THE FEAR OF THE LORD The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. —Proverbs 1:7 They hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord. —Proverbs 1:29 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. —Proverbs 2:1-5 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear…

THE “BLESSED ONE” Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.  That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. —Psalm 1:1-3             The blessed one— Does not walk in step with the wicked Does not stand in the way that sinners take Does not sit in the company of mockers Delights in the…

MY TRUST IS IN MY LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, NOT MAN! Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.  Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God… He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— he remains faithful forever. —Psalm 146:3, 5-6             Where does your trust lie?  Who are you looking toward to “save” you?  Government?  Some other person?  There is not a prince nor any other human being that can save you.             I am so glad to know that I am among those “whose help is the God of…

TO THE “KNOW IT ALL” “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?  Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. —Job 38:2-3 Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years! —Job 38:21 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. —Psalm 145:3 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. —Psalm 145:13 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.  The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. ——Psalm 145:17-18 Go ahead,…

HE IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’  So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor.  The animals take cover; they remain in their dens.   The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds.  The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.  He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them.  At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them.  He brings the clouds to…

MY REFUGE! And Job continued his discourse: “How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me…” —Job 29:1-2 Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness.  The churning inside me never stops; days of suffering confront me. —Job 30:26-27 Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me.  I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.  I cry to you, Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” —Psalm 142:4             Job longed for bygone days when his business…

FEAR THE LORD! And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” —Job 28:28             The fear of the Lord— Is wisdom Is to shun evil Is understanding Is to discover the knowledge of God Is instructed by wisdom Is humility Is to hate evil Is to hate arrogant pride Is to hate evil conduct Is to hate perverse speech So, do I truly “fear the Lord?”  Do you truly “fear the Lord?”  It begins with the heart— who we truly are on the inside.  And that which is on the inside will make its way outward and that…

THEY SAY, “LEAVE US ALONE!” Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone!  We have no desire to know your ways.  Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?  What would we gain by praying to him?’ —Job 21:14-15             There are so many who say, “Leave us alone!  We have no desire to know your ways.  Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?  What would we gain by praying to him?”  This reminds me of Pharaoh when he said to Moses, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel…

HE KNOWS ME! His anger burns against me; he counts me among his enemies. —Job 19:11 Have pity on me, my friends, have pity, for the hand of God has struck me. —Job 19:21 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book…

TEST THE WORDS SPOKEN! Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food? —Job 12:11             The healthy tongue discerns such a wide variety of tastes—sweet and sour, bitter and pleasant, salty and bland.  Blindfolded, the healthy tongue can identify (as I have read… and experienced) — Sweet: Sweet is a pleasurable taste that indicates the presence of sugar. Salt: The salt receptor is the most basic taste receptor in the mouth. Sour: Your tongue can detect the sour acidity of citrus fruits, such as lemons and oranges. Bitter: This is the most delicate of the five flavors. Umami: This flavor is sometimes described as savory or meaty. …