Tremble!

It's interesting:  the word tremble is used in at least 39 different verses in the Bible.  Two of those occurrences are in Isaiah 66. “Tremble at my word…”  (Isaiah 66:2) -- God declares in Isaiah 66:2.   “Hear the word of the Lord -- you who tremble at his word…” (Isaiah 66:5) -- God declares in Isaiah 66:5.   

The inference:  God’s Word is not ‘laid back’ or casual – God’s Word is Truth -- something to be respected deeply, even fear-fully.  Not in the sense of literal fear – but in the sense of eager attentiveness, as we realize God’s Word is a matter of life and death. 

The need for such eager attentiveness is conveyed through the word ‘tremble’ in our text, which means literally: anxiously careful. Not a bad discipline for the Christian walk – to be anxiously careful toward God’s Word – to ‘tremble’ a bit in the presence of the Almighty.

In my experience we don't tremble enough.  Rather we tend to be trite -- 'making over' The Word -- in particular -- The Word Made Flesh, Jesus -- to fit out bias and fulfil our desires.  
   

A while back, Kevin DeYoung listed a string of examples of how we 'make over' Jesus to fulfill our desires.  Why "...there's Republican Jesus who is against tax increases and activist judges...There's Democrat Jesus who is ...for reducing our carbon footprint and spending other people's money...There's Starbucks Jesus who...drives a hybrid [car] and goes to film festivals...There's Touchdown Jesus who...determines the outcomes of Super Bowls...There's Platitude Jesus, good for Christmas [TV] specials [and] greeting cards...[But] then there's [Biblical Jesus]...Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God...Not just another prophet...Not just another wonder-worker. [But]...the one [we've] been waiting for..[The Jesus who's] not a reflection of [our] current mood -- or the projection of our own desires.  [But the Jesus who is] our Lord and God....[The] Father's Son -- [the] Savior of the World...more loving, more holy -- and more wonderfully terrifying -- than we ever thought possible.  http://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/kevindeyoung/2014/11/20/who-do-you-say-i-am/  

A wonderfully terrifying Jesus, is God's original intent.  Not the trite Jesus of the politicians and Super Bowls – but the Jesus of Holy Scripture, who calls us to fall on our knees and become eagerly attentive -- and anxiously careful – regarding His every Word!