Judges Series #16 Life Cycles
“Fighting Fear with Fear” Part 7 The Benefits of the Fear of the Lord
Review
From our study of the book of Judges, we discovered that our all-powerful God uses the improbable to accomplish the impossible.
In reality, He has no other option since everyone lives with “issues”. As James put it, “We ALL stumble in many ways.” Paul declared that ALL have sinned and fall short of God’s standard. God’s only option is to use stumbling, sinful people. God actually delights in using the weak in this world’s eyes to accomplish His eternal purposes.
In our study of the Judges we observed God empowering the available, the weak, and the disenfranchised; in Gideon’s case the fearful. Since fear is an emotion familiar to everyone, I dedicated these past months to striving for a better biblical understanding of it. Fear is a tangible involuntary reaction to a perceived or actual threat to my well-being that is either present or potential that requires some sort of intentional response. Taming this paralyzing beast involves analysis and response.
That involuntary stirring in the gut we call fear, anxiety, worry, concern serves as a motivation to respond to a possible threat to my well-being.
Analyze the fear.
We need to first analyze the source of the treat.
Real or imagined (perceived)?
Present or future?
Consider the intentional response.
The involuntary emotional reaction in the face of threat motivates some sort of intentional response.
The Bible is clear that the primary intentional response to fear must always involve a reasoned resolve to trust the Lord and follow His direction in the face of the threat.
Just as Jesus entrusted His soul to a faithful Creator during His darkest hour, we must entrust the well-being of our deepest soul to our faithful Creator when facing threats unfolding in the present or possible in the future.
God is an infinite all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere present God who pledges to incorporate every threatening circumstance and tragedy into a master plan that works out for His ultimate glory and our ultimate good. This same God declares His unconditional love and unending presence and ultimate purpose. The realization of these truths serves to diffuse our unsettling fear in the face of threatening circumstances taking place now or looming in the future. The promise of God’s love, power and presence in the face of threat accompany the numerous admonishments to take courage and do not fear.
Such trust and obedience enables other possible responses to life’s threats. Stand and courageously fight the enemy or wisely escape the threat by God’s direction.
Wait patiently for God’s timing and direction.
Pray to our infinite God with thanksgiving in every threatening circumstance.
Pursue further truth and understanding related to the source of the threat.
Encourage others with godly words and touch
Prepare spiritually and mentally for threating tribulation in life
Rejoice in the Lord always, again God says REJOICE!!
Sometimes the presence of fear exposes a lack of genuine trust. Life has a way of demonstrating the presence or absence of faith. Our close connection to people may generate a genuine concern that stirs our emotions. God intends those involuntary emotions to motivate intentional actions.
Job felt fear for his 11 grown children.
And when the days of a family feast had run its course, Job would send and consecrate his children, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. Job 1:5
Jobs’ concern for his kids motivated prayer on their behalf.
Fear without Biblical response only escalates and damages the soul. The Bible reveals a fear that fights all other fears; that is the fear of the Lord. Fear drives us to trust God more fully.
You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. Psalm 115:11
Trust in God develops a healthy fear of the Lord.
When we fear the Lord, none of the threats of this world seems that threatening.
God encourages us to fear Him above anything or anyone else.
The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted. Proverbs 29:25
WHAT IS THE FEAR OF THE LORD?
The fear of the Lord is the involuntary reaction to a profounder perception
of the person and work of God that inspires some sort of intentional response.
An involuntary reverential reaction to God comes through a deeper understanding of Him.
A profounder understanding of ANY of God’s attributes stirs an emotional reaction which serves to motivate any number of intentional responses.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10
The clearer the understanding of the majesty of His person, the awesome nature of His work and the awareness of His presence, the more significant the reaction and more genuine the response. God recorded His creative acts in nature to display His immeasurable greatness. The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1
For God’s invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Romans 1:20
God recorded His interactions with people to reveal His incomprehensible nature.
God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
To know God is to fear Him. You cannot separate the fear of the Lord from the knowledge of Him. You won’t fear or respect Him if you don’t know Him.
Paul exposed those who didn’t truly know God.
For even though they knew (about) God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Romans 1:21-23
As a result, God let them morally and spiritually deteriorate to the point where they refused to acknowledge God any longer and ended up hating God and practicing all manner of soul-destroying activities.
DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN. THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES. Romans 3:16-18
Moses warned the Israelites what would happen if they failed to fear the Lord as a nation.
If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which are written in this book, to fear this honored and awesome name, the LORD your God, then the LORD will bring extraordinary plagues on you and your descendants, even severe and lasting plagues, and miserable and chronic sicknesses. He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt of which you were afraid, and they will cling to you. Deut 28:58-60
How do we develop a healthy fear of the Lord?
The key is a greater understanding of his infinite person and incredible works through the revelation of His word and personal relationship.
O taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the LORD, you His saints; for to those who fear Him there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing. Psalm 34:8-10
We touched on some specific ways we learn to fear the Lord mentioned in the Bible.
Frightening manifestations of His power
Jesus incited fear several time in his time with the disciples.
Discipline and testing
Realization of His forgiveness of our sin
Regular Interaction with and obedience to the Word of God
Answers to Prayer
Regular Giving and celebration of our relationship with Him
Powerful examples of deliverance
Fear of the Lord is a gift of God
God grants it.
We learn it.
We seek it and choose it.
What motivates an intentional pursuit of God? What motivates us to fear the Lord?
CONSEQUENCES
Contemplation of the consequences of not fearing the Lord motivates us to pursue God.
The whole Bible stands as a testimony to the consequences of a failure to honor God and fear Him above anything and anyone else.
Watch yourself, that
you do not forget the LORD who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name. You shall NOT follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you, for the LORD your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth. Deuteronomy 6:12-15
We provided verses of warning about God being a consuming fire.
BENEFITS
The Bible also clearly catalogs the many benefits of maintaining a fear of the Lord. Keep in mind that God’s benefits are not the primary reason to fear Him.
And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face." Job 1:8-11
Satan predicted that if God withdrew those blessings Job would curse God. When Satan wiped out Job’s whole family, he said…
"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD." Job 1:21
There are however, abundant blessings associated with those who fear of the Lord. If you equate fear of the Lord with vital relationship with the Lord, the benefits are endless. The following passages represent passages that actually use the phrase “fear the Lord”. Other passages employ terms that convey the same concept like obey, seek, know, follow, serve, love etc.
Deters sin
Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin." Exodus 20:20
You shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 25:17
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. Psalm 119:9-11
Incurs general blessing from God, Well being
Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever! Deuteronomy 5:29
The LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God for our good always and for our survival, as it is today. It will be righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all this commandment before the LORD our God, just as He commanded us. Deuteronomy 6:24-25
O Israel, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. The LORD has been mindful of us; He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless those who fear the LORD, The small together with the great. May the LORD give you increase, You and your children. May you be blessed of the LORD, Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 115:9-15
Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice. For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor. The wicked man sees it and is angry; he gnashes his teeth and melts away; the desire of the wicked will perish! Psalm 112:1-10
Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Psalm 34:9-10
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! May you see your children’s children! Peace be upon Israel! Psalm 128:1-6
Yields deliverance and protection from our enemies
The statutes and the rules and the law and the commandment that he wrote for you, you shall always be careful to do. You shall not fear other gods, and you shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you. You shall not fear other gods, but you shall fear the LORD your God, and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies. 2 Kings 17:37-39
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Psalm 34:7
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Psalm 33:18-19
Motivates effective sharing of the gospel
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. 2 Corinthians 5:11
Motivates holiness
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1
Motivates compassionate treatment of others
But the Egyptian midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. Exodus 1:17
So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. Exodus 1:20
If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you. You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God. Leviticus 25:35-38
Leviticus instructed them that a fear of the Lord motivates how we treat the elderly, slaves, neighbors and people in general (Lev 19).
Motivates faithful service
Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Colossians 3:22-25
Shapes a praise-worthy life
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30
Stimulates church growth
The church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. Acts 9:31
Produces God’s Provision
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Psalm 34:8-10
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations. Psalm 111:4-6
The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life. Proverbs 22:4
Brings Salvation
Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation. Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. Psalm 85:7-9
Promises satisfaction in life
The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. Psalm 145:18-20
Notice the parallel words associated with the fear of the Lord i.e. call on him, fear him, love him.
Instills Confidence and life
In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:26-27
The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. Proverbs 19:23
And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17:3
Develops Wisdom
Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. His soul will abide in prosperity, And his descendants will inherit the land. The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant. My eyes are continually toward the LORD, For He will pluck my feet out of the net. Psalm 25:12-15
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10
Facilitates Friendship with God
The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. Psalm25:14
Results in God’s Mercy, Love and Forgiveness
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. Psalm 103:11-18
for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. Luke 1:49-50
Motivates Ethical behavior
The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God. Nehemiah 5:15
Psalm 19 first focuses on the role of nature in revealing God’s person and ends with the power of the word of God and the benefits for those who embrace it.
All the terms refer to the word of God including fear of the Lord.
One may say then that the fear of the Lord reaps all of the benefits listed here.
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
We should desire the fear of the Lord more than fine gold and sweet honey. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. The fear of the Lord warns us and rewards us.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:7-14
How do we know we have a fear of the Lord?
Well, at least in one case God provides a clue to how He knows.
When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 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.” Genesis 22:9-12
After some of the people of the northern kingdom returned, they tried to hold on to both the fear of the Lord and other gods.
and you shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you. You shall not fear other gods, but you shall fear the LORD your God, and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.” However, they would not listen, but they did according to their former manner. So these nations feared the LORD and also served their carved images. Their children did likewise, and their children’s children—as their fathers did, so they do to this day. 2 Kings 17:38-41
I cannot help but think this is fearfully descriptive of our culture today. We fear God but we also want to keep our devoting to the things of this world. God clearly insists on absolute fidelity and undiminished devotion to Him.
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17
The LORD your God tests you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. Deut 13:3-4
Fear of the Lord is a no brainer if we understand who it is we serve. Many fail to honor God as God.
They know about Him, they may even say they love Him but by their actions, they prove they don’t really fear Him.
What if I told you that Jim Patterson would be our guest speaker next week? Who? So what! Now what if I told you that Chuck Swindoll will be the guest speaker? Wow! To the extent we understand and embrace His person and works, we will honor Him as God. You can’t help an automatic reaction to His greatness. After that, we intentionally choose an appropriate response.
I am here to tell you that Jesus is here today! You will respond to that declaration according to your level of your respect and awareness of His presence. Will you choose to embrace Him and serve Him with all our heart, soul, and mind today?
COMMUNION
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! May you see your children’s children! Peace be upon Israel! Psalm 128:1-6
