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The Fear of the Lord and Disobedience
Posted on January 31st, 2007 in Old-General by Fred McKinnon
Hey Everybody -
Just sitting down this morning with some coffee and Bible Study … my nifty little “daily reader” program has me in 2 Kings 17 today for the Old Testament text.
“They feared the Lord, yet served their own gods – according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away”. (2 Kings 17:33, NKJV, emphasis mine)
OK – the context here is an ongoing text of how God’s people didn’t obey Him – they would be conquered and moved to other lands, mixed and mingled with all other tribes, religions, and cities. Israel has been captive and carried away to Assyria. They still aren’t obeying God’s laws. Now, they are mixed with various religions and ethnic groups and all of them are serving their own Gods … but it says “they feared the Lord”.
I’m thinking that for a season, it’s possible to have a healty “fear of the Lord”; yet, still disobey and get carried away into sin and idolatry. But obviously, this continued disobedience has grave consequences in our lives and serious spiritual implications. Note the next verse:
“To this day they continue practicing the former rituals; they do not fear the Lord, nor do they follow their statues or their ordinances, or the law and commandment which the Lord had commanded the children of Jacob, whom He named Israel.” (2 Kings 17:34, NKJV, emphasis mine).
Did you catch that – in verse 33 … “they feared the Lord … yet, they disobeyed”. In verse 34 – they continue in disobedience, and the fear of the Lord is gone.
The Bible says that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. (Proverbs 9:10) I desperately need wisdom and God’s favor in all aspects of my life. I think this verse has been a good warning to me that I pay attention to “obedience” …. for if I willfully, intentionally choose to walk in disobedience to God’s Word, it will bring me to a place where I no longer “fear the Lord”.
That would be a scary place to be, indeed. So … let’s obey!
For the Kingdom,
Fred
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3 Responses to “The Fear of the Lord and Disobedience”
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Good word, bro! I remember an instructor of mine from Bible College who was from Georgia talked about folks in the south being “God fearers”, yet totally non-Christian; while others were “just plain heathens”! It was all totally funny, but the consequence is the same sad event – neither will see the Kingdom of God.
In many ways, it’s so much more dangerous to be a “God fearer”, because it can give you a false sense of belonging to God when you really don’t. Jesus will say, “Depart from me, for I never knew you”. How scarey!
It’s a continual reminder for all of us to stay in His presence and assess where we are in Him. Has our love grown cold, or even worse – luke warm? Or, also just as dangerous, we get so complacent in our knowing Him that we lose that healthy fear (or reverence) of Him? I know I’m challenged to check my barometer reading to see where I stand!
Thanks for the insight!
Sis
[...] Listen Online Take a break, and interlude, and pause for a moment of prayer, reflection, meditation, and worship. This interlude references a passage in 2 Kings 17 … also discussed in Fred McKinnon’s blog today. [...]
Oh me! That is a word for ME! How easy it is to fall into a trap of complacency in our walk with God. I believe that complacency is the first real evidence that the fear of the Lord is waning in our lives. Thank you for sharing your experience with me so that I can make yours my own as well. I really needed to hear that!