But I was reading the Psalms the other night and I was
surprised by Psalm 130:3-4 (with my emphasis) -
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
That you may be feared.
I get the question in the first part: If you, O Lord, should mark
iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? Answer: nobody. If God started
counting the times any of us break His law, every person would be found guilty. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God is the way Paul put it in
Romans 3:23.
But what does the Psalmist mean by the next verse: But with you there is forgiveness, that you
may be be feared. It seems like the last word of that sentence should be "loved," or "thanked," or "trusted."
Why "feared?"
Of course "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10). The Scripture means a holy fear, a reverence, a deep respect. But even so, the Psalmist seems to be saying that not only does forgiveness produce holy fear, but that it is intended to do so: "there is forgiveness that you may be feared."
So anyway, I thought of some reasons why real forgiveness brings us to the point of deep, awestruck reverence.
So anyway, I thought of some reasons why real forgiveness brings us to the point of deep, awestruck reverence.
- Forgiveness is necessary because the Lord is holy. And nothing can be as fearsome as the infinite brightness and scorching purity of God's holiness.
- Forgiveness means somebody paid. The Bible word is “atonement.” Someone other than me suffered for my sins. That should provoke worshipful wonder.
- Forgiveness reveals the Father’s love for someone like me, a love that began before time, and carries me all the way into eternity. That’s overwhelming.
Reflecting on being forgiven by Almighty God does give us joy, gratitude, humility, and peace. But it should also cause us to drop to our knees in holy fear.
