Respect Revere Worship

My son, when you come to serve the LORD, stand in justice and fear, prepare yourself for trials. Be sincere of heart and steadfast, incline your ear and receive the word of understanding, undisturbed in time of adversity. Wait on God, with patience, cling to him, forsake him not; thus will you be wise in all your ways. Accept whatever befalls you, when sorrowful, be steadfast, and in crushing misfortune be patient; For in fire gold and silver are tested, and worthy people in the crucible of humiliation. Trust God and God will help you; trust in him, and he will direct your way; keep his fear and grow old therein.

You who fear the LORD, wait for his mercy, turn not away lest you fall. You who fear the LORD, trust him, and your reward will not be lost. You who fear the LORD, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy. You who fear the LORD, love him, and your hearts will be enlightened. Study the generations long past and understand; has anyone hoped in the LORD and been disappointed? Has anyone persevered in his commandments and been forsaken?  Has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed? Compassionate and merciful is the LORD; he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble and he is a protector to all who seek him in truth. (Sirach 2:1-11)

The Hebrew word translated into “awe” in the Bible is yirah (pronounced yir-ah). It often directly translates into fear, like “fear of the Lord,” but it can also mean respect, reverence, and worship.  Sirach provides excellent advice.  We must fear the LORD in the ways he describes. I’m especially intrigued by: “Accept whatever befalls you, when sorrowful, be steadfast, and in crushing misfortune be patient; For in fire gold and silver are tested, and worthy people in the crucible of humiliation.”  

This reminds me of the saying: "What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger” [adapted by singer Kelly Clarkson in 2011.  YouTube it!]. This saying was by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Said another way: “Suffering is good for us and makes us more resilient.”  True, provided we are strong enough to withstand the suffering.  That’s why we need the Lord in our lives and to “wait on God, with patience, cling to him, forsake him not thereby making us be wise in all God’s ways.” 

That can be difficult when we think more like Job and cannot understand the reasons for our suffering.  We might conclude the LORD is not compassionate and merciful; does not save us in time of trouble and does not protect all of us who seek God in truth.  Such is the mystery of suffering we all experience. 

Yes, in fire gold and silver are tested, and we worthy people often find ourselves in the crucible of humiliation.  Perhaps we must simply fear the LORD, wait for his mercy, and turn not away lest we fall.  That must be our hope.

Deacon David Pierce