To Obey ...and to CLING

 

Deuteronomy 13:4

 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

  You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.

This was the verse sent to me today as the day's daily verse.  It struck me for several reasons:
 
1) it is a verse mentioning the fear of God.  I have been working for some months now, memorizing all of the verses in the Bible than mention fearing God. So I added it to my memory list in the Scripture typer app and I worked this morning on learning it.

2)  It struck me that we are told to "fear and obey" and also to "cling"....is this a contradiction? No....
Why? because although God will discipline us when we disobey, he is also our place of greatest safety and provision.  Like a stern  but loving Father we are to stay close to our Father in heaven--cling to him, depend on him, learn how to walk in his footsteps keeping in step with him as much as we are able...and when we tire, his arms are there to lift us up and carry us close to his neck like the little sheep we are with our Shepherd. 

So often we run off, seeking greener pastures, unaware of the danger that lurks there--the enemy. And the shepherd follows and finds us...and then disciplines us with the crook and staff in order to teach us that we MUST follow and follow closely. 

And when our heart is broken through love lost or the death of a loved one (just to mention two of multiple possibilities) we seek out our Shepherd...our loving Father...and find solace there at his breast, held by loving strong arms.  Do not seek comfort in mind numbing pursuits: drinking or drugging...find solace in the only One capable of providing it.  His is the true medicine for a breaking heart....and he will bind up your wounds ...annoint our head with oil (oils were often used as medicine), and help you to really heal..not to just bury your pain.

So obey, follow and CLING to the Lover of your Soul...your good shepherd....your loving Father.