Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Days of Awe” - Thursday,
27 February 2014 – Scripture – Proverbs 9:1 Wisdom has built her house.
She has carved out her
seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her meat.
She has mixed her
wine.
She has also set her
table.
3 She has sent out her maidens.
She cries from the
highest places of the city:
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
As for him who is void
of understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come, eat some of my bread,
Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
6 Leave your simple ways, and live.
Walk in the way of
understanding.”
7 He who corrects a mocker invites insult.
He who reproves a
wicked man invites abuse.
8 Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you.
Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser.
Teach a righteous man,
and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom.
The knowledge of the
Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied.
The years of your life
will be increased.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself.
If you mock, you alone
will bear it.
13 The foolish woman is loud,
Undisciplined, and
knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat in the high
places of the city,
15 To call to those who pass by,
who go straight on
their ways,
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.”
as for him who is void
of understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen water is sweet.
Food eaten in secret
is pleasant.”
18 But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,
that her guests are in
the depths of Sheol.[a]
Footnotes:
a. Proverbs 9:18 Sheol is the place of the dead.
“Days of Awe” by Duane C. Brush
The Jews refer to the ten days from Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New
Year) to Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) as the “Days of Awe” or “Days of
Repentance.” This time is to be spent in introspection and reconciliation. Awe
and repentance are scriptural responses to the encounter with the holy God.
When the prophet Isaiah encountered “the LORD, high and exalted,” he could only
cry, “Woe to me!” (Isaiah 6:1-5).
The fear of the Lord is truly the beginning of wisdom. How can
we become wise without a sense of awe for the absolute purity of God’s
holiness, without wonder at the revelation of God’s redemptive love, or without
trembling in fearful respect before His limitless power? For the believer in
Jesus Christ, one who has His Holy Spirit abiding within, shouldn’t all of our
days, be regarded as “days of awe”? For the believer in Jesus the Christ, one
who has His Holy Spirit abiding within, shouldn’t all of our days, be regarded
as “days of awe”? Shouldn’t this awe display itself in compassionate service,
sincere worship, and humble witness?
It is only in the atmosphere of awe that we can begin to
understand the God revealed to us in His Holy Word. “Therefore, since we are
receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship
God acceptably with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28).
Hymn for Today:
“Adoration” by John S. B. Monsell
1. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;
bow down before Him, His glory proclaim;
gold of obedience and incense of lowliness
bring, and adore him; the Lord is his Name!
2. Low at his feet lay thy burden of carefulness,
high on his heart he will bear it for thee,
comfort thy sorrows, and answer thy prayerfulness,
guiding thy steps as may best for thee be.
3. Fear not to enter his courts in the slenderness
of the poor wealth thou wouldst reckon as thine;
truth in its beauty, and love in its tenderness,
these are the offerings to lay on His shrine.
4. These, though we bring them in trembling and fearfulness,
he will accept for the Name that is dear;
mornings of joy give for evenings of tearfulness,
trust for our trembling, and hope for our fear.
5. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;
bow down before Him, His glory proclaim;
gold of obedience and incense of lowliness
bring, and adore him; the Lord is his Name!
Thought for Today:
“The greatest single distinguishing feature of the omnipotence
of God is that our imagination gets lost when thinking about it” (Blaise Pascal).
Prayer Needs:
Many people in Australia will come to know Jesus the Christ
(Yeshua the Messiah) and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
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