Fear The Lord

Scripture: Psalm 103 Key Verse: 103:8-11
The LORD is compassionate, merciful, patient, and always ready to forgive. He will not always accuse us of wrong or be angry [with us] forever. He has not treated us as we deserve for our sins or paid us back for our wrongs. As high as the heavens are above the earth-- that is how vast his mercy is toward those who fear him.

Objective:
A praise psalm. Recounting how wonderful God has been, is and will be.

Application:
"Those who fear him," the whole fear thing has always thrown me for a loop. Why must we fear a Lord that is "compassionate, merciful, patient, and always ready to forgive?" Well I think the problem is in the translation or understanding of what the word means. According to one website: "The word most often translated in the Old Testament as fear is the Hebrew word (transliterated as yirah) which can possibly mean fear, but also means awe, reverence, respect and devotion. A closely related Hebrew word is (transliterated as yare) which can mean fearful, but also means to stand in awe, reverence or honor."

This understanding of the word makes the whole passage understandable. God is merciful if we are respectful to God. God is waiting to forgive us. That statement makes me stand in awe and reverence for the Lord. Even though we continually sin or fall short God is ready to forgive us and not treat us as we deserve to be. That is what love truly means.

Prayer:
Lord you are merciful and just and I stand in awe. You died for our sins, paving the way to a closer relationship with you. Help us remember this and to always remember the wonders that you have done. Help us grow into the people we should be, and thank you for loving us for who we are.