Verse of the Day 10/16

Psalm 34:8-9Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!

    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
⁹ Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
    for those who fear him have no lack!   English Standard Version (ESV)

One of the first things that I read in my devotions this morning was Psalm 111 which had this reminder, this summary for  us in verse 10:

Psalm 111:10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

    all those who practice it have a good understanding.
    His praise endures forever!  English Standard Version (ESV)

  

My study Bible referenced Proverbs 1:7 which has the same opening statement and the notes point out  that this wisdom comes to us in the form of teaching about God, which means learning about God, that we will fear and revere Him, that we can and will know Him, and imitate His wisdom .

Today's verses came from today's "Grace Gems" which focused on verse 9 and the fear of the Lord.  Pastor James Smith writes what blessings and benefits we have in "the fear of the Lord":

And if you sincerely fear God--then this is the reality of your case!

No truth is more clearly revealed in Scripture.

No subject is more rich with consolation!

Strength may be exhausted,

health may decline,

courage may fail,

riches may flee,

friends may forsake,

enemies may increase,

all circumstances may change for the worse--

but "those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing!" James Smith

That last statement "shall not lack any good thing" reminds me of Psalm 23 which starts out with "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want", which means He will provide and that we will not lack any good thing.  James Smith continues in reminding us that we may not be wealthy by the worlds standards, but if we have Him we have all we need while the lost, even if they are wealthy by the worlds standards but who do not have Christ as Savior and Lord, lack much.

They are not truly wealthy--who appear to be so--or who boast of being so.

The lost sinner must be poor. He has . . .

no God to comfort him;

no Savior to deliver him;

no Guide to conduct him;

no Advocate to plead for him;

no inward peace to support him;

no title to Heaven to encourage him.

May we be of those who truly have this fear of the Lord and realize that we lack no good thing.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Psalm 34:1-15The Message (MSG)

A David Psalm, When He Outwitted Abimelech and Got Away

34 I bless God every chance I get;
my lungs expand with his praise.

² I live and breathe God;
if things aren't going well, hear this and be happy:

³ Join me in spreading the news;
together let's get the word out.

⁴ God met me more than halfway,
he freed me from my anxious fears.

⁵ Look at him; give him your warmest smile.
Never hide your feelings from him.

⁶ When I was desperate, I called out,
and God got me out of a tight spot.

⁷ God's angel sets up a circle
of protection around us while we pray.

⁸ Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—
how good God is.
Blessed are you who run to him.

⁹ Worship God if you want the best;
worship opens doors to all his goodness.

¹⁰ Young lions on the prowl get hungry,
but God-seekers are full of God.

¹¹ Come, children, listen closely;
I'll give you a lesson in God worship.

¹² Who out there has a lust for life?
Can't wait each day to come upon beauty?

¹³ Guard your tongue from profanity,
and no more lying through your teeth.

¹⁴ Turn your back on sin; do something good.
Embrace peace—don't let it get away!

¹⁵ God keeps an eye on his friends,
his ears pick up every moan and groan.