rules of the Lord we are warned about dangers and have a great reward as a result.
We ought to embrace the fear of the Lord and come to understand the benefits of obeying His rules. They are guiding principles to keep us safe and put us in the place of great reward. That reward might be on this side of death, but it will assuredly be on the other side of death.
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