Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Him,
upon them that hope in His mercy;
Psalm 33:18
Our hope in God leads to a manifestation of godly fear in us. With His offer of hope, God only asks us to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. When we make a decision to choose Christ, godly fear then begins to manifest in us as we mature in Christ.
Godly fear is the outward evidence of a Christian’s hope in God’s mercy. When we truly place all of our hope in God, it becomes a fervent emotion filled with godly fear.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever.
Psalm 111:10
King David said that God’s watchful eye is on you even when you can’t see the path He has you on or the direction He wants you to take. This thought is repeated in 2 Chronicles 16:9:
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth,
to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.
God’s eyes are constantly looking to protect, sustain, and bring us through the difficulties we encounter every day. Our heavenly Father desires to bless our lives, so He watches for that moment when we are particularly needy.
Generally, fear and hope are thought to be in conflict with each other; but in the Presence and worship of God they are found side by side in perfect and beautiful harmony. And this is because in God Himself all apparent contradictions are reconciled. Righteousness and peace, judgment and mercy, holiness and love, infinite power and infinite gentleness, a majesty that is exalted above all heaven, and a condescension that bows very low, meet and kiss each other.
There is indeed a fear that has torment, but it is cast out entirely by perfect love. But there is a fear that is found in the very heavens. Let us in our waiting ever seek “to fear the glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD” (Deuteronomy 28:58).
The deeper we bow before His holiness in holy fear and adoring awe—in deep reverence and humble self-abasement, even as the angels veil their faces before the throne—the more His Holiness will rest upon us, and the soul will be filled to have God reveal Himself.
The deeper we enter into the truth “that no flesh glory in His presence” (1st Corinthians 1:29) will it be given us to see His glory. “The eye of the Lord is on them that fear Him, on them that hope in His mercy” (Psalm 33:18).
The true fear of God will be so far from keeping us back from hope! Rather it will stimulate and strengthen it. The lower we bow, the deeper we feel we have nothing to hope in but His mercy. The lower we bow, the nearer God will come and make our hearts bold to trust Him.
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LORD, we trust in You today, even when we cannot discern Your Presence to direct our path. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
