Fear Not – Except (Once More)
Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word: “Your brothers who hate you, who exclude you for My name’s sake, . . . Isaiah 66:5 NASB
Tremble – Not very often, but when it happens—watch out! That’s my advice about ḥārēdim, the Hebrew word translated “tremble.” It’s only used five times, but what it expresses is critical to our relationship with YHVH. Tim Hegg puts it like this:
“This word is different than the word often used in combination with God’s name (yara’, to ‘fear God’, etc.). This word conveys a genuine fear or fright, . . . The application is obvious. God desires that we prepare a Mishkan of His dwelling in our very beings, a Mishkan (soul) that is humble and contrite—a soul that has a genuine fear or fright to transgress or disregard His word.”[1]
No wonder I’m so scared. Yes, I know the Bible says, “Do not fear,” over three hundred times. But that is yārēʾ, being afraid of physical danger, being in reverence or awe, being concerned about those things that God will take care of. This is ḥārēd. I should be scared for I have transgressed; I have disregarded His instructions; I have dishonored His name. I’m no different than Pharaoh. “Who is this God that I should be mindful of Him?” That has characterized my behavior even when I knew perfectly well who this God is. Sometimes I lay awake at night afraid to go to sleep for fear that I will hear, “You fool. This night your soul will be required of you.”
Maybe you have never felt like this, but I know at least one other man who did. His name was Peter. One night he made three declarations that caused him enormous grief. In fact, those rash statements of self-defense nearly destroyed him. After his words echoed across the courtyard, the sense of shame was so great that he was described by the word pirkos(“bitterly”). He wept in agony over his denial. Oh, I know Peter. He is me. And just like Peter, I think that all I can do now is return to my former life, giving up all hope that I would ever be acceptable to the one I have denied. Just plodding on until at last I die, relieved of the constant reminder of my shame. Yes, I know that Yeshua came back and restored Peter, but I am not so sure he can do that for me. After all, Peter had only one catastrophic collapse. I have known many. Perhaps it is really too late and all that is left is waiting for death to stop the pain. Ah, but maybe even that won’t be enough. Then I am afraid to sleep.
There is but one ray of light in this world of darkness. Paul’s remark, “So that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this” (1 Thessalonians 3:3) reminds me of David’s insight, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19). Ah, so if I even attempt to be righteous, I should expect affliction. Maybe that’s where I am, attempting to be righteous and experiencing loads of affliction. No pain, no gain.
In the end, I am not the one who can deliver. God must work that miracle in me. David asked for a clean heart. Not a reformed one but a new one. Something acceptable to the holy God. And only God can deliver such a thing. John’s promise is my hope. “If I confess, then He promises . . .” You know the rest. We all do. The problem is not confession but repentance, that struggle to turn away completely from whatever causes my ritual impurity. That is the affliction of the righteous—the denial of self-serving behaviors so firmly established from past repetition.
Topical Index: Isaiah 66:5, ḥārēd, tremble, fear, yārēʾ, 1 Thessalonians 3:3, Psalm 34:19, pirkos, bitterly
[1] Tim Hegg, Studies in Torah: Exodus, p. 157.
