On This Day: To Fear God is to Obey Jesus

“Who among you fears the LORD
    and obeys the voice of his servant?
Let him who walks in darkness
    and has no light
trust in the name of the LORD
    and rely on his God.”
(Isaiah 50:10)

 

   When I speak of God’s word “rhyming”, it is parallel to what we think of with rhyming sounds. In English poetry or song, rhyming words means they are not identical but they sound similar in a way that emphasizes them.

   In the same way, much of our Old Testament, particularly the Psalms, Proverbs, and Prophets, write sentences in two parts where one thought rhymes with the other. The expressions are sometimes synonymous, saying the same thing (there, I just rhymed the thoughts). Other times they are opposites, but still rhyming in thought. I won’t elaborate here, but I share this because when we hear the rhyming of thoughts in these Scriptures, it adds an emphasis in our minds that is parallel to the way we rhyme in English by using words that end with the same sounds.

   For the rest of this, let me share some Scriptures that show how Jesus affirmed the prophecy above by showing how we cannot have a relationship with God apart from an “obedience of faith” relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24)

“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:40)

They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”  (John 8:19)

I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. (John 8:27)

“If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” (John 10:37-38)

“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:10-11)

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12)

“O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:25-26)

 

© 2024 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8

Email: in2freedom@gmail.com

Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.)