Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.”
NL Daily Devotion for Wednesday, June 9, 2021
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Fear is tricky to talk about. Too many folks were raised to fear God the way one might fear a capricious and abusive parent. This isn’t the God of my understanding. So I choose to think about “fear of the Lord” as standing in awe of God. And really, God is awesome. Not in the eighties valley-girl overused way. I mean AWESOME. Incomprehensible. Vast. Miraculous. Powerful.
If I start there—God is awesome in every way—I am humble, open, willing to listen and learn.
And isn’t it interesting that the psalmist says we are to “practice” awe of God. It’s not just something that comes over us (although it certainly does that), but something we can actually do or bring about through that same humility, openness and willingness to listen and learn. When we bring ourselves to God in an attitude of awe and wonder, God will bring us toward “a good understanding.”
Awesome God, open my heart and mind so that I can begin to learn wisdom. Amen.
