Egyházi Értesítő, 1989 (305-313. szám)
1989-07-01 / 308. szám
FRUITFUL FEAR Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in his Ways! (Psalm 128:1) Walking in fear is not everyone's idea of enjoyment. If walking in Gcd's ways means to be in constant terror of punishment, we would hardly feel "blessed". Probably no emotion can render a human being more incapab]e of free and rational action than can fear. When we use the word fear, we usally mean that we are afraid that someone or something will harm us. But the word blessing in the Bible is always associated with protection, fruitfulness, freedom, plenty, happiness, wisdom, and all things that are good and positive- never with terror, harm, slavery, punishment, cr anything negative and bad. If he who "fears the Lord", therefore,can be called "blessed", the word fear in the text must be- and is - used in a sense different from our normal usage. The Good News Bible has "obey" in place of "fear", and that ie much closer to the mark. He who obeys God, respects him, is willing to walk in his way, who realizes that God is tha creator to whom he owes his very life, who stands in awe before him, loves him and trust him,he.is the one who "fears the Lord" according to the meaning of the words in this psalm. It is what I have called "fruitful fear". Just to make sure that we understand what a great and fertile blessing it is to 'fear the Lord", the psalmist lis^£?. some expected results. Allowing for the fact that in his days these things were always expressed from the man's point of view, he paints a happy picture: men working and having the satisfaction to 'eat the frut' that they laboured for; their wives being like a 'fruitful vine' and producing children like 'olive shoots'.®e could add cur own details to the picture: being content with life; having jcb 'satisfaction, good relationships with others* enough to eat, courage and hope t. in bad times and being able to praise God at all times. For us, to 'fear the Lord' means to have faith in Christ who said: 'I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit' (John 15:5)• Lord, fill cur hearts with fruitful fear and with thanksgiving for Your many blessings. Amen. Ik. Egyházi Értesito 1989 július hó
