The Key to This Treasure

Recently the Lord issued an invite to pursue the “Fear of the Lord” which while this is a topic I am familiar with, has never been something I pursued with diligence.  I am thinking this might be the theme for the next few weeks, or longer.  Here the verses I am focused on today - Isaiah 33:5-6 NIV:

[5] “The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with his justice and righteousness. 

[6] He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; 

the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.”

I had a dream recently where I was helping to recover loads of gold, definitely enough to be considered a treasure.  The next day I came across this verse and the two dots were connected.

The phrase “Fear of the Lord” could be misunderstood due to our most common use of the word fear, being related to something bad.  While this is inline with some of the definitions of the original Hebrew word “yira” we find the following definition - Strong's Definitions: יִרְאָה yirʼâh, yir-aw'; feminine of H337; fear (also used as infinitive); morally, reverence:—× dreadful, × exceedingly, fear(-fulness). 

One of the earliest mentions, chronologically is found in the oldest book of the Bible – Job 28:28 NIV: “And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”

Clearly the author in both of these verses was not referring to something dreadful or terrible, but rather to reverence!  We do find in Scripture where people are overcome with awe of the Lord, and fall down, trembling.  For example: 

Daniel 8:17 NIrV:

Gabriel came close to where I was standing. I was terrified and fell down flat with my face toward the ground. Here is what he said to me. "Son of man, I want you to understand the vision. It's about the time of the end."

And - 

Revelation 1:17 NIV: 

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.

There is definitely a similarity to the emotions and expressions, but the idea is that people are overcome with “Awe” not stark, raving fear. God is so powerful, so Holy, so beyond our comprehension that our reaction should be, and would be similar!  I don’t think its an understatement that when Jesus is revealed in the Last days, as He truly is, that every knee will bow.  As Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians 2:9-11 NIV”

[9] “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Yes, Lord!  Help us to experience You in such a way that our only response is to bow before You!  We want to bring You Glory! We want to experience Your majesty, splendor and power!

You are Holy!

Amen!  

Oneness and Glory

This morning I felt led to read from John 17.  There is so much to reflect on in this chapter, Jesus’ final prayer, that it is difficult to narrow down my focus.  This morning a few verses stood out, so  I wanted to spend some time looking at them.  Here are some verses from the beginning and end of the chapter - John 17:1-5,20-23,25-26 NIV:

[1] “After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. [2] For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. [3] Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. [4] I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. [5] And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. 

[20] “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, [21] that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [22] I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— [23] I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 

[25] “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. [26] I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” 

Obviously I underlined a few sentences for focus.  I feel that the focus for me today revolves around verse 22 - and that invitation to oneness, to relationship is part of God’s Glory.  When I read verse 22 my next thought was, “and look at what we have done with God’s Glory! Rather than unity we are some of the most divided people!”  

While I could focus on that thought, I don’t believe that is what the Lord would say to me today. There is an invitation to relationship (hidden in verse 3) that is absolutely essential to any of this:  to following the Lord,  to revealing the Father, to eternal life, to experiencing the indwelling of God! 

The Greek word translated “know” is the word ginosko and it is defined as follows:

I. to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel

        A. to become known

II. to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of

        A. to understand

        B. to know

III. sexual intercourse between a man and a woman1

IV.  to become acquainted with, to know

The word know is such a minimalistic expression of the true meaning that Jesus is speaking of.  We are invited to and gifted with this “knowing” of God.  This “knowing” is experiential, not purely head knowledge, there is an intimacy (see definition item III.), there is a understanding that goes beyond facts, but deals with character, with tendencies, with likes and dislikes.  This Is an invitation that is a two-way street, to “know” and to be “known”.  

The invitation is really a small glimpse into the mystery of the Trinity, for they are three and one, perfectly one, perfect unity, yet separate.  We are invited into this experience here on earth!  Jesus wasn’t praying for our post terrestrial selves, but rather for us while we live on this world.  This experience, this “knowing” is our opportunity and invitation here and now.

This knowing = eternal life, a sharing in GOd’s life here and now.

This unity is part of God’s Glory!  

This oneness, an expression of God’s love, is meant to be a sign to the world!

Oh Lord, that we might embrace fully this eternal life, that we might know You!  Help us to know You more, that we might be able to understand Your thoughts, Your heart and perceive Your plans. Help us to bring You Glory!

Help us to walk in oneness with You, and with each other, that the world would know that You have loved us and are in us!

Amen and Amen!