Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

“Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep all the commandment which I command you today. It shall be on the day when you shall pass over the Jordan to the land which Yahweh your God gives you, that you shall set yourself up great stones, and coat them with plaster. You shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have passed over, that you may go in to the land which Yahweh your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised you. It shall be, when you have crossed over the Jordan, that you shall set up these stones, which I command you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall coat them with plaster. There you shall build an altar to Yahweh your God, an altar of stones. You shall not use any iron tool on them. You shall build Yahweh your God’s altar of uncut stones. You shall offer burnt offerings on it to Yahweh your God. You shall sacrifice peace offerings, and shall eat there. You shall rejoice before Yahweh your God. You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.”
(Deuteronomy 27:1-8)

“Whoever loves correction loves knowledge,
    but he who hates reproof is stupid.
A good man shall obtain favor from Yahweh,
    but he will condemn a man of wicked plans.
A man shall not be established by wickedness,
    but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
A worthy woman is the crown of her husband,
    but a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones.
The thoughts of the righteous are just,
    but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
The words of the wicked are about lying in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.
The wicked are overthrown, and are no more,
    but the house of the righteous shall stand.
A man shall be commended according to his wisdom,
    but he who has a warped mind shall be despised.”
(Proverbs 12:1-8)

“Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul.
    Yahweh’s covenant is sure, making wise the simple.Yahweh’s precepts are right, rejoicing the heart.
    Yahweh’s commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes.The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever.
    Yahweh’s ordinances are true, and righteous altogether.
They are more to be desired than gold, yes, than much fine gold,
    sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb.
Moreover your servant is warned by them.
    In keeping them there is great reward.“
(Psalm 19:7-11)

The Word went before them. They would prepare stones and write the Law on them. Then they would set them up and do an epic call and response across the valley where the Word could clearly be seen. They would be monuments that future generations would see, question, and learn about the preeminence of the Law. Not just the commandments, but the whole of the Torah. All the words of Yahweh that were written down by Moses. The whole of the learning covenant that clearly showed God’s character, God’s thinking, and God’s will. Adherence to the truth of the Torah is what brought blessing in the same way that drinking water brings hydration and eating food brings fuel. It brings JOY because the BLESSING lives in the words of God and embracing them is where life is found.

Success is found in wisdom. Temporary benefit is found outside of wisdom. There is NOTHING that is lasting without wisdom as its foundation. God is the source of ALL good things. Not some of them. ALL of them. To make those good things LASTING things, we need to LISTEN, OBEY, and DO what He says. We need to retrain our minds so that we act in the ways He says are right. We need to speak the words that He says are right. We need to think like He thinks, value what He values, and live in the light of His love. THAT is what makes for lasting deeds. THAT is what makes for true success.

God’s Word is more than just letters on a page or the basis for a message. It is LIGHT. It begins inside God Himself and it illuminates us. It’s not a rulebook. It is loving instruction that is PERFECT. It drives away ignorance. It not only reveals hooks, chains, and barbs; but provides us the means to be FREED from them. The sage Ibn Ezra writes: ‘The Lord has incorporated and deposited into the very soul of man a tendency to appreciate the importance of these divine orders and the intellect to naturally and instinctively understand their significance.’ Jesus Himself prayed to the Father about us saying, “Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). The Word is TRUTH and the TRUTH sets us free (John 8:32).

Summary

The blessing of the Lord is not something God holds over our heads in order for us to perform for His benefit. Nothing we do or do not do has an effect on God. He is totally and absolutely self-sufficient. Our obedience has an effect on US. If we do what He says, when He says, and how He says, WE get a benefit. WE see a difference. We get to receive what He has been freely offering IF we will go where He is offering it. Like a sale in a store, only those who go to the store get the benefit of the sale. He is offering BLESSING, but only those who stay in His will by humbly submitting to His Word and obeying what we are told will receive it. Get into the Word and submit to what is found there.