CHAPTER 13 FEAR GOD
In Chapter 2 we discovered how important it is for us to walk by faith. We are to trust totally in God, not becoming afraid when the physical circumstances of our life seem to indicate that all is lost. We saw that fear of those circumstances, or the men which may be in control of them, is actually an expression of doubt that one of God's promises would come to past in our lives. In reality, fear is merely the outward expression of an inward lack of faith that God will provide or protect. As if this were not bad enough, Ro.14:23 specifically states that ".... everything that does not come from faith is sin." However, there is a fear that God commands us to have, and that fear centers around our relationship with him.
Deut.6:13 says "fear the Lord your God, serve Him only..." Verse 24 continues by stating that, "The Lord commands us to ... fear the Lord our God." (see also Deut.10:20 & 13:4). Ps.76:7 clearly tells us that God alone is be feared: indeed He is the only one worthy of praise. As such, He "... is to be feared above all gods" (II Chron.16:25 - see also Ps.96:4). Those who fear God will praise Him as He desires to be praised, and serve Him (Ps.135:20 & 2:11 - for a detailed discussion of what it means to praise and worship God, see Needful Things chapters 15,16&17). Concisely stated, it is the duty of the entire earth to fear the Lord (Ps.33:8). Having established that, the question still before us is, "What does it mean to fear the Lord?" and "How do we do it?"
The Hebrew word for 'fear' used in the aforementioned verses is yah reh. Yah reh means both to "be afraid of" and "have a reverence for" someone or something. The Greek word for 'fear' (KJV) or 'reverence for God' (NIV) used in II Cor.7:1 which directs us to perfect holiness out of "reverence for God" is phobos, and like its Hebrew counterpart, carries the same dual meaning (see Bauer's Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament).
While the simple fact that the same word is used to express two concepts shows us that there is a close relationship between them, there is a difference. The dual meaning of these words presents us with a problem which must be dealt with before we continue. On one hand we have the relationship which exists between fear and punishment as stated in I John 4:18. "But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The man who fears is not made perfect in love." Because Jesus died on the cross and "... the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him" Isaiah 53:5). As a result, we no longer "fear," or have any reason to be afraid that God will punish us. However, many Christians who are aware of that fact have the tendency to therefore lessen, or soften the true meaning of what it means to stand in awe, or show reverence, ie."fear" God.
They believe that God is not going to do anything to them, or allow anything bad to happen to them because Jesus has already paid the price. The problem is that this attitude may cause some believers to be less than diligent in their efforts to perfect holiness, or purify themselves from everything that contaminates them (II Cor.7:11). All too often we have a 'pet sin,' or weakness which we either do not want to get rid of, or satan has convinced us that we really can't get rid of it, so why try?
On the other hand there are those believers who have a tendency to for get the loving nature of God. When they do this they forget about I John 4:18. They concentrate on the nature of God which brought about the "terrible (yah reh) things by the Red Sea" (Ps.106:22 KJV see Deut.10: 21 KJV), and the "might of Thy terrible (yah reh) acts" (parenthesis and emphasis added - Ps.145:6 KJV). These believers are afraid that the judgment, which is to begin with the family of God (I Pe.4:17), means that God is looking down from heaven and will instantly zap them every time they mess up. A believer with this notion is not aware of Ps.33:18-19 which tells us that God is indeed looking down upon those who fear Him, but that He is doing so in order to deliver their souls from death, and to physically protect them here on earth, not zap them.
Keeping these two opposite viewpoints in mind, allow me to attempt to show the relationship between the Scripturally ordained fear, or reverence for God, and the Scripturally discouraged anxiety which satan attempts to put on us. To have awe for God, and to hold Him in reverence, is to truly believe; that is to know that you that know that you know, that God not only has the ability to, but actually will root out all evil by whatever means He chooses. Be it by the death of the evil doer (Judges 11:10; I Ki.18:40; Nu.16:35 & Acts 5:5&10) or sending some plague to destroy them (Rev.3:9-11). To be unscripturally afraid of God is to believe that God will allow, or cause these things to happen to you even if you are truly making every effort to "put to death" the misdeeds of your old nature (Ro.8:13).
To put it bluntly, reverence for God has little if anything to do with "respecting" God, as that term is usually understood. To often reverence for God has been equated with "dull and boring" behavior. While there is no doubt that there is a time for silence before the Lord, many believers who honestly believe they are expressing fear of God by their continual silence and bowed head are not fearing the Lord at all, because, as we saw in Ps.135:20, those who fear the Lord will praise Him.
If you truly stand in awe of God, action is required on your part. Prov.8:13 tells us that "TO FEAR THE LORD IS TO HATE EVIL." (emphasis added) If you hate something, you will do all within your power to get rid of it. Indeed, Prov.16:6 clearly states that through, or because of "... the fear of the Lord, a man avoids evil." We must "turn from evil and do good..." (Ps.34:14). In the spirit realm we will ACTIVELY use the weapons of the Word, prayer and praise. Those who truly hate evil will spend a great deal of time seeking its eradication.
Reverence for the Lord is usually not something which comes about automatically when someone first accepts Jesus. Merely because someone has accepted Jesus because they were afraid of going to hell is not the same as the fear of God. That would be more closely akin to being afraid of God, and as you will recall, there is a difference. Returning to Ps.34, this time looking at verse 11, we see that David is telling us to "... listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord." (emphasis added) Even the King of Assyria realized that reverence must be taught, for we see that he sent one of the exiled priests back to Samaria to teach the people how to fear the Lord in order to stop the plague of lions the Lord had sent to that region (II Ki.17:26-28 KJV). Personally, I find it somewhat disconcerting to see that the King of Assyria not only understood what reverence was, but that he knew that it had to be learned, when many of today's believers do not even know what it is!
Deut.17:19 and 34:12 both tell us that awe of the Lord is learned from reading and hearing the Word of God. This surely follows, for as we hear all that God has done, we come to understand His attitude towards both evil itself, and those who depart from it. Likewise, as we see the miracles He performed concerning the Egyptians and the inhabitants of Cannan, we also learn to stand in the fear of God (Ex.14:31 & Joshua 4:24). Actually, seeing God bring to pass that which He promised also has the effect of teaching fear (Ps.119:38), as does seeing God answer prayer by removing some affliction which has beset us (I Ki.8:37-40). This also stands to reason, for we are shown in Eccl.3:14 that "everything God does will endure forever ... God does it so that men will revere Him."
You need not be a believer to gain such reverence for God. After the first 6 plagues had struck Egypt even some of Pharaoh's officers had learned to fear God, and they saved their livestock and slaves by bringing them inside, thereby avoiding the hail storm which God was sending upon Egypt (Ex.9:20-21). Jonah 1:16 gives us another example by showing that after Jonah went overboard, the storm stopped, and the sailors "greatly feared the Lord." They knew Jonah was disobeying God's direction and that it was this disobedience which caused the storm (Jonah 1:1-021). When the storm subsided the crew had no difficulty linking God's actions to His attitude concerning disobedience. As such, they learned to stand in awe of Him.
While it is true that we are under the New Covenant, it is important to note two things: our duty to fear God has not changed (I Pe.2:17), and His physical responses to evil still teach reverence (Acts 19:13-17). Concerning the incident with the seven sons of Sceva, notice that the awe of God fell upon those who heard that these boys were pulverized by the evil spirit whom they were ineptly trying to exercise. This fear of God had the effect of causing believers to openly confess their "evil deeds" (Acts 19:18).
Perhaps a more convincing example might be that of Ananias and Sapphira as found in Acts 5:1-11. There can be no doubt that God's actions in that case caused the fear of God to spread throughout the entire Church and "... to all who heard what had happened" (Acts 5:5&11). As to who did the killing in this case, or who brought about the blindness of the sorcerer in Acts 13:12, I suggest that you review Chapter 3. Regardless of whether you view these disasters as coming directly from God, with Him using His tool satan to actually carry out the work, or merely something which God allowed to happen, please bear in mind that God is a protecting fortress ONLY to those who fear Him (Prov.14:26).
To know whether or not someone fears the Lord all you need to do is to watch their behavior; for where there is evil behavior, or lack of trust, or lack of praise, there is no fear (Prov.16:6; Ps.115:11; Ps.5:7; Ps.22:23 and Ro.3:13-18). I believe that our duty to turn from evil is part of the work spoken of in Phil.2:12, wherein we are told to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Remember also, Ro.11:20 NAS cautions us to stand in "... fear. For if God did not spare the natural branch, neither will He spare you." Finally, should there be any doubt that the directive to stand in awe of God is for today, all we need to do is recall Rev.14:7 which tells us that the command to "fear God" is part of the eternal gospel. Besides, since to fear God is to hate evil, how could anyone assume that we no longer have that duty?
satan has deceived the world and many believers into thinking that the actions and desires of our old nature are more fun, and that they offer more reward than do the things of God. How sad it is to think that many who call themselves Christians put more trust in their weekly paycheck or health insurance program than they do in the Most High God. While it is true that we should fear God because we love Him, and not solely because of the promises He makes to those who will stand in awe of Him, I believe that God has revealed the blessing which He has in store for those who fear him so that we can see that the things satan has to offer cannot compare to the majestic and eternal promises of the living God.
Let us examine what God has said He will do for those of His children who fear Him and depart from evil. Isaiah 33:6 pinpoints the importance of fear when it says, "He (the Lord) will be ... a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge, THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE KEY TO THIS TREASURE." (parenthesis and emphasis added), That is why Prov.1:7 says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, and Prov.9:10 and Ps.111:10 tell us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (see also Prov.15::33 and Job 28:28). You see, the fear of the Lord is merely the first step along the road to wisdom and knowledge.
In Chapter 2 of the next book in this series, The Last Enemy we will discuss more about the individual jewels which are reserved in God's treasure house for those who walk in reverence towards Him. For now I would like to take a look at the relationship which the fear of the Lord has to His promise of physical provision and protection for those who overcome and are alive and remaining when He returns. To begin with, Ps.25:11-14 tells us that he who fears the Lord will "spend his days in prosperity" and that God will confide in those who fear Him and "make His covenant known to them." Freedom from want is also promised in Ps.34:9, but then this makes perfect sense when we remember that Ps.115:13; 112:1 and 128:4 all promise that God will "bless those who fear Him," and needless to say, the blessings of the Lord will not leave us wanting. He provides for those who fear Him (Ps.111:5), fulfills the desires of those who fear Him (Ps.145:19), and gives gladness to them as well (Ps.119:74). Why? Because "...the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him (Ps.103:13) and His love for us is as great as the heavens are high above the earth (Ps.103:11). You see, God's eyes are on those who fear Him (Ps.33:18), and Ps.147:11 goes so far as to tell us that God "delights in those who fear Him."
In addition to those blessings, God makes some very specific promises of physical protection to those who will FIRST LEARN TO FEAR HIM. Prov.22:4 tells us that "humility and fear of the Lord brings wealth and honor and life." (emphasis added). Carefully note that those three things result from humility and fear, you don't have to chase after them. This verse is in effect telling us the same thing we see in Matt.6:33: seek first God's kingdom and all these other things will be added unto us by God. He is the one who does the adding - not us.
It is God's desire to add life to us; but if believers already have eternal life, then it would seem that the life spoken of in Prov.22:4 may well be referring to our physical existence. We see in Prov.19:23 that the fear of the Lord leads to life; and from Prov.14:27 that this fear is the "fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death." I believe the key to our understanding as to what type of life is being discussed is found in Prov.10:27 which says, "The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short." Without a doubt then we see that the subject at hand is physical life.
Physical protection is definitely shown in Ps.60:4 "for those who fear You, You have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow." This Psalm was written in celebration of David's victories against the Edomites as recorded in II Sam.8:13. Even before these victories David knew that God protects those who fear Him. Ps.34:7, written by David at Gath just prior to going to the cave at Adullam, tells us that "the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and He delivers them."
This protection is tied in with the nature of God we have come to know as the Most High God; which, as we will see in greater detail in future studies, is the nature of God we are to know as Father, and with whom we will physically celebrate the end time Feast of Tabernacles. Ps.31:19 begins to open up this relationship for us when it tells us that His great goodness is bestowed upon "those who fear You" and "take refuge in You." Verse 20 tells us that God "HIDES" those who fear Him "in the shelter of Your (God's) presence" (parenthesis and emphasis added).
Two things should be noted: first, those who fear God are protected from the intrigues of men, and are blessed by God "in the sight of men" (Ps.31:19). Second, this hidden place is in His "dwelling." The Hebrew word for "dwelling" used in that verse is sook kah, which means "booth" or "tabernacle" (Lev.23:34; Deut.16:13 & Neh.8:14). As you will recall from our other studies, Ps.91:1-2 tells us that our shelter is in the Most High God. "He is my refuge and my fortress." It is for those who fear Him that the Lord is "... a secure fortress (Prov.14:26). No harm will befall those who make the Most High their dwelling and participate in the earthly Feast of Tabernacles with Him, for "He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." (Ps.91:11-12). And as we saw in Ps.34:7, it is those who fear the Lord (those who hate evil) that the Lord's angels are sent to protect.
Should the cause and effect relationship between fearing God and end time protection not yet seem clear to you, turn to Mal.3:16-18. Therein we read:
Then those who FEARED the Lord talked with each other and the Lord listened and heard A scroll of remembrance waswritten in His presence CONCERNING THOSE WHO FEARED THE LORD and honored His name. 'They will be mine' says the Lord Almighty in the day when I make up my treasured possession I will SPARE THEM ... and you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked. (emphasis added).
Remember also that that distinction is to be made between the wicked and the righteous on the earth, in the sight of men.
God distinguished between the righteous and the wicked in Ex.12:23 where in we are shown that the Israelites were kept safe in their dwelling as His wrath swept through Egypt (Ps.78:49). Isaiah 26:20 cautions us to "... enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until His wrath passes by..." God hid Jeremiah and Elijah (Jer.36:26 & I Ki 17:3) from their enemies. He has provided us with a "SECRET PLACE" (Ps.91:1 KJV - emphasis added) in the sight of men (Ps.31:9), but it is open only to those who know the Most High God and fear the Lord.
God has already revealed what it is that distinguishes the righteous from the wicked. The righteous will hate evil and the wicked will not. The Godly fearful will have their days extended, the days of the wicked "ARE CUT SHORT" (Prov.10:27). II Samuel 22:20 tells us that David was rescued by the Lord because the Lord delighted in Him, and as we saw in Psalm 147:11, the Lord delights, and therefore rescues, those who fear Him.