Recovering Reverence.

An invitation to experience the presence of God.

Hey Friends!

Before you jump into this week’s article, I just wanted to make sure that you were aware that The Lighthouse is a podcast too. Each week I record and post this same article, because I know some people prefer to listen rather than read. If that’s you, subscribe to The Lighthouse Podcast wherever you listen. For sake of ease, you can find links to subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts below. I hope it’s helpful!

- Ryan

Sometimes I get overwhelmed when I’m bombarded by too much information at once.

For instance, I used to be a member of a Crossfit gym. Now, don’t worry, this isn’t going to be a Crossfit infomercial where I try to get you to join the cult. It was great for a season, but I got tired of being pushed to the brink of death each day. So now, I work out like a human rather than someone training to become a gladiator. That being said, when Crossfit is at its best, coaching is one of its great strengths. The challenge is, proper lifting technique is far more complicated than one may think. You can’t just grip and rip unless you want to leave in a wheelchair. So when I was being taught how to lift properly, I was overwhelmed and confused. There were endless cues and critiques. It felt like there were an infinite number of steps to remember, and it was so hard to keep it all straight.

My point is this: when there’s a lot of information, it’s easy to lose the forest for the trees. It’s easy to miss the point. When we’re bombarded by a sea of information, it’s understandable to back up and think, “Wait, what’s the point of all this?”

That’s how I felt at times teaching through the book of Ecclesiastes. I just finished the final sermon in a 14-week series. To say the Teacher of Ecclesiastes covers a lot of information is an understatement. He writes about everything from wisdom, pleasure, possessions, work, relationships, time, wealth, death, and almost every subject under the sun, to steal one of his favorite phrases. In the midst of all this, much of what he says is confusing, controversial, and even contradictory at times. As a result, it’s easy to read those 12 chapters and walk away wondering, “What exactly is the point of all this?”

This is why I love the way that Ecclesiastes ends with a summary of the big idea. Chapter 12 shifts from the first-person reflections of the Teacher to the third-person point of view of an unnamed narrator. The narrator, or narrators, distill the Teacher's big idea down to this imperative:

“When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13 CSB)

So after 222 verses, this is the conclusion. The Teacher distills wisdom down to this invitation to walk humbly with God: fear God and keep his commands. That’s simple enough. But what does that mean? Am I the only one who has wrestled with what it means to “fear God?” After a lifetime of sitting with this phrase, I have to say, the choice to translate the Hebrew word “יָרֵא” (yare) as “fear” is one of my least favorite decisions made by our English translators. I understand why it’s the word chosen, but because of the way we’re prone to understand the word “fear,” it’s unhelpful.

When we hear the word “fear,” it’s almost impossible for us not to equate it with a sense of “dread” or “terror.” But the Hebrew word yare means “to regard with feelings of respect and reverence; to consider something as hallowed or exalted, or to be in awe.” It’s to feel a sense of humility in the presence of greatness. That humility results in a willing response to whatever God says. The word we translate as “keep” is the Hebrew word shomer. It means “to conform one’s action or practice to.” These two words, yare and shomer, are interconnected.

Think of it like this.

One of my favorite writers on the subject of faith is the late Brennan Manning. He is one of a small handful of writers whose books have shaped my faith most deeply. This is largely due to the fact that his writing is beautiful. On many occasions, I have been moved by his writing to both laughter and tears. Sadly, he has passed away. But if Brennan Manning had ever said to me, “You know, Ryan, I’ve been reading some of your writing, and I have some thoughts on how to make it better,” I can promise you that I would apply 100% of what he said. I would do so because of how deeply I respect his writing.

And this is the connection between yare and shomer. Reverence results in a willing response. God’s goal for our faith is never begrudging obedience. We’re not meant to respond to God’s will in our lives like moody teenagers who don’t want to help out around the house. We’re meant to respond to God as a loving Father who understands the complexity of this life and wants to help us flourish within it. God longs for love and trust born out of our reverence towards Him to be the primary driver of our obedience.

Now, that’s simple enough for even me to understand. At this point, I feel like I can wrap my head around what the Teacher of Ecclesiastes has been after throughout this great book. But here’s what I think we still have to sit with. The importance of reverence toward God is emphasized over and over again throughout Scripture. Some estimate that the subject comes up in various forms some 300 times. So clearly it’s important. My question is, where does it come from? Is this yare a decision we make? An attitude we acquire? A way of behaving? Well, in the fullest sense, it’s probably most accurate to say it’s all of these things. Furthermore, if we allow the example of Scripture to answer this question, we quickly see that relational experience is the source of this reverence.

Reverence is a byproduct of relationship. Throughout Scripture, when people experience the manifest presence of God, they are prone to fall facedown. They don’t get big and boisterous; they get low and quiet. That’s yare, and it’s the soul's natural response to an experience in the presence of God.

Here’s another way to help us understand this.

If you ever watch a skilled surfer ride a wave, they make it look almost effortless. Everything from their choice of wave, to the ease with which they paddle in, and the control with which they appear to ride, all look so smooth it makes you feel like just maybe, you could do it too. Some of us can barely walk in a straight line, but we still think, “Maybe I too could stand on a piece of fiberglass and harness the power of the ocean.” But then you actually get into the ocean. Nothing sobers you up faster than standing in the shallows and getting absolutely annihilated by a little three-foot wave. There is a quick change in attitude. You can’t be cocky when you’re looking up at the sky because a baby wave just body-slammed you. And the difference between those two attitudes is experience. You never respect the ocean more than when you’re standing in it. And the same thing is true of God.

Reverence toward God is a byproduct of relationship with Him. So the most important question we can sit with this week is this:

How can I position myself to be more aware of the presence of God around me?

The truth is, we’re all different. We have different personalities. We’ve had different experiences in life. We’re all in different seasons. So there isn’t a “one-size fits all” answer to that question. Each of us has to discern the answer with the Spirit. What I can promise you is that the answer involves spiritual practices. Spiritual practices position us to experience God more. That’s the entire point of them. So to that end, here are a few spiritual practices you may want to consider experimenting with to deepen your awareness of God’s presence:

1. Prayer.

Set aside time each day to pray. Speak to God honestly about your thoughts, concerns, and gratitude. Incorporate listening into your prayer. Spend part of your prayer time in silence, listening for God’s voice and guidance.

2. Meditation and Reflection.

Meditating on Scripture requires us to slow down and reflect deeply on a given passage. Contemplate the words' meaning and how they apply to your life. You can also practice being present in the moment and aware of God's creation around you.

3. Worship through Song.

Thanks to the accessibility of streaming music, you can spend time in personal worship, singing hymns or listening to worship music. Participating in communal worship at church can also enhance your awareness of God’s presence.

4. Nature and Creation.

Spend time outdoors appreciating the beauty of creation. Nature can be a profound way to connect with God. Take care of the environment as a form of honoring God’s creation.

5. Gratitude and Journaling.

Keep a journal where you write down things you are grateful for each day. Write about your spiritual experiences and moments where you felt close to God. Use a journal as a means of keeping a record of your life with God.

6. Sacraments and Rituals.

Participate in the sacrament of communion each week with a heart open to experiencing God’s grace. You can also develop personal rituals that help you focus on God’s presence, such as lighting a candle during prayer.

7. Spiritual Direction.

Spiritual directors help us better design our lives for a deeper relationship with God. They help us recognize where God is at work in our lives and how He’s inviting us to respond. Consider meeting with a spiritual director who can guide you in your spiritual journey and awareness. If you don’t know, I’m trained as a spiritual director. If I can help you explore this practice as a possibility in your life, I’d be honored. You can find more information about that on my website (ryanhuguley.com).

My point again is that implementing these practices into your daily routine can help you become more aware of God’s presence and deepen your relationship with Him. And as our experience of relationship with Him grows, so does yare. Reverence toward God is a byproduct of relationship with Him. So let’s position ourselves to be more aware of the presence of God around us.