Bat Not Thine Eye Lash at Thy Guilt...or, Earnest Plea

Reading through the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah kindles

much sober reflection and speechless awe

for the sure judgment and the abounding love and mercy of God

Bat not thine eye lash at thy guilt

Brush not at sin, like lint on sleeves

Shrug not thy shoulders at blood spilt

To save everyone who believes

Rush not, bold-faced, into the day

Without reckoning He who grants

The morn its light; bow down and pray

For temptation’s deliverance

Mock not, nor take in vain the Name

Above all names; but chastely fear

The One, whereby prophets proclaim

‘Look up, redemption draweth near’

Let not imagination rule

In rebel disobedience

Refuse the logic of the fool

Approach today with reverence

Lest, poorly and blindly content

With pomp and show of Noble Thought

Thy deathless soul reaps hell’s lament/torment

Because God called but ‘you would not’

The gods of this world cannot hear

Thy futile prayers when troubles groan

Fall on thy knees, repent, revere

The God of gods and God alone

Do not deceive thyself, but pray

For faith, to tremble at His Word

For love, devoted to obey

He whose decrees are undeterred

Bat not thy eye at the grave rift

Each soul must ford ‘neath death’s cold knife

Repent, believe, receive God’s gift

Forgiveness and eternal life

© Janet Martin

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins 

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Fear Versus Love...or, both?!!

When raising children we sometimes refer to the term 'healthy fear'

aka respect for mom and dad's expectations and rules!!

Sometimes dire consequence for disobedience are needed to refresh

'healthy fear'!

 this pleasant moment below was followed up a few hours later by a text...

'please pray for me'

as she grappled with challenges of mothering and disciplining...

 

How often our Heavenly Father also parents/disciplines His children

as we learn to listen/obey...

Today's poem touches on

an inexhaustible topic, 'the fear of the Lord, no fear in love, fear not...'

summed up in one verse...

Eccles. 12:13

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God, and keep his commandments:

for this is the whole duty of man.

Job 28:20

“From where then does wisdom come?

And where is the place of understanding?

Job 28:28

And He said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord,

that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'"

***

Where is true wisdom Lord,

And righteousness and peace?

How can we know the way to go?

Where does blessing increase?

And where does love begin?

And how is it defined?

How can we purge want’s tainted urge

From heart and soul and mind?

…to seek the things we ought

Ah, where do we begin?

To walk the way we ought, today

Equipped to withstand sin

Oh Lord, forgive my sin

Your kind mercy renew

Open faith’s eyes to recognize

The holiness of You

Then Lord, increase my fear

So blessing may increase

The blessing of goodness and love

And righteousness and peace

Through humble reverence

Refine devotion’s claim

So we may shine with light divine

To glorify Thy name

To know the difference

Twixt fear of God and man

And to pursue with purpose true

The Master of love’s plan

© Janet Martin

The Fear of God-Charles Stanley

"when you turn your back on God you're turning your back on your only hope,

the One who loves you, cares for you and wants the best for you, but

He will not make you follow Him, 

not make you love Him, 

not make you obey Him..."

Excerpt from above message

Below, a-skimming-the-surface of scriptures on the fearing/loving God...

Deut.13:4

You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him,

and keep His commandments and obey His voice;

you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.

Proverbs 3:7

Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 8:13

To fear the LORD is to hate evil;

I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.

Proverbs 14:26-27

In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,

And His children will have a place of refuge.

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life

, to depart from the snares of death.

Proverbs 16:6

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged:

and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

As a father pities (has compassion on) his children,

So the LORD pities those who fear Him.

Ps.103:13

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting

On those who fear Him,

And His righteousness to children’s children,

Ps.103:17

The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever;

the judgments of the LORD are true, being altogether righteous.

Psalm 19:9

The angel of the LORD encamps

around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

Psalm 34:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,

and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Prov.9:10

Psalm 111:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;

all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding.

Luke 1:50

His mercy extends to those who fear Him,

from generation to generation.

Luke 23:40

But the other criminal rebuked him.

“Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?

Lu 12:5

But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear:

Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell;

yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Ac 9:31

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria,

and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord,

and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

2Co 5:11

Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men,

but we are made manifest to God;

and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.

Eph 5:21

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

His praise endures forever!

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Mal.3:16

Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another,

And the LORD listened and heard them;

So a book of remembrance was written before Him

For those who fear the LORD

And who meditate on His name.