Fear of the Lord

This week someone posted this photograph of the Queen sitting alone at her husbands funeral with the comment that this is what duty looks like.    It was in response to the news of the Downing Street Christmas party and I thought it made a serious point really well.   For over 70 years the Queen has led by example.  She never oversteps the mark, bends the rules, cheats the system.  She changes the protocol of centuries in order to serve the people she rules ( paying taxes, lowering the flag over the palace on Dianas death, paying for the restoration of Windsor by opening the Palace to the public) And she obeys the laws of the land. Unflinchingly and without fail.  

In many ways she is amazing.  But in many ways she is just like us.  Most of us live good, moral, law abiding lives.  Most of us try hard to be truthful, honest and live with integrity.  But then most of us ( the middle aged generation) were brought up with hymns and prayers in school, Jesus as the central news of Christmas and Easter, and a general notion of respect for our elders.   Im really not terribly surprised that the removal of God from society over the past forty years has led to a rapid crumbling of morals and the decline of integrity, duty, respect and selflessness.  

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2 for gaining wisdom and instruction;
    for understanding words of insight;
3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
    doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,
    knowledge and discretion to the young—
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
    and let the discerning get guidance—
6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
    the sayings and riddles of the wise.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The fear of the Lord is the deep respect, reverence and awe for God's power and authority and it is the first response we should have when we come into His presence. Shepherds and wise men alike bowed down at the cradle of the baby King, how much more should we be bowing at the throne of the risen Lord? If we do not fear God then we have no wisdom and no way to find it. Reverence for God is the starting point of our ability to do what is right and just, act wisely and with integrity, be prudent and discrete and grow in understanding. This is exemplified in the life of the Queen who has reverently worshipped Him all her life. If you watch the coronation it is perfectly evident that she received her commission from Him with the utmost holy fear and in humility.

The church has an opportunity right now to speak to a world weary of being disappointed by political leaders mired in sleaze and point it to Jesus.  Jesus the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE.   Jesus who lived a life beyond reproach, who cared for the poor and died for the unworthy.  Jesus who lived under the law and yet brought the Spirit.  He is our only hope.  This Christmas we will all undoubtedly be having conversations with people about the dire state of the world.  Let's be the voice of wisdom in those conversations.