SCRIPTURE: When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, every hidden and secret thing, whether it is good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
THOUGHT: The end of the matter. It’s a great little phrase, particularly when it’s coming from lips of one with power and authority and big perspective. Solomon was a king, and he was a king who asked God for wisdom. He attained great wealth, had far-reaching relationships, and was the writer of three books of the Old Testament. I give him some head space in my own walk with God.
Solomon says the end of the matter is to fear God and keep his commandments. After everything else is said and done, that’s all that really matters. In spite of all his lands and wealth and power and earthly accomplishments – including 3000 proverbs and 1005 songs! (1 Kings 4:32) – he summed up his counsel in just six little words.
Wrapped up in the idea of fearing God is the idea of worship, and wrapped up in the idea of worship is that true worship can only flow out of knowing who God is. It’s not about saying the right words, or going through the right motions. In Ecclesiastes 5:7, he says, “For in a multitude of dreams and in a flood of words there is worthlessness. Rather [reverently] fear God [and worship Him with awe-filled respect, knowing who He is].
Knowing God is the pinnacle of life. It transcends our lives on earth; it follows us heavenward where riches and land and power cannot. If you’ve been reading along this week, hopefully you’ve taken a second look at how the fear of God is inexorably wrapped up in the mix. You cannot know God without fearing him appropriately. And you cannot fear him appropriately without remembering that, in the end, all the hidden and secret things, whether good or evil, will be his to judge.
PRAYER: Great Triune God, build in us the passion and capacity to know, really know you better, to appropriately fear and fully worship you, and to keep your commandments always.
Dear Reader,
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Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.
Check out Walking When You’d Rather Fly, and learn more about the book and Amy’s other ministries. You will also find her devotional work at Words of Hope.
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