Psalm 61:1-5 English Standard Version

Lead Me to the Rock

1 Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer;
2  from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,
3 for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.

4 Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah
5 For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

I was searching the scriptures for a followup article that might be appropriate after yesterday’s post on Differential Fear. So, here we are.

This is what happens when we get ahead of the Lord and take the lead, we have stopped following. Verse 3 implies we are no longer in His refuge, His safe place.

If we were to ask modern soldiers what is the most dangerous position while out on patrol you might get a different answer than a soldier with experience in the jungles of Vietnam. One might think it should be the same, being on point. The first to encounter an IED is dangerous but it is not what I feared most.

In the dense jungle it is difficult to see into the jungle and the path forward is limited. This leaves the main troops in danger of ambush where the point man has already passed. Someone in an attempt to avoid those ambushes decided to put out flank guards to the left and right of the trail.

A flank guard is all alone with no support and cannot see the trail. He has no idea where to go and in the dense jungle is in danger of wandering off course or coming up on the ambush and has the suicidal job of letting the main body know where the ambush is set.

Which is worse, to get lost or to engage the enemy alone?

It is not good for us to take the lead or to wander off alone.

If at this point some want to point out that apostle means “one sent”. I would like to remind them that Paul was never alone and always led by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 16:6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.

Ecclesiastes 5 English Standard Version

Fear God

1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. 2 Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.

4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.

Read all of Ecclesiastes and you may come away with a sense that vanity is the problem. Here in the opening verses there is that all important but. God deserves to be feared in a manner worthy of this relationship we have where we are allowed to come before Him. Respect must be paid. That is in the second verse, be not rash with our words.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

This differential fear is just the beginning of wisdom, not its end. The second part of that verse means that when you have a respectful relationship with God we know the truth.

Here is a word of secular wisdom that seems appropriate at this time. “Better to remain silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.” – Maurice Switzer, 1907

Verse 2 talks of the hasty heart. God knows our hearts better than we do, He sits on the throne of heaven and we mere mortals are earth bound. The lessons of others can be learned but to practice them takes at least an understanding of why they are needed.

Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

A rightful application of wisdom.

Psalm 4:4

Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah

Proverbs 15:28

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

Differ to God’s Word.