"The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy." ~Psalm 147:11
He doesn't take pleasure in those who hope in their entitlement or who presume on His promises. Yet He does have patience with such ignorance for "He teaches sinners in the way." [Psalm 25:8]
He takes pleasure in the one who understands that, though His Word "cannot be broken" [John 10:35] and thus what He has said He will not go back on [Numbers 23:19], these promises have been given graciously and established in His compassion toward us. We would not become puffed up if someone invited us into their stately mansion. We would have some amount of "reverence", a "respectful fear" to those who had extended such a generous invitation toward us. Just as much as we would have "fears" to do anything that would upset such a kind and gracious host, so we too must have a loving-respectful fear towards our Father-King. It is like the fear (and greater than) that Esther had toward King Ahasuerus. [Esther 4:10-5:2] While there is reverence there is also with it, a boldness for relationship..."He takes pleasure in those who hope in His mercy"...to appeal to His sovereignty and mercy. [Hebrews 4:16]
God is unlike any earthly king, who is susceptible to the passions and responses of his own Flesh. "The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. He is good to all. And His tender mercies are over all His works." [Psalm 145:8-9]
Even if God did not call nor teach us to have a respectful fear, reverence toward Him, there are enough reasons to have a terror towards God. He is the creator of lightning [Job 37:1-5] the horse [Job 39:19-25], and Leviathan [Job 41:1-10], . Would we approach these with frivolous, complacent attitude? No, we would keep our distance and approach with caution (if at all)!
"The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy." [Psalm 147:11] With God, there is forgiveness "that He may be feared." [Psalm 130:4] "Is it not because I have held My peace from of old that you do not fear Me?" [Isaiah 57:11] We must not take advantage nor treat lightly our Maker [Numbers 32:15 & 18] who "is kind to the unthankful and evil." [Luke 6:35] "Do you thus deal with the Lord, O foolish and unwise people? Is He not your Father, who bought you? Has He not made you and established you?" [Numbers 32:6] God would rather see His goodness move us to repentance [Romans 2:4] rather than His terror. [Exodus 20:18-20] He is our Father-King; from us, He decrees for our reverence and relationship.
"Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested." ~Revelation 15:4
"...For I am a great King," says the Lord of hosts, "And My name is to be feared among the nations." ~Malachi 1:14
"For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." " ~Romans 8:13-15
"As the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame. He remembers that we are dust. ...The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him; and His righteousness to children's children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them." ~Psalm 103:11-14 & 17-18
"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the THRONE of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." ~Hebrews 4:15-16
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Different Things God is teaching Me
SpiritualWhen God shows His love, mercy, forgiveness, longsuffering, and grace towards you...it shouldn't stop with you. You are destined to pass it on to others and reflect faithfulness and devotion back to Him as the Divine Spouse. Cover Art by Maria Oosth...
