Psalm 4:4; "Stand in awe and sin not"

"Stand in Awe"


In our previous study we stated that the Hebrew word for awe (in this verse) means "to be angry". Before one can "sin not" one must be angry. Is this writer stating that a believer can be sinless? No. A believer cannot be sinless in this stage life. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" and further more "If we say that we have not sinned, we make [H]im a liar, and the word is not in us." (1John 8,9). Praise be to God that when the believer does sin he has an [A]dvocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the [R]ighteous.
Having said that the believer cannot be sinless we must add that the believer should sin less. Though we cannot be free from sin (as a nature) in this stage of life we can overcome certain sins (individual). The believer is an overcomer through and by Christ their Lord.
The one addicted to alcohol, drugs, sex, attention seeking, co-dependency, homosexuality, etc. can overcome those individual sins through the sufficient grace that is provided to the repentant believer. Are we not reminded of our Lord's mercy and love filled words to the woman caught "in the very act."? "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." (John 8-11) cp. Romans 8:1.
"[G]o, and sin no more." It is rather obvious to this writer that our Lord meant for her to discontinue her adulterous practises. She was told to overcome this individual sin of adultery. She did not overcome her sinful nature until she was called home to share eternity with the Husband to Whom she will ever be faithful.
How can we as believers overcome individual sins? The Bible has many answers to this question. Some examples can be found in Matthew 22:36-40 verse 40 being the key and also Romans ch. 6.
However, our text provides the answer we intend to consider today, "Be in awe and sin not."
In other words, Be angry at your sins (and yourself who is the lover of these sins) and you will overcome these sins (individual). I am angry at my sins because;
1.My sin/sins broke the eternal fellowship between the Trinity (why hast Thou forsaken Me?)
2.God hates sin. 3. Sin is sneaky, esp. in times of spiritual exercise. 4. Sins affect us to our core and in all of our levels...spirit (intellect and affections), in our soul and in our body. 5. Sins harm us, our families, friends, businesses, etc. 6. Sins harms our close fellowship with God. 7. Our obedience to sins/sin gives occasion to Satan and the world to say , "aha, aha." These do not exhaust the reasons for anger. There are many more reasons to be angry with sin/sins. The most prominent? Sin/sins put our Master, our Friend, our Faithful, our Saviour on a cross!

Be angry and sin not...St. Paul


Buried in Christ,
St. Loder