The Fear of the LORD
"Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD." (Psalm 34:11)
REFLECTION: God promises much to those who will learn an appropriate fear of Him:
> "by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil." (Prov 16:6)
> "The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied;" (Pro 19:23)
> "By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life." (Prov 22:4)
> "The fear of the LORD is clean, " (Psa 19:9)
> "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: " (Psa 111:10)
> "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:." (Prov 1:7)
> "In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence:." (Prov 14:26)
> "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." (Prov 14:27)
> " the fear of the LORD is his treasure." (Isa 33:6)
In spite of God’s command and commendation, to “be in the fear of the LORD all the day.” Pr. 23:17
Romans 3;18 provide a sad but accurate appraisal: "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
DIRECTION: Psalm 34:11 promises that the “Fear of the LORD” can be taught. There are at least 18 different Hebrew words that are translated “Fear” in the Old Testament. (3 in the
New Testament.) The three most common words used give us some wonderful insight into “The Fear of the LORD.”
1. THE FOUNDATION OF FEAR. (3372. yare'; frighten, be afraid, dread.)
A. RETRIBUTION IS THE “FOUNDATION OF FEAR”
1) God is holy and ought to be feared.
"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Heb 10:31)
"For our God is a consuming fire." (Heb 12:29)
2) Satan seeks to propagate a distorted picture of God. “Ye shall not
surely die..” Gen. 3:4
a) By removing the awareness of the consequences of our actions.
Ecc. 8:11 "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." (Eccl 8:11)
b) By Seductive and destructive teaching. (2 Cor. 11; 1 Timothy 4)
3) This fear ought to be universal: Ecc. 12:13,14 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."
B. PARENTS HAVE THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY TO BUILD THIS FOUNDATION.
(Lev 19:3) "Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father: I am the LORD your God."
1) By Illustration (Example). (1 Thes. 2:10-12)
2) By Instruction. (Deut. 6:4-8)
"Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD." (Psalm 34:11)
C. THIS FEAR IS RELATED TO THE LAW OF GOD. (Ex. 20:20)
> "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."
> "O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name:" (Neh 1:11)
2. THE FOCUS OF FEAR (3373 yare', yaw-raw'; fearing; more reverent).
A. PROTECTING GOD’S REPUTATION IS THE “FOCUS OF FEAR.”
1) This fear is one of causing shame, particularly to God.
a) This was a requirement for leadership in Israel. (Ex. 18:21) "provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers:"
b) This is what motivated Job’s pure life. Job. 1:8 “Hast thou considered my servant Job, …, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?”
B. THE FOCUS ON GOD’S REPUTATION IS RICHLY REWARDED.
1) We were made to Glorify and please God, not to shame him. (Re. 4:11)
2) God protects those who seek to protect his Name. (Ps 34:7; Mal 4:2)
C. SATAN SEEKS TO GET US FOCUSED ON OUR REPUTATION
1) This leads to the “Fear of Man” which brings a snare.”(Prov 29:25)
2) This produces Pride and dulls us to God’s plan.
D. THIS FEAR IS RELATED TO THE “LIGHT” OF GOD. (Psalm 25:14)
3. THE FELLOWSHIP OF FEAR. (yir'ah, yir-aw'; fear; exceeding reverence)
A. MAINTAINING OUR RELATIONSHIP IS THE “FELLOWSHIP” OF FEAR.
1) This is the basis of true Worship. Psalm 5:7
2) This is the basis of Wisdom. Psalm 111:10
3) This is the basis of effective Service: (Ps. 2:11)
4) This is the basis of a full life. (Pr. 10:27)
5) This is the basis of Confidence. (Pr. 14:26)
6) This is the basis of Contentment: (Pr. 19:23) (Prov 19:23)
7) This is the basis of fruitfulness: (Pr. 14:27)
8) This is the basis of Purity. (Pr. 16:6) (Proverbs 8:13) "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way,and the froward mouth, do I hate."
B. THIS IS THE “SPIRIT OF FEAR” THAT FILLED JESUS. (Isaiah 11:2)
"And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;"
C. THIS FEAR IS RELATED TO THE LOVE OF GOD. Isaiah 33:6
"And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure." (Isa 33:6)
D. WE CAN CHOSE THIS FEAR.
"For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:" (Prov 1:29)
"By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches..honour..life."(Pr 22:4)
