The fear of Yahweh is not a concept without a context, hanging on nothing. It is not a vibration, not a virus. We don't catch it, and it doesn't happen either outside of us, or to us. It is an attitude. It is a mindset. More, it is a worldview; it is the grid through which we perceive, arrange, understand, interpret, and interact with the world.
And what is a worldview without a viewer? ...
[E]ach of us must make personal application of what we learn here. True, we may well learn something of help to a friend or relative. Still, we should think primarily in terms of how we can learn and personally apply the fear of Yahweh in our own lives.
It is I who must learn to fear Yahweh, myself. And so must you. No one can or will do it for us, as our substitute - not even the Holy Spirit.
God's Wisdom in Proverbs, Dan Phillips, Kress, 2011, pp. 66-67.
Oh, Persis, sometimes I wish we could catch the fear of God, as well as inject it into those we love. :)
ReplyDeleteAre you finding this a "quick read" or do you keep stopping to highlight or take notes?
This is a a great book but not a quick read because there's so much to learn. I went very slowly through the section on proper interpretation because I've been exposed to so many hermeneutical train wrecks. The worst one was using Proverbs as a diagnostic tool to discern which sins are causing your illnesses.
DeleteYes, I've found it a slow read, too, simply because I need to stop and think and process. The first section I found quite challenging, and I should go back and re-read. Actually, I'll just have Ink read it and explain it to me. HA! But, Iike you, I'm really enjoying this book. :)
Delete"I'll just have Ink read it and explain it to me. "
DeleteLOL.
I did skip to the appendix on "Train up a child". Very interesting.