With you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
Psalm 130:4
To “fear the Lord” means to love Him so much that His frown would be your greatest dread and His smile would be your greatest delight.
There is a fear that love removes, and there is a fear that love brings.
The fear that love removes is the fear of punishment. There is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).
The fear that love brings is fear of wounding the One we love. Theologian Charles Bridges says, “The child of God has only one dread—to offend His Father; only one desire—to please and delight in Him.”
Where do you get this fear of the Lord? David says to God, “With you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared” (Ps. 130:4).
You might expect David to say, “With you there is forgiveness, that you may no longer be feared.” But that is not what he says. “Lord, Your forgiveness came at such a cost that I would tremble to sin against this kind of love.”
The fear of the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom is birthed at the cross when as a forgiven sinner, knowing the grace and mercy that are yours in Christ, you say, “How could I ever resist a love like this?”
Make a fresh commitment to walk in the way of wisdom, to follow hard after the Lord Jesus Christ, so to love Him that His frown will be your greatest dread, and His smile your greatest delight.
Take in afresh that the Son of God loves you and gave Himself for you: that with Him there is forgiveness.
