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Psalm 119 - Samek

Solomon said, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."  Here in Psalm 119 It's evident that the student has at least made that beginning - he's at least begun to "fear the Lord."  Many people interpret such a fear as an overwhelming awe of God, a reverence born out of at least the beginnings of a realization of His greatness.  I think we must admit that it is that, but I think we need to go on and to say that it's even more than that.  At core it's the response of a truly awakened soul to that greatness of God.  Our student describes it when he says, "My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments."  It's like the respectful fear a high-voltage lineman has of coming into contact with the high-voltages around him.  In other words, it's much more than an academic, theological awe.  Instead, it's the kind of holy fear and respect that leads its possessor to avoid sin, and to avoid offenses against so high and holy a GOD.

It's the kind of fear also that avoids double mindedness - the tendency to give lip service to truth on the one hand while engaging in secret sin on the other.  The student says, "I hate the double-minded, but I love Your law."  While he's hating double mindedness, he also realizes his all-too-real tendency to fall into it himself.  He needs continual awareness of God. He needs God Himself to shield him from the temptation.  He confesses that his hope is in the Word of God, and that he therefore wants very much to avoid displeasing the God of the Word.

It's with that mindset that he then turns to the "evildoers" - the ones who tempt him to go astray from God - and tells them, "I will keep the commandments of my God!"  He simply and  forthrightly tells them to leave him alone - that he's not going their way, but that he's going God's way only.

But he knows he needs continual help in such an endeavor.  Therefore he turns to God again and says, "Uphold me according to Your Word, that I may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope.  Hold me up, and I shall be safe, and I shall observe Your statutes continually."  He fears God so much that he's afraid of falling away, much like the little child in the swimming pool who's being held up above the water and is afraid of being released into it.  If God holds him above the waters of human depravity he'll be safe, and he'll then keep His Word faithfully.  The God he fears is the God Who loves him and keeps him - and he knows it!

He's very, very aware, of what happens to those who don't fear God.  He says, "You reject all those who stray from Your statutes, for their deceit is falsehood.  You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross."  In other words, the student is really aware that God sees right through the things that deceive men. The "wicked" - those who don't fear God - may appear to be godly, but God knows the truth - and will "put them away like dross!"  There will be a judgment, and it will be thorough.

So the student concludes, "Therefore I love Your testimonies. My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments."  He has learned that the Word of God must be observed and obeyed, and that God is to be feared.  How do you respond?