Fear Him and No Want… (Psalm 34) 060308
Thanks be to God for see me through these few days, home alone with Alethea. I thank God because He has been teaching me precious lesson of love and faith during these few days.
I am a poor man, like the one mentioned in this Psalm (v6). I am poor not materially, but poor in grace. I can be gracious and loving to other, but do not know how to receive grace and love from God and others. If there is an account or balance sheet of my grace bank or love bank, I am in red!
I am poor not theologically, but poor in faith. I can have faith in big project and in ministry works. I am a visionary, I see things beyond the present and often surprise people whom I work with in ministry because of my big vision. But I do not have faith in myself. I do not have the faith that God cares for me and will take care of all me needs. All I need to do is to fear Him, because the angel of God will encamp those who fear Him (v7).
The Psalmist, likely to be Kind David when he had to fake mad before his enemy, Abimelech or King Achish of Gath (1 Sam 21:10-15). He was in trouble with his enemy, but he made it very clear in this Psalm that he did not fear his enemy; instead, he feared God!
The fear of God is mentioned at least four times in this Psalm. Fear Him and there is no want (v9). Do I have such faith? Do I fear God and at the same time believe that He will take care of my needs? Fear Him and no want? Can this be real?
When I read and meditate this phrase, my mind goes wild! Fearing God is to have a proper respect for Him. Having no want requires me see God as a loving and generous father. My earthly experiences cannot reconcile these two imagery. I know I need to fear God. I know that I can have no want. But I just cannot fear someone to expect him to provide for my need. I am not too sure if anyone out there can understand my struggles I have. Maybe, logically, or rather theologically, I can sort of understand this; but emotionally, I cannot!
I pray that God will do a work of illumination in my heart and my mind. I pray that God will teach me to receive His love and grace while I fear Him. Fear Him and no want is a reality, though I cannot fully internalize. Maybe you can understand, but do you fear Him?
HHS…
Abel…
