aPsalm 8:1
My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Ezra 3. The Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind in verse 3:
Ezra 3:3 And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.
I thought about the truth that fear drives us to GOD. It’s too bad that it’s usually the fear of man.
The fear of man bringeth a snare (Proverbs 29:25a). At least when “fear was upon them because of the people of those countries,” they turned to the LORD. The fear of man bringeth a snare” (Proverbs 29:25a). But the verse goes on to say, “But whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25b).
By trusting in the LORD, Ezra and the Jews in Jerusalem avoided the snare of the fear of man. They took a page from David’s spiritual “playbook”: “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (Psalm 56:3).
Often, what happens is that, when we flee the noise of the fear, we “fall into the pit” they have dug for us (Isaiah 24:18; Psalm 35:7). So, while I commend the children who flee to the LORD when the enemy makes them afraid, I think that if we live in the fear of GOD, we will already be standing under His protection when men would make us afraid.
Maybe that’s why God so often recommends the “fear of the LORD” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Fear God, and keep his commandments”; 2 Corinthians 7:1, “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God”).
Along the still waters, the Spirit spoke through His word: God acted so powerfully in the early church that great fear came on the world around them (Acts 5:1-5, 11). This is consistent with the mission of the Holy Ghost, Who was sent into the world to reprove it of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:7-9). He is supposed to flow through us into the world around us (John 7:38-39). Our holy life should reprove and not approve the wicked.
When the world makes us afraid (Proverbs 29:25a), the only way to avoid the snare Satan has set for us is to flee to the LORD (Proverbs 29:25b). However, the best place to be is “in the fear of the LORD” where we are safe already, and from whence, the Spirit moving through us, will reprove them, and bring the fear of GOD upon them.
In the valley, shadowed by His Cross, where we “fear no evil” because our LORD has conquered death and walks with us in the valley, comforting us by His rod and staff of protection (Psalm 23:4). Heartened, I rose to stand by Him. His words were gracious and spoken softly, albeit with an undertone of reproof: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Yes, Sir! I denied myself and took up my cross. He beckoned me to follow Him to His table.
At the table, we fellowshipped a while until it was time to go together into the Harvest. He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with sufficient grace to meet the sufficient evil of the day (Psalm 23:5-6; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Matthew 6:34). Goodness and mercy ran to catch up!
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live asap.
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