In His Presence

So the Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel, afflicted them, and handed them over to plunderers until He had banished them from His presence. When the Lord tore Israel from the house of David, Israel made Jeroboam son of Nebat king. Then Jeroboam led Israel away from following the Lord and caused them to commit great sin. The Israelites persisted in all the sins that Jeroboam committed and did not turn away from them. Finally, the Lord removed Israel from His presence just as He had declared through all His servants the prophets. So Israel has been exiled to Assyria from their homeland until today. Then the king of Assyria brought ⌊people⌋ from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in place of the Israelites in the cities of Samaria. The settlers took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities. When they first lived there, they did not fear Yahweh. So the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them. The settlers spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The nations that you have deported and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the God of the land. Therefore He has sent lions among them that are killing them because the people don’t know the requirements of the God of the land.” Then the king of Assyria issued a command: “Send back one of the priests you deported. Have him go and live there so he can teach them the requirements of the God of the land.” So one of the priests they had deported came and lived in Bethel, and he began to teach them how they should fear Yahweh. (2 Kings 17:20-28 HCSB)

Do we live in a way that says, without words from our mouths, that we fear The God of the universe? In our preacher's teaching does he show us how to fear The Lord?

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning people away from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:27 HCSB)

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things! (Romans 10:13-15 HCSB)

If there is no true reverence for God, then how will the message you preach carry any weight? Will the spiritual affections of your hearers be aroused that they may believe in their heart? Is He your best friend that you have a good time with or is He Lord and King coming back to judge the world? Myth or reality?

To save lives from the snares of death fear The Lord and teach people how to fear Him.

May God bless and keep you