Reverence

Samuel Ridout

Reverence is a trait lamentably lacking in this day of shallow smartness. There is plenty of polish and politeness, such as it is, but the ancient and estimable quality of veneration is sadly lacking. It is in keeping with the times, the 'last days', spoken of in 2 Timothy 3:1-7.

Reverence is everywhere enjoined in Scripture. Children are commanded to honour their parents (Eph. 6:1-3). Wives are charged that they reverence their husbands (Eph. 5:33); and as to old age, it is commended, 'Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: 'I am Jehovah' (Lev. 19:32). Reverence is also required, as it is written, 'Render therefore to all their dues . fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour' (Rom. 13:7).

Reverence towards God and the holy things connected with His name is especially to be observed. 'God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of his saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him' (Ps. 89:7). 'Holy and reverend is his name', it is written again (Ps. 111:9). 'Thou shalt reverence my sanctuary' is twice commanded in His Holy Word (Lev. 19:30; 26:2). The growing disregard of reverence for things sacred is lamentable, and is an indication of the last days in which our lot is cast. Even professing Christians speak of God as if He were such an one as themselves (Ps. 50:21). It is a common occurrence in the big modern evangelistic campaigns to hear God addressed in prayer as if the person praying were on very intimate terms with God, the Most High, and could approach Him as familiarly as if He were a little more than themselves - in a way they would not presume to address the chief magistrate of their land. This is a very grave symptom indeed, and instead of conveying to our minds the impression that they are very intimately acquainted with God, it causes us to fear that they may not know Him at all, or that they are praying to a god of their own imagination - a sort of mental deity. It is noticeable that such persons almost invariably speak of, and address, the Son of God as 'Jesus' - His personal name. His title, 'Christ', is little used, and 'Lord Jesus Christ' still less.

But, someone may say, is He not called Jesus in the Bible, and is not this His proper name? True, but it no more warrants us to speak to Him thus than to address the king of England as 'George', or our president as 'Woodrow', though intimate friends may thus address them in private. What we contend for is reverence toward our adorable Lord - not to lay down a rule, but exhort to due reverence. We are not aware of a single instance in Scripture where His disciples, or anyone else, ever addressed the Lord as 'Jesus'. He is spoken of as 'Jesus', but that is quite another thing. 'the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity' has ordained that 'at the name of Jesus every knee should bow . and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father' (Phil. 2:10,11). This is the lesson we would draw from the omission of Jehovah's sacred name in the response of Samuel at his midnight call - the most important lesson of reverence toward God and His holy name.