Fear and Trembling

This is the one I esteem; he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. --Isaiah 66:2b

God is amazing, and I am awed when I think that he, the ruler of the universe, enthroned in heaven, lowered himself to my level in order that he might communicate his love for me. He, the Creator, chose to humble himself so that we might be saved. In doing this, he opens up a unique opportunity to each of us, allowing us to come to him freely. Do you ever stop to think that talking to God in prayer is not dissimilar to the familiarity we experience in how we converse with our friends and family members?

I feel blessed that God chooses to make himself accessible. I admit that I sometimes take that accessibility for granted. I allow myself to become too casual in the way I address him. Of course, God does not require that we use any lofty vocabulary or elevated language when we converse with him. However, I think it is reasonable that we maintain a sense of perspective and holy fear. He is and always will be God--sovereign, holy, perfect. We are mere humans--flesh and blood--and are unworthy of standing before him based on our own merits. Yet by his grace and through his mercy, he allows us to communicate directly with him.

God esteems us when we come before him clothed in an attitude of humility. To be esteemed means "to be looked upon with favorable regard." I fail to understand how God is able to look at me in such a way, in light of my many sins. I have lost count of the number of times I have dishonored or disappointed him in some way. However, by recognizing my own unworthiness, I become contrite, that is, I feel sorry for what I have done and am moved to repentance.

Reading this verse reminds me of a song by Nichole Nordeman, called "Tremble". The lyrics talk about how we cannot approach God casually. Rather, it is appropriate that we tremble in his awesome presence.

--
"Tremble"

Have I come too casually? Because it seems to me there's something I've neglected.
How does one approach a Deity with informality and still protect the Sacred?
'Cause you came and chose to wear the skin of all of us,
and it's easy to forget you left a throne.
And the line gets blurry all the time between daily and divine; it's hard to know the difference.

Oh, let me not forget to tremble.
Oh, let me not forget to tremble.
Face down on the ground do I dare to take the liberty to stare at you?
Oh, let me not forget to tremble.

What a shame to think that I'd appear even slightly cavalier to the matter of salvation.
Do I claim this gift you freely gave as if it were mind to take with so little hesitation?
'Cause you came and stood among the very least of us,
and it's easy to forget you left a throne.

Oh, let me not forget to tremble.
Oh, let me not forget to tremble.
Face down on the ground do I dare to take the liberty to stare at you?
Oh, let me not forget to tremble.

The cradle and the grave could not contain your divinity.
Neither can I oversimplify this love.

Oh, let me not forget to tremble.

--

I pray that in those times when my relationship with God is just as personal and comfortable as my relationship with my closest friends, I will not lose sight of his holiness. I must not forget to tremble as I humble myself before him.