Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
The command is spoken to the kings and judges of the earth who oppose God and His enthroned Son, calling them to be wise and instructed. It comes after God laughs in derision and speaks in wrath, after He sets His King upon Zion, gives Him the nations for inheritance, and gives Him power to break opposition with a rod of iron. To serve with fear means reverent fear, and to rejoice with trembling means glad trembling and awe. That trembling is humility and holy fear that gives all glory to God.
Joined to kissing the Son and putting trust in Him, this reverent submission is the only safety from perishing from the way when the Son's wrath is kindled but a little, while all who trust in Him are blessed. The Lord's power in this setting was shown when the priests, kings, and rulers who condemned Christ and set a guard at His tomb were made powerless and impotent at His resurrection triumph. They were unable to control Him while heaven guarded His tomb. Rejoicing is right and must continue even with trembling. It never exalts sinful man or puts man where Christ should be, but humbly recognizes and exalts the grace, blood, and righteousness of Christ.
The verse is God's protest against Satan's passions and attributes taking captive the minds of men. In the collision between truth and wrong it calls every person, especially unconverted men in positions of trust, to do duty. They are to rebuke and expel wrong and give room for the Spirit of the living God to begin at the heart. That work issues in victory through a new clean heart.
The command is spoken to the kings and judges of the earth who oppose God and His enthroned Son, calling them to be wise and instructed. It comes after God laughs in derision and speaks in wrath, after He sets His King upon Zion, gives Him the nations for inheritance, and gives Him power to break opposition with a rod of iron. To serve with fear means reverent fear, and to rejoice with trembling means glad trembling and awe. That trembling is humility and holy fear that gives all glory to God.
Joined to kissing the Son and putting trust in Him, this reverent submission is the only safety from perishing from the way when the Son's wrath is kindled but a little, while all who trust in Him are blessed. The Lord's power in this setting was shown when the priests, kings, and rulers who condemned Christ and set a guard at His tomb were made powerless and impotent at His resurrection triumph. They were unable to control Him while heaven guarded His tomb. Rejoicing is right and must continue even with trembling. It never exalts sinful man or puts man where Christ should be, but humbly recognizes and exalts the grace, blood, and righteousness of Christ.
The verse is God's protest against Satan's passions and attributes taking captive the minds of men. In the collision between truth and wrong it calls every person, especially unconverted men in positions of trust, to do duty. They are to rebuke and expel wrong and give room for the Spirit of the living God to begin at the heart. That work issues in victory through a new clean heart.