A Fear We Need (Judges 13:22)

Judges 13:22 (ESV)

And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.”

When God came to Manoah and his wife to promise the coming of Samson, the couple had a very fascinating experience. It was a terrifying moment when they realized that they had been speaking directly to the angel of the Lord. In fact, as the verse above indicates, they feared that they would die.

As we study Scripture, we find that a fear of death is a proper and common fear when a person sees God. It happened to Daniel, Ezekiel, and Isaiah. Why? Something about being in the presence of the Holy One is enough to make us feel as though we will fly apart and be destroyed.

What caught my attention with this today is the fact that such a response to the presence of God seems out-of-place and almost silly to so many in our culture. Whether it be people who are part of churches or people who are fully opposed to the things of God, it seems that most people in our world cannot imagine feeling any fear of the Lord. To lack that fear, however, is to lack a proper understanding of the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man.

Lord, help me to better grasp your holiness so that I do not ever treat you with less reverence than you deserve.