Good morning,
It’s finally here. We are starting that wonderful time of year filled with delicious smells and tasty treats. Our cooks get out their favorite holiday recipes and our taste buds tingle with the anticipation of some really special foods showing up from now until New Years Day. The anticipation of what’s coming makes the whole process even more enjoyable. Having said that, have you ever thought of tasty fear? God talks about this strange mix in Psalm 34 when he encourages us to “Taste and see that the Lord is good.-- Fear the Lord, you his godly people,--” Our favorite foods taste so good that we look forward to having them again and again. What kind of fear is the Lord talking about that will give us a sense of anticipation of more of the same? He tells us that when we learn to take refuge in him we will discover the wonderful joy of watching God provide all that we need no matter how difficult the circumstances of life seem to us at the time. He is telling us that when we look forward to knowing and doing God’s will, for his glory and by the power of his Holy Spirit, we will know the heavenly joy reserved for those God can trust to live out his plan for their lives.
In these days of uncertainty for those who build their lives on the empty dreams and the unfilled promises of our leaders, we as God’s obedient people, can be free from the fears that the power brokers will fail us again. We can step back and watch as the “strong young lions” in our countries struggle with failure and fear trying to overcome the circumstances that God has arranged for those who turn their backs on him. God has promised that rebels and their willing followers will find themselves facing all kinds of unmet needs. There are many flavors of hunger and famine that God has planned for those who hate and kill those he loves, but those who trust in the Lord will never lack the good things they need in this life or the next. We need to remember that the fear of the Lord is a good thing. We need to keep remembering that when our flesh or the devil threaten us with what will happen if we do what our Lord and Savior tell us to do, they are lying to us. There is wonderful joy ahead for all of us who are willing to accept the promises of ‘tasty fear.’
Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! 9 Fear the LORD, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. 10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.
Roy Wisner
