Flawed Fear

“They hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD… But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil” (Proverbs 1:29,33).  “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves” (2 Corinthians 13:5). 

The fear of the LORD, or the fear that is flawed?

By forfeiting one, then the other we choose.

By heeding the warnings of Almighty God,

The fear of our judgment for sin we will lose.

The fear that is flawed has belittled the Lord,

And rather has chosen to fear other things.

How flawed is the thinking which thus has ignored

The day we encounter the great King of kings!

“Examine yourselves,” the apostle has said,

To see if “ye be in the faith” that will save.

The time to make sure is before one is dead.

It’s surely too late when we come to the grave.

O Lord, we give thanks for Your Spirit’s reproof

That taught us to fear You and call on Your name.

You called us apart from this world aloof,

So flawed in its thinking and callous to shame.

Lord, now that we’ve fled from the wrath yet to come,

We rest in Your refuge with no condemnation.

Your fear and Your mercy, belittled by some,

Now teach us to walk in the joy of salvation.