The Fear of the Lord
The Fear of the Lord
INTRODUCTION This has been a subject that has intrigued me for the past ten years but I’ve never been able to complete a Bible study on this vital subject.
It seems that there is a wrong kind and a right kind of fear.
One of the precious messages of the Bible is "fear not" used about fifty times: Genesis 15:1 : Genesis 26:24 : Exodus 14:13 : Isaiah 43:1; Luke 2:10 : Luke 12:32 : Acts 27:24; Revelation 1:17.
Also there are variations of this like Jesus’ words, "It is I: be not afraid" (John 6:20). But this lesson is about the other kind of fear-the fear of God which we ought to have.
Job 28:28, "And unto man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom." Psalms 19:9, "The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever." 2 Samuel 23:3, "He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God." Lack or absence of this fear can only bring sin, disillusionment and end in tragedy.
Genesis 20:11’, Abraham sinned because, "I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place." He mistakenly thought that he was beyond God’s fear and was really free.
Romans 3:18, "There is no fear of God before their eyes" - a picture of degenerate man.
MEANING OF "FEAR OF THE LORD" or "FEAR OF GOD"
Proverbs 14:26-27 Does it mean physical fear where you stand and tremble in the presence of the -.- Almighty ? Dr. C. I. Scofield defines it as meaning "reverential trust with a hatred of evil." Fear of the Lord means piety. It is used to express our religious duty toward God.
Deuteronomy 4:10, "Gather Me the people together, and I will make them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days that they shall live upon the earth." From this we see that it is essential but not inherited. It is something that must be taught to children and people that each generation may learn to fear the Lord.
Fear is the thing that God requires from each one of us. It is a purpose of creation.
Deuteronomy 6:13, "Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve Him." Ecclesiastes 12:13, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep..."
THINGS THAT WE ARE NOT TO FEAR
We are not to fear idols or other gods. 2 Kings 17:38, "And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget: neither shall ye fear other gods." We are not to fear man. 1 Samuel 15:24, Saul’s mistake, "I feared the people."
Proverbs 29:25, "The fear of man bringeth a snare." We are to fear the Lord only.
We are not to fear earthly calamities for they signify the near return of our Saviour.
Luke 21:25-28, ". . . men’s hearts failing them for fear. . . then look up . . ." The true believer does not fear future punishments.
Hebrews 10:27, "But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." We are not to fear "fear,"
Job 15:24, "Trouble and anguish shall make him (the unsaved) afraid," but the believer casts all his earthly fears on the Lord.
1 Peter 5:7, "Casting all your care (worries and fears) upon Him . . ." Only one fear remains RIld that is a holy fear of the Lord God Himself.
THE FEAR OF GOD IS COMMANDED
Deuteronomy 13:4, "Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and ye shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him."
1 Peter 2:17, ’" Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king."
Psalms 22:23, "Ye that fear the Lord, praise Him . . . glorify Him; and fear Him." The earthly disciples set up a noble example in this matter.
Acts 9:31, ". . . and walking in the fear of the Lord. . . were multiplied." Cornelius was a man who feared God.
Acts 10:2, "A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house. . ." Is it any wonder that God sent Cornelius the Gospel?
1 Corinthians 7:1, the fear of God teaches us to live circumspect lives, "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." This godly fear becomes a powerful motivating force in our lives.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD
It is a hatred of evil. Proverbs 8:13, "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil."
It is wisdom. Psalms 111:10, "The fear of. the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
It is a treasure. Proverbs 15:16, "Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith." Psalms 33:6, "The fear of the Lord is his [believer’s) treasure."
It is a fountain of life. Proverbs 14:27, "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life. "
It is clean. Psalms 19:9, "The fear of the Lord is clean." It is sanctifying.
It endures forever. Psalms 19:9, "The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever."
It is godly. Hebrews 12:28, "Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." There is a difference between reverence and fear.
WHAT MOTIVES CAUSE US TO FEAR GOD?
The holiness of God causes us to fear Him. Revelation 15:4, "Who shall not fear Thee, 0 Lord, and glorify Thy Name? for Thou only art holy. "
The greatness of God causes us to fear Him. Deuteronomy 10:12-17, "And now Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God . . . for the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty and a terrible."
The goodness of God causes us to fear Him. 1 Samuel 12:24, "Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done."
The forgiveness of God causes us to fear Him. Psalms 130:4, "But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared." Praise the Lord for this, too.
The wondrous works of God cause us to fear Him. Joshua 4:23-24, Joshua reviews these works.
Coming judgments cause us to fear the Lord. Revelation 14:7, "Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come."
THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS NECESSARY
It is necessary to worship. Psalms 5:7, "In Thy fear will I worship." See Psalms 89:7.
It is necessary in service. Psalms 2:11, "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling."
It is necessary to keep us from sin. Exodus 20:20, "Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not."
It is necessary to good government. 2 Samuel 23:3, "He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.". This is lacking in governments today.
It is necessary for administration of justice, 2 Chronicles 19:6-9.
It is necessary for the perfecting of holiness in our Christian lives, 2 Corinthians 7:1.
VII. RESULTS OF FEARING THE LORD
It brings pleasure to the Lord. Psalms 147:11, "The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy." Let’s bring much pleasure to the Lord.
It causes the Lord’s pity to increase upon the child of God. Psalms 103:13, "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him."
It brings acceptance with God. Acts 10:35, "But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him." Peter to Cornelius and friends.
It brings the mercy of God. Psalms 103:17, "But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him." 0 Lord, teach me to fear Thee (Luke 1:50)!
It brings blessings. Psalms 112:1, "Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord."
It brings confidence. Proverbs 14:26, "In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence."
It brings separation from evil. ’Proverbs 16:6, "By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil." Today there is little fear of God and an abundance of evil.
It brings Christian fellowship. Malachi 3:16, "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it."
It supersedes the fear of man. Isaiah 8:12-13, ". . . neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of Hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear."
It brings answered prayer. Psalms 145:19, "He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry and will save them."
It brings long life. Proverbs 10:27, "The fear of the Lord prolongeth days."
CONCLUSION .
Let us pray that God will teach us to fear Him. Psalms 86:11, "Teach me Thy way, 0 , Lord; I will walk in Thy truth: unite my heart to fear Thy Name." See Proverbs 15:16; Proverbs 19:23.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
Define "fear of the Lord."
What do we learn about fearing God from Deuteronomy 4:10?
What are the two purposes of man according to Ecclesiastes 12:13?
Name four things that we are not to fear.
Give two Scriptures to prove that we are to fear God (one from each Testament).
Give seven descriptions of the fear of the Lord.
Give five motives that cause us to fear God.
Why is the fear of the Lord necessary?
Give ten results of fearing the Lord.
What lesson do we learn from Psalms 86:11?