Definition of "Fear of the Lord"

Transcription

1 Fear of the Lord Definition of "Fear of the Lord" "Fear of the Lord" means a reverential awe of God; a complete submission to His rulership and control : Psalm 33:8 - "Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. Specifically: A. It means to reject all other gods, and to serve the only true God with all your heart and soul : Job 1:1 - "In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil." Psalm 128:1 - "Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways." B. It means to recognize Him as Creator and to know that His plans stand firm forever. Psalm 33: "Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. 9. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. 10. The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. 11. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations." "It means to have God's attitude toward sin, and to have a deep and healthy respect for His character and holiness." Joy Dawson

2 Relationship between wisdom and the fear of God Wisdom begins with a fear of God: Proverbs 1:7 - "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." Proverbs 9:10 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. There is no true wisdom without acquiring the fear of God: Job 28:2 - "And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding;'" Proverbs 9:10 - "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding;" Ps. 111:10 - "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise." ***The priority of the fear of the Lord Deuteronomy 10:12 - "And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul." How many of us would have put the fear of the Lord as a top priority? The value of the fear of God Proverbs 15:16 - "Better a little with the fear of the Lord than

3 great wealth with turmoil." The description of the fear of God Proverbs 14:27 - "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death." The commands concerning the fear of God Proverbs 23:17 - "Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord." I Peter 1:17 - "Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear." Psalm 33:8 - "Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him." *** Tongue control Psalm 34: "keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. 14. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." Psalm 86:11 - " give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." The fear of the Lord will be obvious in what we say, the manner in which we control our tongues. The one who has the fear of the Lord is described again in Proverbs. 8:13. "To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech." In contrast, the one who has no fear is described in Psalm 36:3a. -

4 "The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful." Avoidance of evil Psalm 34:14a - "Turn from evil..." Remember, the fear of the Lord means we hate sin. Proverbs 8:13a - "To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech." (See Psalm36:4.) Service/good works Psalm 34:14b - "...do good..." The fear of the Lord should be the motivation for all service and good deeds Psalm 2:11. Be a peace seeker and peacemaker Psalm 34:14c - "...seek peace and pursue it." The fear of the Lord brings wisdom, and wisdom is peaceable James 3: *** Wisdom in our speech Proverbs 15:33 - "The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom." *** Obedience Ecclesiastes 12:13; The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Genesis 22:12; He said, Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.

5 If God finds a person who fears and obeys, He can do anything with him. A test reveals the fear of God. Worship Psalm 5:7 - "But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple." Revelation 14:6-7 - "Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7. He said in a loud voice, 'Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.'" If we don't know God, we try to fake it with Him; we try to impress or persuade Him, or we don't listen to Him. If we do know God, we stand in awe of Him, knowing He knows our very thoughts and plans, and we easily kneel, raise our hands, and worship Him. *** No fear of man Luke 12:4-5 - "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." Proverbs 29:25 - "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe." The fear of God will release you from the fear of man and give you authority. ***** What will be the benefits to a person who

6 through Christ, begins to grow in the fear of God? There is quite a list in the Scripture. As I studied, I was surprised to see the benefits of this attitude in a person s life. There will be benefits for your family. ** Security for you and your family. Proverbs 14:26 - "He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge." Mercy from generation to generation. Luke 1:50 - "His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation." There will be honor for the woman and man who fear God. Proverbs 31:30 - "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised;" Proverbs 22:4 - "Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life." There will be an avoidance of evil. Proverbs16:6 - "Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil." There will be true life and contentment. Proverbs 19:23 - "The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble." The Lord will confide in the one who fears Him. Psalm 25:14 - "The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them."

7 There will be long life. Proverbs 10:27 - "The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short." There will be no lack of anything. Psalm 34:9 - "Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing." There will be mercy. Psalm 103: "As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; 14. For he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust." Luke 1:50 - "His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation." There will be fulfilled desires. Psalm 145:19 - "He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them." It will give pleasure to God. Psalm 147: "His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; 11. the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love." It will be a great treasure to us. Isaiah 33:5-6 - "The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure."

8 We will be blessed by God. Psalm 112:1; 115:13. - "Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands." (115:12-13) "The LORD... will bless those who fear the LORD small and great alike." We will have the companionship of others. Psalm 119:63 - "I am a friend to all who fear you... " We will be acceptable to God. Acts 10: "Then Peter began to speak: 'I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35. but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right." There will be guidance for us. Psalm 25:12 - "Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him." We will have riches, honor and life. Psalm 25: "12. Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. 13. He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land." We will be taught by the Lord. Psalm 25:14 - "The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them." There will be healing.

9 Malachi 4:2 - "But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall." The goodness of God will be ours. Psalm 31: "How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. 20. In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues." There will be a Righteous government 2 Samuel 23:3-4 - "The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: 'When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, 4. he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.'" 2 Chronicles 19:4 - "Jehoshaphat He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. 6. He told them, 'Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. 7. Now let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Judge carefully... '" Conclusion: Their names are in a special book, and they will be God's treasured possession Malachi 3:16- What will be the greatest reward for those who fear God? Their names will be recorded. Is this your desire?

10 Malachi 3:16 - "Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. 17. 'They will be mine,' says the LORD Almighty, 'in the day when I make up my treasured possession. [Or Almighty, 'my treasured possession, in the day when I act'] I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him.'"