The Paradox of Fearing God

Today's verse is Isaiah 8:13-14
     Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself;
      And let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
     And he shall be for a sanctuary;
      But for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel,
      For a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

And here is the choice: Fear God, yea even dread his wrath, and he shall put you into a place of safety, but if you do not at best you will be confused and confounded, tripped up by your own doings, and by your own desires which will set you against the God that loves you even still. Between what I read Friday, and then again today, we see God promising the coming Savior from two different Prophets, most likely during the reign of King Ahaz, a king whose heart followed after his people and was not right with the Lord. This one thing still amazes me, that God should take our rejection of him, and make that the basis for his acceptance of us, but so much the more, if we still refuse his gift, will we have cause to dread him. Selah [think of this.] Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Isaiah 7-10, Psalm 22, Mathew 26
Tomorrow’s reading will be: Isaiah 11-13. Psalm 118, Matthew 27