RESENTMENT ROTS THE ROOT — ROSS SMITH

RESENTMENT ROTS THE ROOT                                                                             ROSS SMITH

Hebrews 12:15                                  EXERCISE foresight and be on the WATCH to look [after one another], to SEE that no one falls back from and fails to secure God’s grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing), in order  (This is the apodosis, “in order” is the same as “Then” or “So that”   …   comments mine)  that no ROOT OF RESENTMENT (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it

If we cannot be trusted to deal with personal affront, how will we ever be trusted to deal with national events?

“RESENTMENT” always has a basic constituent, “I, my, me, mine, want, wish, wallow”. In the above verse, there are three (3) distinct directions on how we are to proceed in the elimination of “RESENTMENT”, EXERCISE, WATCH, SEE.

If we review the men of authority in the Word of God, then in most cases they had justifiable reason to harbour “RESENTMENT”, but overcame the thought and the condition, and did so without seeking any recrimination.

1 Corinthians 3:1                              HOWEVER, BRETHREN, I could not talk to you as to spiritual [men], but as to nonspiritual [men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates], as to mere infants [in the new life] in Christ [N1unable to talk yet!]

JOSEPH                                   From Pit to Prime Minister

MOSES                                    From Fear of Pharaoh to Finishing Pharaoh

JOB                                           From Riches to rags, and back again

DAVID                                     From Shepherd to Celebrity

ABRAHAM                             From Ur to ……….WHERE!!!

Have you ever noticed that a feature of roots is that they SPREAD, and often this spread is so prolific that the plant becomes “NOXIOUS”? This means “Injurious to physical or mental health, such as noxious chemical waste, noxious ideas, corrupting, harmful, pernicious, vesicant” just to take a few dictionary descriptions.” Have you ever, or have you seen someone stung by stinging nettles, and the blisters that arise, that is from a “vesicant” plant.

Does not this precisely describe the effects of “RESENTMENT”, the root spreads until it permeates every aspect of a person’s life, and strangles the life from other “plants” (people) anywhere near the vicinity, the root is tenacious, pervasive and plunders the soil of the location it is found in.

MORETON BAY FIG ROOT SYSTEM

The Moreton Bay Fig is a classical example, it often begins life high up in another tree and produces roots that grow down the trunk of the supporting tree to the ground. This network of roots eventually strangles the supporting tree which dies, leaving the fig tree with a hollow trunk formed from roots. The tree eventually grows big enough to emerge from the forest canopy and tower above it. Resentment takes its nourishment by feeding off our inward and inappropriate thought processes involving someone else. This “disease” can eventually kill off the other person through the sense or awareness of the hate.

 

CANADIAN RED WOOD ROOT SYSTEM

PERVASIVENESS OF NOXIOUS FLORA

 Where there is “ROOT ROT” there is seldom any FRUIT, because the plant becomes unable to absorb nutrients, and the plants often resemble those suffering from drought, stress and deficiencies.

Resentment is a condition that usually builds over time and as above, is evident as a lack of fruitfulness in the Christian experience.  It is imperceptible at first, but over time develops layers as disappointments mount and nothing changes, just like the roots spread of the noxious weed.

The condition of “RESENTMENT” has other side effects, it becomes “OBNOXIOUS”, defined as causing disapproval or protest, and the state of “OBNOXIOUSNESS” is the quality (not sure that “quality” is a good word here) of being hateful.

 In the natural state, there are chemicals that may or may not deal with these out of control plants, but in the spiritual, there is a remedy that IS guaranteed not to fail.

 2 Corinthians 7:1                              THEREFORE, SINCE these [great] promises are ours, beloved, LET US CLEANSE OURSELVES from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and BRING [OUR] CONSECRATION TO COMPLETENESS IN THE [REVERENTIAL] FEAR OF GOD.

2 Timothy 2:21                                  So WHOEVER CLEANSES HIMSELF [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] WILL [THEN HIMSELF] BE A VESSEL SET APART AND USEFUL FOR HONORABLE AND NOBLE PURPOSES, CONSECRATED AND PROFITABLE TO THE MASTER, FIT AND READY FOR ANY GOOD WORK. 

In both these scriptures the eradication of the “contaminant” is a task that we are to address personally and individually, which immediately disendorses any argument, or the assignment of any blame on anyone else; despite what we think they have done; whether we deserved it or not; or any sense of being poorly done by; or assuming it is an inherited trait, scripture clearly points up that it is up to us, sorry about that!!!!!

But it also contains another element, a critical one, and that is “OUR CONSECRATION”. “Wordweb” describes it like this “A solemn commitment of your life or your time to some cherished purpose (to a service or a goal), sanctification of something by setting it apart (usually with religious rites) as dedicated to God”. So, we firstly have the “clean-up”, and then we have the “set up”.

Isaiah has an uncomfortable ability to put us on the spot also, for in chapter 5, in verses 19 to 23 he describes the characteristics of some of those who contribute to dissention and schism, but of particular interest, is

Isaiah 5:21                                          Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent and shrewd in their own sight!

 This is the basis for much of our harbouring “RESENTMENT”, we always think we are right and the other person is wrong, we have got it all together and “I need to be able to educate these people”, when in fact we are subjecting ourselves to “WOE”. Maybe the word should have been “WHOA”, to step back and see where the problem genuinely originates, not in them, but in me.

This is not much comfort when we are going through it, allowing the corrosion to continue, and most often it is because we have not brought the Word of God to bear on the situation, and again we can rely on Isaiah to point up the aberration.

Isaiah 5:24                                          Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as the dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their ROOT SHALL BE LIKE ROTTENNESS and their blossom shall go up like fine dust—BECAUSE THEY HAVE REJECTED AND CAST AWAY THE LAW AND THE TEACHING OF THE LORD OF HOSTS AND HAVE NOT BELIEVED BUT HAVE TREATED SCORNFULLY AND HAVE DESPISED THE WORD OF THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.

THE HEART IS THE ROOT, THE LANGUAGE IS THE FRUIT  ——  Spite and hate blind the eyes, and distort the judgement, and it is from this “ROOT” that we speak, it is “out of the abundance of the heart” (Luke 6:45)

James 3:6                                            And THE TONGUE is a fire. [The tongue is a] world of wickedness set among our members, contaminating and depraving the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth (the cycle of man’s nature), being itself ignited by hell (Gehenna).

This is accurately describing the insidious progress of holding onto resentment, the words may not be uttered, but words are the same as actions to the Lord. “As a man thinks, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7)

The language we use is the spreading habit common to noxious weeds, it sows a root, and not only pervades the individual making the statement, but to all those who happen to be in earshot. It can be done blatantly when we are “RESENTFUL”, or it can be done surreptitiously, when we want to score some points, or it can even be done unwittingly, because if we think about a problem we help to expand and consolidate that problem. That is why we understand our problems, because we contemplate them, WHEREAS WE SHOULD CONTEMPLATE OUR GOD.

Ephesians 4:29                                  Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it.

When James penned his epistle, I wonder if he ever imagined that here in the 21^st century the advice still is as current and as potent as ever?

James 1:19-21                                   UNDERSTAND [THIS], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry. For man’s anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires]. SO GET RID OF ALL UNCLEANNESS AND THE RAMPANT OUTGROWTH OF WICKEDNESS, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls.

Peter also promotes the clean-up of our act, and spells it out for those of us who may have a penchant for excuse, and where James called it “UNCLEANNESS AND RAMPANT OUTGROWTH OF WICKEDNESS”, Peter names the conditions one by one so that “UNCLEANNESS and WICKEDNESS” no longer are just clichés but are real everyday experiences, that develop into the “RAMPANT OUTGROWTH”.

1 Peter 2:1                                          SO BE done with every trace of wickedness (depravity, malignity) and all deceit and insincerity (pretence, hypocrisy) and grudges (envy, jealousy) and slander and evil speaking of every kind.

It would almost seem like there was some collusion between the authors of New Testament writings, or they went to the same university, or had the same professor, for their descriptions of the rottenness of the root categorises all the various initiators.

Ephesians 4:31-32                            Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarrelling (brawling, clamour, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tender-hearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.

In one verse Paul identifies twenty (20) different aberrant behaviour patterns that promote the scourge of mankind, and in almost every instance they are actions that involve the expression of our heart, speaking out what we are thinking. He then balances the equation with seven (7) recommendations for the rejuvenation of the soil of our hearts, when the “weeds” have been dug out from the root, when we have “cleansed ourselves” so the restoration requires far less effort than the eradication. It is only after the remedial work has been done that the consecration can really begin. Colossians further extends the matter so that there is no opportunity for excuse, and again you will notice that almost without exception this behaviour involves the tongue, energised by the heart.

Colossians 3:8-10                             But now put away and rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips! Do not lie to one another, for YOU HAVE STRIPPED OFF THE OLD (UNREGENERATE) SELF WITH ITS EVIL PRACTICES, And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remoulded into [fuller and more perfect N1knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.

I can almost hear some people saying, “well its sounds good in theory, but I am not sure of the practicality”. Well we are so blest to have such a great “SELF HELP BOOK”, but when it is not used for reference in the matters of concern, then it is obviously not being applied as directed,

James 1:22  (ERV)                            DO WHAT GOD’S TEACHING SAYS; DON’T JUST LISTEN AND DO NOTHING. WHEN YOU ONLY SIT AND LISTEN, YOU ARE FOOLING YOURSELVES.

CONSEQUENCES OF IRREVERENCE ROSS SMITH

CONSEQUENCES OF IRREVERENCE                                                             ROSS SMITH

“ACCURACY ACCENTUATES INTEGRITY” and so we will explore this proposition, in relation to the “CONSEQUENCES OF IRREVERENCE”

There are so many “KEYS” in this particular study of God’s directions and our participation that you will find your study with be the most comprehensive. We will start with just eight keys.

KEY 1.

Job 27:5                                               God forbid that I should justify you–saying you are right [in your accusations against me]; till I die, I will not put away my INTEGRITY from me.

IRREVERENCE and INACCURACY are bedmates, THEY ABANDON INTEGRITY and that leads to REBELLION (Numbers 20:24 … you both rebelled) and that LEADS TO DEATH

The definition of INTEGRITY is as follows: – Undivided or unbroken, completeness or totality— with nothing wanting, moral soundness.

Numbers 20:12-13                           And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, (Notice Aaron was complicit in this fault.) Because you did not believe (Moses knew that smiting the rock worked, he had done it before, but not so sure about just “speaking” to the rock …. Wasn’t sure if he “believed that it would work”) in (rely on, cling to) Me to sanctify Me (How does this align with our concept of “irreverence”? … comments mine) in the eyes of the Israelites, you therefore shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. These are the waters of Meribah [strife], where the Israelites contended with the Lord and He showed Himself holy among them.

Let us step forward into New Testament times in case you think this Old Testament example is irrelevant:

Galatians 6:7                                      Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] (classic description of IRREVERENCE … comments mine) For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap.

Verse 8 is worth revisiting as it aptly describes the “Lust of the Flesh”.

KEY 2

“TO SANCTIFY ME” … what does this mean? One graphic explanation is “THE STATE OF PROPER FUNCTIONING” …. (Baker’s Dictionary). In other words, you did not evidence My “STATE OF PROPER FUNCTIONING” to the Israelites. Because you misrepresented Me OR LACKED ACCURACY or integrity.

We have a similar instruction, we have quoted it regularly, but let us do a short review.

Ephesians 5:13                                  But when anything is exposed and reproved (or “EVIDENCED” …  comments mine) by the light, it is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear there is light.

Now skip back 2 verses: –

Ephesians 5:11                                  Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose (that’s what light does) and reprove and convict them. (Or EVIDENCE the light in which we walk)

God told them, that is Moses and Aaron, to SPEAK TO THE ROCK, but they SPOKE TO THE PEOPLE, “You rebels”. Moses’ disobedience was IRREVERENCE which resulted in DISOBEDIENCE, which resulted in DEATH.  God will not allow Himself to be sneered at.

WE CANNOT DO GOD’S WORK USING OUR OWN METHODS.

 Moses struck the rock TWICE, NO WATER CAME OUT THE FIRST TIME. Was God giving Moses an opportunity to reflect on his instructions before he struck it again? If Moses had reconsidered his actions at this point in time, and reverted to speaking to the rock, do you think God would have allowed him then to enter the Promised Land?

Irreverence can spring from “IMPATIENCE” but this is a subject for another study. Does this “impatience” suggest we have not had enough tribulation? (Romans 5:3 KJV) Do you think the children of Israel were aware of how serious this digression by Moses and Aaron was, or did they consider the result with the same ingratitude, we got our water so what is the big deal?

James 1:20                                          For man’s anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires].

IRREVERENCE is a dangerous malady. Even when our motives are sincere and we are actively involved in worship we must be constantly mindful of the Holiness of God and maintain a reverence for Him, manifested by our absolute obedience to his instructions, commands, statutes, rules et cetera. Enthusiastic religious exercises are of no value if we do not have the right attitude and conduct, IT IS ATTEMPTED FRAUD.

IF WE MURMUR, WE WILL MOURN

KEY 3

Let us now move on to another graphic example of “IRREVERENCE”.

Up until the ark was lost to the Philistines, the Israelites knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that there was only one way to transport the ark, and that was with the Priests carrying it with the poles.

The ark was lost by Eli’s sons Phineas and Hophni under irreverent circumstances (so, it is assumed it was “CARRIED” at this time)

 The Ark of the Covenant was in Philistine hands for seven months and they were now mad keen to get rid of it. We know the story of how they sent it back to David on a cart pulled by 2 cows who had just had calves. (in this case “CARTED”)

 The ark is returned to Kiriath-Jearim for 92 years (“CARTED”)

 It is then offloaded at Abinadab’s house for the next 20 years (“CARTED”)

 Next, it has a 3-month sojourn at Obed Edom’s house. (before it is “CARRIED” to Jerusalem)

Now the ark has been sitting in Abinadab’s house for some twenty years, probably gathering dust as it was not to be touched, but probably bringing great blessing to his house.

2 Samuel 6:2                                      And [he] (David) arose and went with all the people (All except Michal … and she suffered the consequences of her irreverence) who were with him to Baale-judah [Kiriath-Jearim] to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts, Who sits enthroned above the cherubim.

This is a very informative narrative, David has gone to recover the ark which has sat idle for these 20 years, plus the nearly 100 years at Kiriath-Jearim.

It was important how clear the instructions were regarding the transport of the ark, God-given, and IGNORED and CONSEQUENTIAL. By the way, these laws have been in place for 400 years.

(A) That the ark was to be carried, on poles, and the

(B) Poles were to be left in the rings on the ark so that there was no need to touch the ark.

It was expressly ordained that the Ark should be carried on the shoulders of the priests, as God’s cause must proceed through the world by the means of consecrated men, rather than by mechanical instrumentality.

The Philistines (a type of the world) returned the ark to David on a cart as they knew no better, and I dare say they were glad to get rid of it, but the Israelites knew, but ignored the instructions handed down to them back in antiquity. (Refer to James 4:17 re “So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin”)

How interesting is this to relate to what Jesus said when on the cross, Luke 23:24, “Father forgive them for they don’t know what they do.” That is why the Philistines were not killed. I would suggest that the poles were still in place at this time because we see in: –

1 Samuel 7:1                                      So, the men of Kiriath-Jearim came and took the ark of the Lord and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to have charge of the ark of the Lord.

Much of the current day church service for the Lord is like this – a new cart, a big production, with pomp and ceremony out front – yet all done without inquiring of God or looking to His will. Surely David prayed for God’s blessing on this big production, but he didn’t inquire of God regarding the production itself. This was a good thing done the wrong way.

GOD ALWAYS DEVISES THE PLANS …. OUR JOB IS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROCESS

The problem is that the Israelites imitated the Philistines rather than obey God. I believe the instructions given by God in the law were simply forgotten rather than willfully ignored or disobeyed. The ark had not been carried for many years. It had remained out of circulation, out of use, in the home of Abinadab for a good 20 years before it was put back into any kind of use. But I cannot excuse Abinadab and Uzzah, for they were the “caretakers” for that period and should have been aware of the law regarding the ark. Let us look at the instructions: –

Exodus 25:9-15                                 And you shall make it according to all that I show you, the pattern of the tabernacle or dwelling and the pattern of all the furniture of it. They shall make an ARK (means of salvation, e.g. Moses, Noah, Children of Israel) of acacia wood: two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. (In our measurements, it would be approximately 1.2 metres long, 0.6 metres wide and high.)

You shall overlay the ark with PURE GOLD, inside and out, and make a gold crown, a rim or border, around its top. You shall cast four gold rings and attach them to the four lower corners of it, two rings on either side. YOU SHALL MAKE POLES OF ACACIA WOOD AND OVERLAY THEM WITH GOLD, AND PUT THE POLES THROUGH THE RINGS ON THE ARK’S SIDES, BY WHICH TO CARRY IT. The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be removed from it [that THE ARK BE NOT TOUCHED].

The artisan was Bezalel and there is an uncanny likeness to the skills God gave him as to when the earth was created.

Proverbs 3:19                                    The Lord by skilful and godly Wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding He has established the heavens.

Exodus 31:3                                        And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and ability, in understanding and intelligence, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship,

I question David’s involvement here, I would have thought, in my ignorance, that David would have been fully informed regarding the handling of the ark, particularly as he was so anxious to recover it. The ark is now some 400 years old.

1 Chronicles 15:13                           For because you bore it not [as God directed] at the first, the Lord our God broke forth upon us–because we did not seek Him in the way He ordained. (See also Numbers 1:50)

There could be no clearer instructions, from any greater authority, and laws that had been in existence it seems for something like 400 years, time enough for the principle to be firmly embedded in both the culture and the behaviour of the Israelites. God wanted the ark to be carried because He wanted NOTHING MECHANICAL (REPETITION RELEGATES REVERENCE) about the ark, REPRESENTING HIS PRESENCE. (This is important when we come to “POLES OF PURPOSE”)

“GOD WANT US TO BE METICULOUS, NOT MECHANICAL”

KEY 4

Now prior to this, the Philistines were a little smarter than we give them credit for. They were not sure that the ark was the cause of all their problems, so they thought, “Well we can check it out”. Firstly, use 2 cows who have never had a yoke on them and then, secondly, also cows that have calves, just to complicate the equation further. If the cows take the ark back to the Israelites then the ark was a problem, and it worked, even for the Philistines.

So, the Israelites didn’t even get it right at this point in time when the ark was returned from the Philistines, as we see in: –

1 Samuel 6:14                                     The (Philistine) cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there. A great stone was there; (how very convenient but how inappropriate) and the men split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord.

Two major errors: –

They sacrificed COWS, whereas the only acceptable beast was a BULL. And this was not an acceptable place, sacrifices were still to be carried out at Gibeon.

So, the men of Israel got rid of the Philistine “methods”, the IGNORANT IRREVERENCE that constituted improper practice, they “burnt and sacrificed”. But the euphoria of the recovery of the ark, the thought that “everything will be OK now”, they proceed to develop a whole new “Modus Operandi”.

Psalm 51:17                                        MY SACRIFICE [THE SACRIFICE ACCEPTABLE] TO GOD is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.

But then later: –   ANOTHER 2 MISTAKES

SO, DAVID DECIDES (this is his first mistake, “he decided”) to BUILD A NEW CART to bring the ark to Jerusalem (this is his second mistake), it was good enough for the Philistines so it should be good enough for the Israelites. And so like church today David adopted the world’s methods with dire consequences.

You will note in Exodus 25 that the Ark was NOT TO BE TOUCHED, the poles were to be left in place so that the priests could carry the ark without touching it, A CLEAR SIGNAL OF REVERENCE FOR GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS.

I want us to consider here that nowhere in the narrative we have gone through is there any suggestion that the poles were still not located in the rings on the side of the ark. THEY WERE IN THEIR PLACE BUT NOT DOING THEIR JOB ….  Sounds a bit like some Christians!!! What a lesson is there in that observation? Even the Philistines had left the poles in place, otherwise, there was no way the priests could have recovered it.

We can imagine what these men thought. “Look – we have a new cart for the ark of God. God will be very pleased at our fancy new cart, what a great improvement on what God had asked for” They thought that a new technology or luxury could cover over their ignorant disobedience, their IRREVERENCE. Recall James 4:17, So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin.

Abinadab had been housing the Ark in Kiriath-Jearim (approx. 20 miles west of Jerusalem) after its return from the Philistines, for the last 20 years.

 They, the Israelites, got away with it the first time they used the cart, just like I think Moses could have gotten away with it with his first strike of the rock, but not the second incident.

 2 Samuel 6:3-4                                  And they set the ark of God upon a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, (I suggest they used the poles in this case) which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, with the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark.

Now Uzzah and his brother Ahio had been looking after the Ark for the duration it has been in their home, so they should not be unfamiliar with the rules and regulations pertaining to its handling. Don’t you think that they would have thoroughly acquainted themselves with the directions during that 20 years. How long does it take us to get our head around what Father is saying to us? But when the cart shook, Uzzah in a moment of irreverence or stupidity, the same thing, reached out to steady the Ark; consequently, he died.

We are a very privileged, but neglectful people in that we have also become familiar with the requirements that attend our presentation before the Lord? I fear we have relegated the Lord’s Table to a ritual that is tacked onto the end of service when this most sacred celebration should be central to our worship. Are we able to properly appropriate the provision of anointing with oil when praying for the sick, or have we let this deteriorate into a ritual because we have not met the criteria that Father should honour this provision, has our “ark” been in storage for longer than we care to remember?

Are we carrying out the precious provision of the Lord’s Table in the proper manner?

KEY 5

There is an interesting point here, the ark was travelling back to Jerusalem on a cart, and I would suggest that roads were not “motorways” but would have been well-worn tracks carved by traffic and carts used in commerce. But when the cart got to the threshing floor belonging to Nacon it was there that the ark began to slip and wobble

 What is so significant about the threshing floor? Well, it was usually a wide expanse of smooth ground, packed hard by the process of threshing.

 Do you remember how they threshed? Well, they spread the sheaves of grain out on the ground and ran carts over the stalks until the grain fell out, then they picked up the straw and on the ground, was left the grain. The ground was packed hard by the continual use, and the area was smooth so that the grain could be collected. Refer also to 1 Chronicles 21:23 where Ornan was threshing USING SLEDS.

So, I am suggesting that it was not the topography of the ground that caused the ark to move, but the reaction of God to the abuse of His clear instructions.

 When things are really rough, ever been there, well we are more likely to respect God in His sovereignty, but when things get smoother, like the threshing floor, we get a bit blaze, but we have to be ACCURATE in the process we apply.

Does not this paint a picture of the modern-day church, adopting and adapting and modernising the “carts of convenience” instead of the “poles of our heart”, rock ‘n’ roll bands, widescreen projection, iPads instead of Bibles, entertainment instead of exultation, performances rather than praise, AND SO WE EXCUSE IT BY CALLING IT “RELEVANCE” WHEN IN FACT IT IS IRREVERENCE? Let’s see what the procedure is that we are called to use.

Psalm 119:11                                     Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

This is the method of carrying the word of God, it is “In our Hearts”, this CONSTITUTES THE POLES that carried the ark, and they are never to be removed from the rings of our relationship with God.

And so, the “Consequence of Irreverence” is evidenced on every hand because people do not want to adhere to the pure unadulterated Word of God. The church has now jazzed up the truth till it is no longer carried in our hearts on “Poles of Purpose” but in that cart of convenience.  And this malaise, this rebellion, this lack of integrity, THIS IRREVERENCE will lead to death.

David succumbed to technology – the Ark was to be carried on poles and because the Philistines put it on a cart, and David erred because he used the “world’s methods”. God’s methods are righteous – carried on the poles of biblical truth and not on modern-day methods. GODS WORD IS THE REVELATION OF HIS PURPOSE …. AND IT, LIKE THE ARK, CARRIES HIS PROMISE OF COMMITMENT.

Is this no different to some of the methods used by the church today? I refer in particular to the use of music. Now don’t misunderstand me, I love music and so does Father, but only when it is out of a heart ambitious to praise. When it becomes a narcotic, simply inducing “sensations” then it loses its spiritual significance and becomes a fleshly indulgence.

These days, music is viewed as a means to facilitate an encounter with God, it is suggested it will move us closer to God. In this schema, music becomes a means of mediation between God and man, but this idea is closer to ecstatic pagan practices than to Christian worship. The church has succumbed to TECHNOLOGY.

1Timothy 2:5                                      For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

 Pulpits have shrunk and in some instances even disappeared while bands and lighting have grown. We are often tempted to judge a worship experience by how it makes us feel. NEW CARTS ARE BEING UTILISED!

 But when we realize that worship is about pleasing God, we are driven to His word so we can know how He wants to be worshipped.

There is simply no evidence whatsoever in Scripture that music mediates direct encounters or experiences with God. This is a pagan notion, it is far from Christian. Music is very conducive to assist us in our praise, it constitutes a basic principle of scripture, BUT IT IS ONLY AN ADJUNCT …. NOT THE AIM.

Psalm 119:11                                     Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

KEY 6

Fear is the response of men to the Holiness of God, either “reverential fear” or “disabling terror”. So why are we so slow to recognise His Holiness, why is there so much evidence of irreverence for the Lord and His house, and why such a dearth of fear?

Revelation 3:14-16                          And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the trusty and faithful and true Witness, the Origin and Beginning and Author of God’s creation:  I know your [record of] works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. (in other words, you are wishy washy … comments mine) Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth! “CONSEQUENCES OF IRREVERENCE”.

Our relationship, and the development of it is not to make us feel better about ourselves, but to bring us to recognise we should be falling before him in humility and awe at his Holiness.

Let me return to the example of the ark and its transport. I have copped some flak because I see in this record, that there are significant lessons for us to learn if we are going to “BEAR THE NAME OF CHRIST”, but I think we sometimes gloss over symbolism that can assist us in our walk. Seemingly inconsequential detail can uncover mountains of data, small details in the Bible can likewise have infinite layers of meaning.

“POLES OF PURPOSE”

The method of transport for the ark, as we have seen; was to be carried on poles. So, let us look at any lessons we can learn from these poles in relation to our subject.  Whilst their “materials” are very interesting, I am more concerned with their “motives”, but will quickly look at the material.

Firstly, Acacia wood was used in the poles. This wood is resistant to decay because the tree deposits in the heartwood, many waste substances which are preservatives and render the wood unpalatable to insects making the wood dense and difficult to be penetrated by water and other decay agents. The use of acacia wood resulted in materials that endured for a long time.

Matthew 24:35                                 Sky and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

 One of the characteristics of the acacia wood, if we look at Joel, chapter 3:18, is that it flourished in dry places. It is peculiar to the desert. It will grow when nothing else will. It is not particularly attractive, but it provides shade in a dry and thirsty land, and so was pertinent to the environment in which the Israelites found themselves.

 Acacia trees and acacia wood have taken on meaning beyond a common wood used in construction.  The acacia wood used as the foundation of the Tabernacle symbolizes the humanity of Christ while the gold overlay of the boards and poles symbolizes Christ’s deity. This was the only timber used.

This is an acacia tree growing in the most inhospitable conditions.

KEY 7

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POLES

Some will say they were just lengths of wood for the convenience of carrying the ark around. Well yes, they were lengths of wood, special wood, overlayed with gold, AND INTENDED TO BE AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSE. Does that ring any alarm bells in your heart?

2Timothy 1:9                                      Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own PURPOSE and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

I am suggesting that we are now POLES OF PURPOSE, to be perpetually in place, never to be removed, to carry or bear the presence of God in such demonstrative fashion, of such dimension and durability that the “ark”, or God’s presence is carried REVERENTLY in our daily walk.

These poles were 10 cubits long, how do we know that, well to arrive at this conclusion we have to extrapolate. The dimensions God gave Moses for the Holy of Holies were 10 x 10 cubits, or about 15 feet or 5 metres square. I suggest that the poles were this long, 5 metres so that the Priests did not inadvertently touch the ark, they were not allowed to get too close AND ENGAGE IN AN ACT OF IRREVERENCE EVEN IF ACCIDENTAL.

Exodus 25:15                                     The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be removed from it [that the ark be not touched].

1 Kings 8:8                                          The poles were so long that the ends of them were seen from the Holy Place before the Holy of Holies, but they were not seen outside; THEY ARE THERE TO THIS DAY.

That is God’s intention, that the POLES OF PURPOSE, His means of purveying the Gospel, should be evidenced by the way we reverence His Word, His plans, His methods, HIS REQUIREMENTS AND DEMANDS.

And so, we see that the ends of the poles were up against the curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place, so that there was evidence that the ark was still in its place. The “appearance” of the poles in the holy place were essentially, “bumps” in the veil.  That is to say, the poles were so long that they hit the veil and these indentations were visible without entering the inner sanctum. WHAT REASSURANCE!!!

 Today however, the veil has been rent, that veil which was 4 inches thick, torn down the middle, so that we have free access to the mercy seat, traditionally located on the ark, now accessible through salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit, that guarantee of commitment to us that “I will never leave you or forsake you” (1 Samuel 12:22) and reinforced in New Testament terms in: –

 Matthew 28:20                                 Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).

 So now we have, just like the Israelites had, that abiding presence of the Lord, symbolically but also diabolically if they were IRREVERENT, but we have His presence in “The Temples of the Holy Spirit”.

 These POLES OF PURPOSE are now commissioned to carry God’s GUARANTEE OF COMMITMENT and the same diligence required of the priests is also required of us as priests today.

 If I do it my way, THEN THAT IS IRREVERENCE, and the consequences are diabolical.

 Romans 8:6                                         Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].

 KEY 8

There is another graphic illustration of “IRREVERENCE” found in: –

Acts 12:21-23                                     On an appointed day Herod arrayed himself in his royal robes, took his seat upon [his] throne, and addressed an oration to them. And the assembled people shouted, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man! And at once an angel of the Lord smote him and cut him down, BECAUSE HE DID NOT GIVE GOD THE GLORY (the pre-eminence and kingly majesty that belong to Him as the supreme Ruler); (a gross case of irreverence and an awful way to die) and he was eaten by worms and died.

The fear of the Lord is the result of grasping his Holiness (Proverbs 9:10 … the beginning of wisdom)

Proverbs 1:7                                       The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skilful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline.

Because God is Holy, we as his people are called to be Holy, it is our calling.

Ephesians 1:4                                     Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart (this amplification is potently important … comments mine) for Him) and blameless in His sight, even ABOVE REPROACH, before Him in love.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4                     For this is the will of God, that you should be consecrated (separated and set apart for pure and holy living): that you should abstain and shrink from all sexual vice, That each one of you should know how to possess (control, manage) his own body in consecration (purity, separated from things profane) and honour,

There is an opinion that circulates in church circles today that “the church must be relevant”, in other words, it has to become adjusted so that it will reflect the values of society to be attractive to people. What a great promotional tool the devil has scored, and he has the church advertising his program! To be “relevant” the church has had to “COMPROMISE”!!!!!

Much of the church has adopted a musical program with “lights, cameras and action” so that the throb of the drum and the double bass have replaced the throb of the Spirit. The music has to entertain and excite and meet the expectations of a particular demographic, just watch the gyrations and induced response, the narcotic effect of music is used to make people think that unless they get stimulated by the mind-numbing pulse of a repetitious beat then they have not been in God’s presence. There is “one mediator between God and man”, and music tries to usurp this role.

As I understand it, there has been no change to God’s program since its initiation: –

Luke 16:17                                          Yet it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to fail and become void.

Mark 13:31                                         Heaven and earth will perish and pass away, but My words will not perish or pass away.

Hebrews 13:8                                    Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [ALWAYS] THE SAME, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages).

Because God’s Word is “God-breathed” it is eternal, it is relevant, has the same power and energy and potency as it had the day it was penned even while the ink was drying.

So, what the world, and now the church, is advocating is in one word “IRREVERENCE”, the very opposite of the attainment of spiritual excellence the word describes.

I have pondered how the incident prophesied in Matthew 7:23 where it states:

Matthew 7:23                                    And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].

And it is interesting to note people’s responses when they said: –

Matthew 7:22                                    Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, HAVE WE (note that they are assuming that they had the power and authority, a clear lack of reverence … comments mine) not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name?

The reason I have emphasised “YOUR NAME” in this instance is because the opposite is prescribed in Psalm 119:9, (see the study “HOLY IS HIS NAME”). This we will find is the key to “Reverent and Worshipful Fear”.

The spiral downward into “IRREVERENCE” is hastened by people’s egotism, notice they said, “have we not” when they have actually done nothing but God had honoured the name of his Son.

IRREVERENCE STARTS WITH INACCURACY

 And that inaccuracy comes in many forms and colours,

• inaccuracy in understanding the work
• inaccuracy in sharing
• inaccuracy in ordering our home
• inaccuracy in raising children
• inaccuracy in conducting business
• inaccuracy in what we say and do
• inaccuracy in implementing the Word and the Holy Spirit’s promptings.

Isaiah 65:2                                          I have spread out My hands all the day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, AFTER THEIR OWN THOUGHTS—

Luke 1:17                                             And he will [himself] go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn back the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient and incredulous and unpersuadable to the wisdom of the upright [which is the knowledge and holy love of the will of God] –in order to make ready for the Lord a people [perfectly] prepared [in spirit, adjusted and disposed and placed in the right moral state].

Romans 1:28                                      And so, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or approve of Him or consider Him worth the knowing, God gave them over to a base and condemned mind to do things not proper or decent but loathsome.

Ephesians 2:2                                     In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God].

Colossians 3:6                                    It is on account of these [very sins] that the [holy] anger of God is ever coming upon the sons of disobedience (those who are obstinately opposed to the divine will),

Titus 1:16                                            They profess to know God [to recognize, perceive, and be acquainted with Him], but deny and disown and renounce Him BY WHAT THEY DO; they are detestable and loathsome, unbelieving and disobedient and disloyal and rebellious, and [they are] unfit and worthless for good work (deed or enterprise) of any kind.

ACCURACY ACCENTUATES INTEGRITY

(Probably a good time to review the study on “VAGUE PLAGUE”)

Irreverence

1. David used the wrong transport for the ark (2 Samuel 6)
2. Moses used the wrong method for the water
3. Ananias and Sapphira used egotism to obtain approval
4. The priests used false fire (Leviticus 10:1-2)

NOTES FOR USE.

False Fire   Leviticus 10:1-2          AND NADAB and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, and put incense on it, and offered strange and unholy fire before the Lord, as He had not commanded them. And there came forth fire from before the Lord and killed them, and they died before the Lord.

Rebellious son     Deuteronomy 21:18-21 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or his mother and though they chasten him will not listen to them, Then his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, And they shall say to the elders of his city, This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey our voice. He is a glutton and a drunkard. Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death; so, you shall cleanse out the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear and [reverently] fear.

1 Peter 2:9                                          But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.

Genesis 6:22 (ISV)                            Noah did all of this, PRECISELY as God had commanded.

2 Samuel 5:25 (ISV)                         So David did EXACTLY what the LORD ordered him to do, and he struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.

oOo

WE CAN NEVER BE WISE UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND FEAR ROSS SMITH

WE CAN NEVER BE WISE UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND FEAR                      ROSS SMITH

ALL REFERENCES ARE FROM AMPLIFIED BIBLE UNLESS NOTED.

Psalm 111:10                                     The REVERENT FEAR and worship of the Lord is the BEGINNING OF WISDOM and skill [the preceding and the first essential, the prerequisite and the alphabet]; a good understanding, wisdom, and meaning have all those who do [the will of the Lord]. Their praise of Him endures forever.

The “FEAR here referred to is, “Reverential affection, constant conscientious care to keep His commandments, Holy awe”.

THE MOST OBEDIENT ARE CONSIDERED THE MOST INTELLIGENT

We face a problem today in the reticence of men to embrace God’s Word in its purity. Men have a veil over their eyes, exudent in their ears, and lethargy on their tongues. And all of this stems from the heart condition, for “As a man thinks in his heart so is he”. (Proverbs 23:7)

It is reassuring that WISDOM is not an unattainable goal, and the mystery of such a valuable gift is so very poorly understood generally. But this is probably due to the fact that we do not as yet embrace or comprehend the intent and content of “REVERENT FEAR or HOLY AWE”.

The beginning of wisdom is not found in keen insight, nor wide experience, nor the learning of the schools, but IN THE TEMPER OF REVERENCE AND AWE, but without this deep and profound acknowledgement of God’s “Inconceivable Greatness”, there is a featureless landscape of ignorance. We cannot proceed to the extraordinary advantages of the “Wisdom from Above” until we have evidence of “HOLY AWE”.

It has recognisable characteristics that become obvious in the several descriptions that embrace the whole gamut of human behaviour. You may wonder why I find Reverent and Worshipful Fear so fascinating, so elusive, so desirable, so needful, and David and Solomon were helpful in this respect. Just look at this list: –

“REVERENT AND WORSHIPFUL FEAR”: –

Is the beginning of Wisdom                     Psalm 111:10

Is the beginning of understanding        Proverbs 1:7

Is clean                                                             Psalm 19:9

Confers riches, honour, life                            Proverbs 22:4

Cannot be visited with evil                             Proverbs 19:23

Is the means to depart from evil                    Proverbs 16:6

Is the source of instruction in Wisdom        Proverbs 15:33

Is a fountain of life                                            Proverbs 14:27

Is the source of strong confidence                 Proverbs 14:26

Prolongs days                                                     Proverbs10:27

Is the basis for service                                      Psalm 2:11

Includes the hatred of evil; pride,                 Proverbs 8:13

arrogance, the evil way, and

perverted and twisted speech

Is the beginning of Wisdom and skill,        Proverbs 1:7

the preceding and the first essential,

the prerequisite and the alphabet

Is Wisdom                                                           Job 28:28

 

Solomon wrote Proverbs with the aim of educating folk, not into the sciences and philosophies of the academic and the theoretical or philosophical, but into perfect recognition of God’s sovereignty, because it is only through Him that we can truly evidence “THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE”.

Whilst the resources of academic institutions are useful in encouraging us in the pursuit of knowledge, it is only in true spiritual understanding that we obtain “WISDOM”, “Wisdom is with God alone”. (Job 28:23)

SCIENCE IS NO MATCH FOR REVELATION, and Job 28:1-11 goes to great lengths to describe how a man expends himself in pursuit of valuable commodities which are concealed in the soil, and details the means and methods of collection and refinement from way back in antiquity but these skills are only aligned with tangible things not with the commendable things.

These so-called “precious commodities” are OBTAINED by the expenditure of enormous effort, they are MAINTAINED with great difficulty so as not to be marauded, and GENERATE heightened emotions of either pleasure when owned, or grief when stolen.

If we now take the characteristics from the list above and compared them with characteristics evidenced in Psalm 19 it begins to give us a pattern or blueprint or road map, because the results have similar nomenclatures, e.g., “law, testimony, precepts”, and parcelled in among these descriptions is another, “THE REVERENT FEAR OF THE LORD”, each description referring to the Word of God in its fullness.

The law of the Lord is perfect                                                                   Psalm 19:7

The testimony of the Lord is sure                                                            verse 7

The precepts of the Lord are right                                                           verse 8

The commandment of the Lord is pure and bright                              verse 8

The [reverent] fear of the Lord is clean                                                 verse 9

The ordinances of the Lord are true                                                        verse 9

It is only through the inculcation and acceptance of the absolute truth of God’s Word that any man can begin to embrace the demands expressed in these comparative lists, and develop that disposition and ethos of God. This cannot be achieved simply by academic pursuit, but only by total obedience.  And so, I am led to conclude that because the “Reverent and Worshipful Fear” is included in the Psalmist’s compendium of the qualities inherent in the Bible in Psalm 19, that it also is in fact and in form, GOD’S WORD in its entirety.

“That I may know Him” is to “fear Him”, because when we are made aware of God’s Inconceivable Greatness, firstly by His revealed Word, and then by our experience, (aka “circumstances) which is the result of actually applying the principles and patterns established in our study of the Word, then we are embarking on the road to TRUE SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING. We must come to the awareness that there is not one thing in our day that is outside His control, either for our discipline or for our benefit, and to see God at work in it all.

Where Psalm 111:10 said “The fear of the Lord”, the word for fear is “Sekel”, and it is more than just that holy awe, it contains elements that are not so obvious on first glance. By reading further in this verse we see that out of this wisdom is the convergence of a whole spectrum of new insight. For the word in the original is as follows”-

“UNDERSTANDING”          H7922             From H7919; intelligence; by implication success: – discretion, knowledge, policy, prudence, sense, UNDERSTANDING, wisdom, wise.

Back in antiquity, Ezra the priest with thirteen helpers, read from the book of the Law for some 6 hours at a time it seems, and all this time the Israeli people stood. But then the record in verse 8 is of great consequence,

Nehemiah 8:8                                    So they read from the Book of the Law of God distinctly, FAITHFULLY AMPLIFYING AND GIVING THE SENSE so that [the people] understood the reading.

Here we have fourteen men charged with educating the children of Israel in the minutiae of the reading that took place all morning, but then next day there was further enlightenment required, for the fathers of the household. Are we prepared to expose ourselves to such concentrated immersion in the Word, or does it seem a bit over the top?

Nehemiah 8:13                                 On the second day, all the heads of fathers’ houses, with the priests and Levites, gathered to Ezra the scribe TO STUDY AND UNDERSTAND THE WORDS OF DIVINE INSTRUCTION.

One of the identifying characteristics of the man who wants to acquire “WISDOM” of God is that “he departs from evil”, but it is more than this, and Job was well qualified to explain the matter. There is a progression specified by Job, the first step is “The reverential and worshipful fear; this then enables acquisition of “WISDOM”, but to attain to the intentions of God for His people, there has to be the “DEPARTURE FROM EVIL”, so that we can understand.

Job 28:28                                             But to man He said, Behold, the reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord–that is Wisdom; and TO DEPART  FROM EVIL IS UNDERSTANDING.

If that sounds simplistic then we have not grasped the gravity of the progression, for to “depart from evil” includes all the injunctions and instructions and lessons and corrections and advice, contained throughout the whole of God’s Word. And in case you would object to being subject to God’s LAW, let us refresh our memories from a New Testament perspective.

James 2:10                                          For whosoever keeps the Law [as a] whole but stumbles and OFFENDS IN ONE [SINGLE INSTANCE] HAS BECOME GUILTY OF [BREAKING] ALL OF IT.

James 4:17                                          So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin.

In hindsight, it is no wonder the church lacks the evidence of the majesty of the God they profess, because the conditions are either ignored, overlooked, or blatantly disregarded. These frequent lapses are dismissed as just frailties of the flesh and are never addressed in the sense of our offence to the Lord, because we have no fear.

Most fear that people harbour is the fear of retribution, when it is much deeper than this. It is that moment by moment recognition that Father has His eye on us, as well as on the sparrow, and He has not one trace of dementia, or forgetfulness, except for the sins we have confessed and repented of.

We can want to be wise and have understanding, but DESIRE is one thing, and OBEDIENCE another, and it is the exigencies of life (aka “circumstances”) that tend to both provide and provoke our path.  But DESIRE when actioned initiates the path to ILLUMINATION.

David’s route was an Old Testament route, and so he was at a distinct disadvantage to us with such bountiful New Testament provision, where James in chapter 3:17 gives us the characteristics, but David in Psalm 111:10 spells out the route.

James 3:17 (THE CHARACTERISTICS) BUT THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE IS FIRST OF ALL pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity).

Psalm 111:10  (THE ROUTE)             The reverent fear and worship of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom and skill [the preceding and the first essential, the prerequisite and the alphabet]; a good understanding, wisdom, and meaning have all those who do [the will of the Lord]. (or in simple terms, those who are obedient because they recognise Gods sovereignty   …   comments mine) Their praise of Him endures forever (or their recognition of Him   …   comments mine).

Notice, that for us to claim any “Wisdom from Above” there is a compendium of characteristics quite foreign to many folk, because we firstly have not sought this wisdom, and secondly, we are ill prepared to demonstrate this wisdom, and thirdly, we will never get there if we don’t acknowledge that the only vehicle for us to reach that sublime state, is the commitment and dedication to “REVERENT AND WORSHIPFUL FEAR” (Psalm 111:10)

Every Christian has an expectation of attaining to heaven, but sadly much of this expectation is misplaced, there is no evidence of those patterns that both enable and qualify us for attaining that goal.

Hebrews 12:28                                  Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, (this is the “EXPECTATION”   …  comments mine) OFFER TO GOD (1) pleasing service and (2) acceptable worship, with (3) modesty and (4) pious care and (5) godly fear and awe; (these are the conditions   …   comments mine)

How many of the five requirements have we met, for (1) “pleasing service” is not just “lip service”, (2) “acceptable worship” is not some upbeat song service with flashing lights, (3) “modesty” requires more than a particular dress code, (4) “piety is not a long face of Pharisaic legalism, but (5) “Godly fear and awe” is the untrammelled acceptance and recognition of the Sovereignty of God no matter what is taking place. So I must ask myself, how do I score???

Isaiah 29:13                                        And the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips but remove their hearts and minds far from Me, and THEIR FEAR AND REVERENCE FOR ME ARE A COMMANDMENT OF MEN THAT IS LEARNED BY REPETITION [WITHOUT ANY THOUGHT AS TO THE MEANING], 

1 Corinthians 8:3                              But if one loves God truly, with AFFECTIONATE REVERENCE, PROMPT OBEDIENCE, AND  GRATEFUL RECOGNITION OF HIS BLESSING], he is known by God [recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him].

It was stated recently that we have an ambition to be the apple of Father’s eye, and also that our children might similarly qualify, well the conditions are there for us to realise this ambition.

Psalm 103:17                                     But the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting upon those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, and His righteousness IS TO CHILDREN’S CHILDREN–

 There are so many benefits that accrue when we are alert to the responsibilities of giving the Lord the required space in our lives, that means the whole space, for we are “not our own, but purchased” and so if we are cognisant of this fact then see what follows according to Solomon.

Proverbs 10:27 (A)                           The REVERENT AND WORSHIPFUL FEAR of the Lord prolongs one’s days  (The Living Bible says “Reverence for the Lord adds hours to you day”)

“UNDERSTANDING and KNOWLEDGE” are the outcome of Reverent and Worshipful fear. There is so much in the Word describing this route, but we need to simplify it for the purpose of application, not just information.

Proverbs 2 tells me that I can have this virtue if I follow the directions, so the first 4 verses set the direction, and then verse 5 confirms the promise.

Proverbs 2:1-4                                   MY SON, IF  (This is the first part of the Apodosis, the lead up to the “THEN” in verse 5   …   comments mine)  you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you, Making your ear attentive to skillful and godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying all your powers to the quest for it]; Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures,

Having grasped the conditions, we now can appreciate and appropriate the promise.

Proverbs 2:5                                       THEN (Here is the Apodosis coming into play again, there is a condition before the “THEN” called “IF”,  and a result after the “THEN”   …   comments mine) YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE REVERENT AND WORSHIPFUL FEAR OF THE LORD AND FIND THE KNOWLEDGE OF [OUR OMNISCIENT] GOD.

Now with the “add-on” of verse 5 we suddenly have all the instruction necessary. You will recall right early in this study I made mention that the “Law, testimony, precepts, commandments and worshipful fear”, were one and the same thing, THE WHOLE OF GOD’S WORD.

THE WORLD IS DYING, WAITING FOR OUR KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING, WHILE THE LORD IS PINING BECAUSE HE WAITS FOR OUR REVERENT AND WORSHIPFUL FEAR.