2 Samuel 23:3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

These are the last words of David, tucked into the beginning of this chapter. It is a short segment comprising vv. 1-7, and this verse is the principle thought of the segment. In that we again see the tremendous emphasis scripture places upon the fear of the LORD, and here, specifically its' irreplaceability in the character and conduct of those in seats of authority.
The Giver of this commandment is referred to in 2 ways, as the God of Israel and the Rock of Israel, There is a lot in this, as it appears to be covenant language and prophetic, and in the NT Corinthians the Rock is said to be the Lord Jesus, so we have the Godhead joined in this edict to men. David is repeating these words to those who follow him. It is worth noting.
There is a single thought here that is required, and that is that the one in authority has only one manner in which he may rule, and that is that he must be just, where the main thought in the word translated just is that the character, actions, and judgments of the ruler must be of righteousness. The only ruler acceptable to the LORD is one who rules righteously, and it this requirement which he will answer to the Judge in the day of Judgment. It is a good idea to publicly voice the idea that our rulers need to rule in righteousness. Wisdom and a concern for the nation are good qualities, but the need of the day are those who will rule righteously. When was the last time we heard a candidate touted for their righteousness? It is nothing we need to be ashamed of. If that is the requirement placed upon them, it is good that they know what is required of them, and what they will answer to and for. Every one will, for every thing that they do.
And the one thing, the one place they are to find the ability and means to do this is via a fear of the LORD. And in that way is the only possible way to rule righteously. It cannot be done via any other means or effort. How we need to pray, in living in that fear ourselves, that the LORD would grant this fear to our leaders, even as He gave it to Nebuchadnezzar, the least likely one to ever find and use it. LORD, help us, we pray.

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Leviticus 6:12',13 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.
This is so encouraging. This is concerning the burnt offering, which pictures a willing sacrifice of the life to the Lord. The Lord Jesus did this perfectly, but we also are commanded to offer ourselves a living sacrifice unto the LORD, even as He did. In our case, we understand that the altar is our hearts, where we continually offer up our lives as a living sacrifice to Him. The sacrifice is consumed by the fire, which signifies God's acceptance of the offering.
The beautiful thing is that the priest lights the fire, and the priest is commanded to make certain that the fire never goes out. Jesus is the antitype of the priest, and He is therefore charged of the Father to start the fire and to take every care to assure that the fire never goes out.
As such, as we attempt to live out our lives to Him, we can look back in daily gratitude that He lit the fire in our lives by saving us, and we can fully trust Him to continue and complete the work of sanctification in our lives; that is, we can know that as we direct our heart and affections toward Him that His blessing will keep us in the way and grant us to grow in Him, that the fire of love for Him in our hearts will never go out if we truly are His. That is so very encouraging.
Lord Jesus, Thank You for Your eternal saving and keeping power, and LORD God, Thank You for accepting us through Him. You are wonderful.

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Joshua 24:14,15 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

This is again very needful for me; I am thankful for what the text says.
Almost certainly everyone has heard or quoted the end of the 15th verse, but this helps frame the seriousness and depth of what Joshua is telling them, and, that is exactly what he was impressing upon them, that it was of utmost importance that they set their hearts to earnestly heed what he was telling them. If you are like me, I need oft and strong reminders to pay rapt attention to the Word as I read it, think about it, and hear it proclaimed. It is a most serious matter.
There are a number of things that can occasion our slighting of the needed attention and observance of the Lord's things. To my dismay, that has been happening more in the last couple of years than I'd ever thought that it would. It is sad and frightening that these slights mean the attention and devotion was given to something else; Ezekiel refers to this type of thing as idols which men set up in their hearts. It is something the LORD will not leave unreproved.
But, as we see repeatedly, the foundational sin which opened the door to these things was a departure from the fear of the LORD. So, as Joshua is beginning his remonstrances to them, he pleads and exhorts them to embrace that fear as a means to expel all the ways they had departed from and turned against Him, He Who had miraculously delivered and kept them in every circumstance and perplexity they had faced and come through. When the fear of the LORD is relaxed, the dam is broken, and the overwhelming waves of sin begin to rampage and destroy.
It is a choice we continually make, in each decision we make, each thought we think, each path we choose - it is to fear Him or go from Him. It is a question worth; well worth it to take the effort required to hold the dread of the LORD before us at all times, that it may direct our minds and hearts toward right thoughts and paths.
This was the last thing Joshua said to Israel, the whole nation being gathered to hear him. He was old, and loved his nation. In one of the verses he implores them to incline their hearts toward the LORD. May that be our heart and petition to our country and to our God for our country. LORD, we need You; may You turn our hearts again to You.

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Proverbs 13:13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

This is an encouraging text, encouraging in the sense that it will beget desires for a loving reverence for the things of God when it is regarded from an undivided heart.
It is one of the many verses in Proverbs contrasting two sides of a matter, as it were, the righteous side and the unrighteous side; and, as in each case, it is not possible to have both of these things as a manner of life, for one or the other will characterize every individual upon the earth. Jesus says no man can love two masters, and that a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit and an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit for the tree is known by its' fruit. As such, this verse will either encourage you or you will find it not fit for yourself this morning. O!, that it may rejoice your heart!
Two kinds of responses are here contrasted, despising and fearing, one being opposite and contrary to the other. In each of the cases a different word is used for the thing reacted to, being the word and the commandment. And two ends of these thoughts of the heart and reactions of the mind and body are shown to be the end of the matter, that is, destruction and a reward.
At first read, almost anyone will say, Of course it is right and best to obey, yet sadly, when we look at our natural man we don't find any thought or desire to obey, but rather a desire to make our own laws and do with them as we please, and, apart from the saving work of the Holy Spirit, that is what we all do.
To despise the word (here it generally refers to anything God or scripture says, or any cause that is favorable toward Him) means to label and act toward it as something insignificant, and as such, to look down upon it in scorn; it means to hold it in derision, and put it away from one's self as one wiping off something undesirable with a scowl and a curse. Contrastingly, to fear (reverently attend to from awe and respect) the commandment (an instruction from one of Authority) means to act toward it as something needful and urgent, something lovely and encouraging, something life-giving and eternal. It is as the difference of night and day, even as the life of a believer is deeply and profoundly different than the life of an unbeliever. The ends are just as extremely different, one being utterly ruined in the horrors of pain and travail, while the other definitively means to be safe in mind and in a covenant of peace. This is very good contemplation. The things of the LORD are infinitely wondrous, glorious, beautiful, and enriching. The things of self are unthinkably horrid, perverse, and criminal in their utter departure from the love of an eternal God and the tearing down of His Name and Authority. The eternal judgment received by these is righteous and just, and it comes only after they have despised and cast away every goodness and mercy He is faithful to afford them as long as they live upon the earth.
O LORD, grant us to fear You, for every word and commandment is pure and lovely. You are a wonderful God and Saviour.

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