In what ways should we respond to God's presence with reverence today? The Setting of Judges 13:22 “ ‘We are doomed to die!’ declared Manoah. ‘We have seen God!’ ” (Judges 13:22) Manoah and his wife had just encountered “the Angel of the LORD,” a manifestation of God Himself. Their instinctive reaction—terror and awe—reveals how seriously they took the holiness of God. Why Manoah Feared • Scripture taught that no sinful human can survive an unveiled sight of God’s glory (Exodus 33:20). • Manoah understood that God’s presence is pure, blazing holiness; to enter it lightly is deadly (Isaiah 6:5). • His fear was not superstition but sound theology: God is “greatly feared in the council of the holy ones” (Psalm 89:7). Principles of Reverent Response 1. Acknowledge God’s Holiness • God is “holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3). • Reverence begins with recognizing His absolute otherness. 2. Confess Our Unworthiness • Isaiah cried, “Woe to me! For I am ruined” (Isaiah 6:5). • Confession aligns our hearts with reality and invites cleansing (1 John 1:9). 3. Approach Through the Mediator • In Christ “we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place” (Hebrews 10:19). • Confidence never cancels reverence; it deepens it. 4. Offer Acceptable Worship • “Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29). • Worship that honors God is sincere, obedient, and Scripture-saturated. Practical Expressions of Reverence Today • Private Devotion – Set aside unhurried time daily for Scripture and prayer. – Posture matters: kneeling, bowing a head, or lifting hands can remind the body to honor the Lord. • Corporate Worship – Arrive prepared, Bible in hand, heart examined (1 Corinthians 11:28). – Participate thoughtfully—sing, listen, give—aware that God is present among His people (Matthew 18:20). • Guarded Speech – Use God’s name only with gravity and love (Exodus 20:7). – Speak truthfully and graciously, reflecting His character (Ephesians 4:29). • Obedient Living – Holiness in daily choices—entertainment, finances, relationships—proves we take God seriously (1 Peter 1:15-16). • Stewardship of Sacred Things – Treat the Bible as God’s very words—read, study, obey (Psalm 119:9-11). – Protect the sanctity of marriage, life, and the church’s witness. Encouragement in Christ’s Work Reverence need not paralyze us; Christ has borne our sin and opened the way. By His Spirit we can draw near confidently yet humbly, echoing Manoah’s awe without his dread. The same holy God now invites us to live every moment before His face—grateful, obedient, and filled with wonder. |
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