The Fear of the Lord

STUDY INDEX

Page 1 - Introduction; What Does it Mean?

Page 2 - How Does it Apply to Our Lives?

Page 3 - Fear of the Lord and the Modern Church

Page 4 - Fear of the Lord and the Modern Church (cont'd)

Page 5 - Conclusion

Introduction

We are beginning a new study series on The Fear of the Lord, and we pray that you enjoy this study, as well as all of the other Bible studies and articles on our site. Please get your Bibles and join us as we begin...

"Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: that thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged." (Deuteronomy 6:1-2).

The word "fear" in the passage above is translated from the Hebrew word "yare" which means "to fear, to reverence, to be afraid, to stand in awe of, to honor or respect". It is contrasted, for example, with 1 John 4:18, "Perfect love casteth out all fear," where the term "fear" is translated from the Greek word "phobos" which means "dread or terror." Surely, the condition of the modern church and the tolerance of sin and wickedness is caused by a lack of fear and respect of God. In fact, I heard one person say recently, "Why should I fear the Lord? He is my Father. Am I to be afraid of my Father?" Though I somewhat understand this person's reasoning, we are taught from the Scriptures to fear the Lord, to honor and respect Him. And I would think that any person who has a true relationship with Christ and has a true concept of God's holiness, will fear Him.

I know my little boy loves me and his mom, and desires to make us proud of him. But it is the fear of his mom and myself that keeps him from doing wrong. Without this fear and respect of their parents, children will become rebellious or insubordinate. In school, kids will behave and learn under the rule of some teachers, but these same kids will misbehave and become unruly under other teachers. It all has to do with respect an honor; a desire to please and a fear of punishment. Churches, denominations or even entire nations which have lost their fear of the Lord become tolerant of sin and wickedness and are destined for failure. "The whole duty of man", Jeremiah wrote, is to "Fear God, and keep his commandments." (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

The Fear of the Lord: What does it mean?

(1) To fear God is to understand God. We know that God is love and full of mercy, but we also must recognize that God is holy, and by His very nature, must judge sin. Solomon wrote in his proverbs, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10). One must seek to know God, like a person who seeks for a treasure which is hidden. David, the psalmist, likened it to a deer which seeks after water. "My soul thirsts for thee," David wrote (Psalm 63:1). God has promised that they that seek Him will find Him, when they search for Him with all of their heart (Jeremiah 29:13). Solomon also wrote, "My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searches for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God." (Proverbs 2:1-5).

(2) To fear the Lord is to regard Him in awe and reverence. David, in his reflections on God's creation, wrote, "Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast." (Psalm 33:8-9). As Moses talked with the Lord upon Mount Sinai, "there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled... and they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not." (Exodus 19:16; 20:19-20). In the New Testament, we see the apostle John, who walked with Christ, ate with Him, conversed with Him, and even laid his head upon Christ's chest during the Passover meal (John 13:21-25), fall at Jesus' feet as if he were a dead man, because he was filled with such awe he found it impossible to stand before Christ in His glory (Revelation 1:17). In the gospel of Matthew, Peter, James and John followed Jesus up to a high mountain where Jesus was transfigured before them. Matthew recorded that "a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid." (Matthew 7:5-6).

Matthew Henry relates in his commentary regarding the transfiguration of Christ, "Now the disciples beheld somewhat of Christ's glory, as of the only begotten of the Father. It was intended to support their faith, when they would have to witness his crucifixion; and would give them an idea of the glory prepared for them, when changed by his power and made like him. The apostles were overcome by the glorious sight. Peter thought that it was most desirable to continue there, and to go no more down to meet the sufferings of which he was so unwilling to hear. In this he knew not what he said. We are wrong, if we look for a heaven here upon earth. Whatever tabernacles we propose to make for ourselves in this world, we must always remember to ask Christ's leave. That sacrifice was not yet offered, without which the souls of sinful men could not have been saved; and important services were to be done by Peter and his brethren. While Peter spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, an emblem of the Divine presence and glory. Ever since man sinned, and heard God's voice in the garden, unusual appearances of God have been terrible to man. They fell prostrate to the earth, till Jesus encouraged them; when looking round, they beheld only their Lord as they commonly saw him. We must pass through varied experiences in our way to glory; and when we return to the world after an ordinance, it must be our care to take Christ with us, and then it may be our comfort that he is with us."

(3) To fear the Lord is to trust Him. To fear the Lord is to trust and believe Him to hear your prayers, to forgive your sins, to help, to provide, and to save. David penned in Psalm 4, "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer... But know that the Lord, hath set apart him that is godly to himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him. Stand in awe, and sin not... Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord." (Psalm 4:1,3,4,5). The Psalmist also wrote, "Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield... So great is his mercy toward them that fear him... Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him... There is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared... O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him" (Psalms 115:11; 103:11; 85:9; 130:4; 34:9). After the people of Israel crossed the Red Sea and watched the waters close in on the Egyptian army, the scriptures state that "Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses." (Exodus 14:31).

. copyright