THE LORD SAYS – “COME CHILDREN, LISTEN TO ME”

The humanist believes that, man’s problems are because of his lack of education, access to food and opportunities to improve. It stems from an atheistic approach, at attempting to find solutions to man’s problems. The humanist’s approach is misplaced and misdirected, if not childish and foolish. The problem of man is his heart, and not something else. The Bible states it, so plainly and clearly.
– “5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” – Genesis 6:5
– “9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” – Jeremiah 17:9
– “3…Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.” – Ecclesiastes 9:3b

The remedy for the human heart’s sickness, wickedness and evil, is not the solution offered by the humanists and the enlightened of the world. It simply falls flat, and is utterly useless in solving the problem of man. Let us look at what David the shepherd-king from the Bible,  has to speak to us on this subject.
– “11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.” – Psalm 34:11-14

The secret to our transformation is in “…the fear of the LORD.” This fear, that David talks about, and the Bible talks about in so many places, is not the general fear, as one would understand it. “The fear of the LORD” is much deeper and wider, both, in its scope, and its meaning. It is one of the essential foundational building blocks of a Christian disciple.
– “The phrase “the fear of the LORD” is central to biblical wisdom literature. The Hebrew word for “fear” is “יִרְאָה” (yirah), which encompasses reverence, awe, and respect. It is not a fear that paralyzes but one that inspires a life of obedience and worship…This fear is about recognising God’s holiness, sovereignty, and love, leading to a life that honours Him in all things.” – Berean Study Bible Notes

The rest of the list in Psalm 34:11-14, is merely an extension, of this “godly fear” which becomes the prerequisite for everything else, that a disciple ought to believe, confess and obey. James Montgomery Boice’s comment quite eloquently defines the sum and the substance of this topic, for us.
– “…the fear of the LORD, it is rooted in action, not religious feelings. “David is saying that the fear of the Lord is doing right, that is, that it involves obedience .”

Whether it is a Jew or a Gentile Christian, if we wish to be called the “Chosen People of God” [Deuteronomy 7:6-9; 1 Peter 2:9-10] it has to be SEEN, LOUD and CLEAR, in ALL OUR THOUGHTS, WORDS and DEEDS. YAHWEH always intended it that way, and He still does, even today. Herein, David’s list in Psalm 34:11-14, hits us with forceful impact. Whether we are fearing God, and obeying Him or not, is seen in how we walk, in our life. The list, not an exhaustive one, however, makes this amply clear…to the Jew first, and to the Gentile Christian.
– Keep your tongue from evil
– Keep your lips from speaking deceit
– Depart from evil
– Do good
– Seek peace and pursue it

It is not enough, to claim our heritage, like the Jews and Christians do, with such great pride. It has to be seen O Christian, clearly in our lives. If not, we are anything but the “Chosen People of God” – Jew first and the Gentile Christian. Let us not childishly, mislead ourselves into this erroneous and evil thinking, that our heritage is good enough, and that it will save us. Rather, let us earnestly and seriously, check where we stand, in terms of what God is asking from us. Therefore, “COME CHILDREN, LISTEN TO ME” is a call to obedience, and hence, let our lives reflect this Light, which we claim to be in us. Even so the LORD help us.