For Those Who Fear Him There Is No Want

For Those Who Fear Him There is No Want (Psa 34:9-11)

Illustration: The word awesome is freely used these days to describe athletes, coaches, teachers, and even friends. I suppose it’s not wrong to use the expression this way. But if you ever stand at the rim of the Grand Canyon, or get a panoramic view from Sandia Peak, a point more than 14,000 feet above sea level, you’ll really feel a sense of awe.

That’s how I felt last year when I visited those places while on vacation. Although the scenery itself was breathtaking, my feeling of awe had more to do with God than with the spectacular beauties of nature. I had the sense of being in the presence of the One who created these wonders. I found myself saying, "This is only one wonder on one small planet in a universe that includes billions of stars and distances measured in terms of millions of light-years. What an awesome God!"

This sense of awe is healthy and should fill us with fear, gratitude, and love. Fear, because such a God is not to be trifled with. Gratitude, because He reached down in grace to save us from our sins. Love, because by loving us first He enables us to love Him in return (1 John 4:19).

Lord, fill us with a sense of wonder as we think of You. You are indeed our awesome God. (Our Daily Bread)

Fear of God - A reverential trust in God with a hatred for evil.

1. PROMISES FOR FEARING GOD -

a. Oh, fear the Lord you His saints for to those who fear Him there is no want. (Psa. 34:9)

b. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 1:7)

c. By humility and the fear of the Lord is honor, riches and life. (Prov. 22:4)

d. Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways. (Psa. 128:1)

e. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them. (Psa. 145:19)

f. The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love. (Psa 147:11)

g. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death. (Prov. 14:27)

2. WHAT WE SHOULD NOT FEAR -

a. The fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. (Prov. 29:25)

b. King Saul made a terrible mistake when he said, "I fear the people." (I Sam. 15:24)

c. Do not fear earthly calamities (Luke 21:25-28)

d. Do not fear punishments (Heb. 10:27)

e. Do not fear "fear itself" (Job 15:24)

f. Do not fear troubles. The Lord said, "Fear not for I am with you" (Isa. 41:10)

g. Do not fear about your worries or insecurities. (Phil. 4:6,7)

3. WE ARE COMMANDED TO ONLY FEAR THE LORD -

a. "You will walk after the Lord your God and fear Him and keep His commandments and obey His voice and serve Him and cling to Him. (Deut 13:4)

b. "Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the King. (I Pet. 2:17)

c. "Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." (2 Cor. 7:1)

d. By fearing God we are able to live circumspect lives

4. HOW TO DESCRIBE THE FEAR OF GOD TO OTHERS -

a. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. (Prov. 8:13)

b. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil. (Prov. 15:16)

c. The fear of the Lord is sanctifying - cleansing the heart, conscience and mind. (Psa. 19:9)

d. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life. (Prov. 14:27)

e. The fear of the Lord helps us worship God.

f. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Psa. 111:10)

g. For to those who fear Him there is no want. (Psa. 34:9)

5. MOTIVATIONS TO FEAR GOD -

a. God’s holiness causes us to fear Him. "Who will not fear you, O Lord and glorify your name? For you alone are holy." (Rev. 15:4)

b. God’s greatness causes us to fear Him. (Deut. 10:12-17)

c. The goodness of the Lord causes us to fear Him. (I Sam 12:24)

d. God’s forgiveness motivates us to fear Him. (Psa. 130:4)

e. God’s great works and deeds cause us to fear Him. (Josh. 4:23,24)

f. His coming judgments cause us to fear the Lord. (Rev. 14:7)

g. Answers to prayer cause us to fear God. (John 15:7)

6. WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO FEAR GOD? -

a. To facilitate our worship - In reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple. (Psa. 5:7)