Hear and Fear
There is a word here that caught my attention, it was also used in the preceding verse; presumptuously.
I have been using two scriptures from Psalm 19 in my prayer time for quite a while now and that same word is used in Psalm 19; those scriptures read like this -
12. Who can discern his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. 13. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, then I shall be innocent of great transgressions,
It was some time back that I began digging into that word - this is the definition for presumptuous:
failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate. It also means: brazen, overconfident, arrogant, bold, audacious, forward, familiar, impertinent, insolent, impudent, cocky; cheeky, rude, impolite, uncivil, bumptious; informal sassy
So as I read the verse from Deuteronomy 17:13"And all the people shall hear and fear, and no longer act presumptuously", my spirit jumped! The idea here is that God desires for us to hear (recognize His voice) Him and fear (worship) Him and walk within the boundaries that He sets up for our lives.
But if we are hearing Him and fearing Him, I am certain that not living presumptuously will follow. I can't imagine after hearing from God and worshipping Him in true reverence that I would be arrogant or brazen and refuse to walk in His ways. It's only after I refuse to acknowledge Him (hear from Him) and don't fear Him that I act presumptuously.
The idea behind presumption is that one doesn't care about the limits or rules, or believes that they are above them. If I am hearing Him, I will respond by fearing Him, causing me to observe that He loves me and that He places boundaries in my life for my benefit.
Created about 2 years ago
