A frequent control given to God'south people in the OT is to "fright God" or "fear the Lord." Information technology's of import that we understand what this command ways for Christ'due south followers today. But equally we truly fear the Lord will nosotros be freed from all subversive and satanic fears. By fearing God, we can avoid beingness trapped by the natural pull toward going our own way, defying God and giving in to the inviting means of immoral behavior.

This is an excerpt adapted from the Fire Study Bible Notes.

"These are the commands, the decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Hashemite kingdom of jordan to possess, and so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God every bit long every bit you live by keeping all His decrees and commands that I requite you lot, and so that y'all may relish long life." — Deuteronomy 6:one-ii

What does it MEAN to Fright God? The broad command to "fearfulness the Lord" involves understanding several things about a believer's relationship with God.

ONE: GOD IS LOVING & JUST

Kickoff of all, we must recognize that God is loving, merciful and forgiving; but He also is holy, just and righteous. Knowing God and understanding His character (cf. Pr 2:5) means accepting the fact that His justice and holiness (i.due east., purity, perfection, completeness of character and separation from evil) crusade Him to judge sin. In this sense, fearing the Lord is to appreciate His character.

TWO: Fearfulness OF THE LORD Tin can PRODUCE AWE

Fearing the Lord means to be in reverent awe of His holiness, to give Him complete reverence and to honor Him as the God of cracking glory, majesty, purity and power. For case, when God revealed Himself to the Israelites at Mountain Sinai through "thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet smash," they all "trembled" in fear (Ex nineteen:16) considering of His great ability. They even begged Moses to deliver God'due south bulletin to them so they would not have to come across God Himself (Ex 20:18-nineteen; Dt five:22-27). Likewise, when the psalm writer reflects on God as Creator, he says: "Allow all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the earth revere Him. For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm" (Ps 33:8-9).

THREE: FEAR OF THE LORD CAN PRODUCE Faith

True fear of the Lord causes believers to place their faith and trust in Him alone for salvation. For example, later on the Israelites crossed through the Cerise Sea on dry ground and saw how God destroyed the Egyptian army who came after them, they "feared the Lord and put their trust in Him". The psalmist encourages all who fearfulness the Lord to "trust in the Lord–He is their assist and shield" (Ps 115:11). In other words, fearing God produces confidence, promise and trust in Him, which are necessary when nosotros are looking to God for mercy, forgiveness (Lk 1:50; cf. Ps 103:11; 130:4) and spiritual conservancy (Ps 85:9). Here, fearing God means to be moved to conventionalities and trust.

Iv: GOD IS Angry ABOUT SIN

Finally, to fearfulness God involves recognizing that He is angry about sin and has the power to punish those who stand arrogantly against Him and break His laws (cf. Ps 76:seven-eight). When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they were afraid and tried to hide from God'due south presence (Ge iii:8-10). Moses experienced this attribute of the fear of God when he spent xl days and nights praying for the sinful Israelites: "I feared the anger and wrath of the Lord, for He was angry enough with you to destroy y'all" (Dt 9:19). In the NT, the author of Hebrews acknowledges God'due south coming vengeance and judgment, and and then writes: "Information technology is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb 10:31). This type of fear is to be afraid, especially if yous are defenseless on the wrong side of God's justice.

WHY Fright GOD?

The reasons for fearing God are found in the different meanings of the "fearfulness of the Lord," equally described above. Although at that place are different types of fearfulness, office of our respect and awe is in the knowledge of his wrath and power. It'southward all connected.

  • We should be in awe of Him because of His matchless power as the Creator of all things and all people (Ps 33:6-9; 96:4-v; Jnh i:nine).
  • In addition, the astonishing power that He continues to exercise over his cosmos–including humankind–is crusade for fearing God (Ex 20:xviii-xx; Ecc 3:14; Jnh 1:11-16; Mk four:39-41).
  • When we truly realize God'due south holiness (i.e., His purity, perfection and separation from evil), the normal response of the homo spirit is to fear Him (Rev 15:4).
  • Anyone who sees or experiences a manifestation (i.e., a visible or physical sign or demonstration) of God'south glory cannot help but get afraid (Mt 17:one-viii).
  • The continual blessings we receive from God, especially the forgiveness of our sins (Ps 130:iv), should pb us to fright and love Him (1Sa 12:24; Ps 34:nine; 67:7).
  • Higher up all, the fact that the Lord is a God of justice who will judge the entire human race should be reason plenty to produce a godly fear (Dt 17:12-xiii; Isa 59:18-19; Mal 3:5; Heb 10:26-31). It is a sobering and absolute truth that God is constantly enlightened of our deportment and motives, both good and bad, and that we will be held answerable for those deportment, both now and on the day of our personal judgment.

How volition fearing God bear on our lives? The fear of the Lord is far more than than a Biblical teaching, principle or idea. It is relevant to our daily lives in many ways. Here are half dozen to get started:

i. WE BECOME OBEDIENT

First, if we truly fright the Lord, we will obey His commands, alive according to His Word and say "No" to sin. I reason why God inspired fearfulness in the Israelites at Mount Sinai was so that they might acquire to avoid and reject sin and to obey his police force (Ex 20:20). In his terminal accost to the Israelites, Moses repeatedly continued fearing God to serving and obeying Him (due east.chiliad., Dt v:29; 6:2, 24; 8:6; ten:12; thirteen:4; 17:xix; 31:12).

According to the psalm writer, fearing God is equal to delighting in His commands (Ps 112:1) and following the principles of His law (Ps 119:63).

Solomon taught that "through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil" (Pr 16:6; cf. 8:thirteen). In Ecclesiastes, the whole duty of the man race is summarized by two simple requirements: "Fright God and continue His commandments" (Ecc 12:13). On the opposite, anyone who is content to alive wickedly or defy God does so because "in that location is no fear of God before his optics" (Ps 36:1-4).

2. We TEACH OUR CHILDREN

Non only should the fear of the Lord affect individual lives, but it should likewise affect families. God instructs His followers to teach their children to fear Him past grooming them to detest sin and to dearest God'south commands (Dt 4:ten; 6:1-two, 6-nine). The Bible often states that "the fear of the Lord is the starting time of wisdom" (Ps 111:10; Pr nine:10; cf. Job 28:28; Pr 1:seven). A Christian's basic goal for his or her children should be that they learn to alive past God's principles of wisdom (Pr 1:1-six). Instruction them to fear the Lord is a critical get-go pace.

3. We Grow IN SANCTIFICATION

The fear of the Lord has a sanctifying (i.e., purifying, separating from sin, spiritually maturing) issue on God's people, simply as applying the truth of God's Give-and-take does (Jn 17:17). It compels us to hate sin and avoid evil (Pr 3:seven; 8:13; xvi:6). It causes us to be careful in what we say (Pr 10:19; Ecc 5:ii, six-7). It protects us from weakening our consciences and our moral sensitivity toward what is correct. The fear of the Lord has a spiritually cleansing, purifying and restoring outcome that tin last forever (Ps 19:9).

4. Nosotros WORSHIP WHOLE-HEARTEDLY

The holy and reverent fear of the Lord motivates God's people to worship Him with their whole being. People who truly fearfulness God will praise and honour Him as Lord of all (Ps 22:23). David said that a worshiping congregation is the same every bit "those who fear" God (Ps 22:25). At the end of history, when the affections who proclaims the eternal gospel–the "good news" about Jesus Christ–calls everyone on globe to fear God, he immediately adds, "and give Him glory … Worship Him who made the heavens, and earth, the sea and the springs of water" (Rev 14:vi-7).

5. In that location IS A PROMISED Reward

God has promised to advantage all those who fright Him. "Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life" (Pr 22:iv). Other promised rewards include security and protection from decease (Pr 14:26-27), provisions for daily needs (Ps 34:nine; 111:5) and a long life (Pr x:27). Those who live in reverent awe of God know that "it will go better with God-fearing men," regardless of what happens in the world effectually them (Ecc 8:12-thirteen).

6. WE Proceeds A HUMBLE Confidence

Finally, fearing God brings a apprehensive confidence and overwhelming spiritual comfort. The NT straight links the fear of the Lord with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31). Those who exercise non fearfulness God will have picayune or no sense of his presence and protection. However, those who fear God and obey his Discussion will experience a deep sense of spiritual security and the anointing (i.eastward., empowering) of the Holy Spirit. They can be sure that God ultimately will "deliver them from death" (Ps 33:18-19).

1 John 4:xviii states, "There is no fearfulness in dearest. Merely perfect dearest drives out fright, because fear has to do with punishment. The 1 who fears is not made perfect in beloved". Although this verse may seem contrary to the to a higher place data, information technology'southward all nearly perspective; when we are filled with and washed over by God's perfect love, we do not demand to be agape of His wrath.

Fire BIBLE Report NOTES

fire bible study notes fear of the Lord

This blog is adapted from the Fire Bible Study Notes. Learn more nigh this resource and sentry how information technology works in the Olive Tree Bible App by visiting our website.

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