The Fear of the LORD

Psalm 25:14 14 The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant.


What does it mean to fear God? The answer to this question is necessary for two reasons: it's understanding is essential for the steady growth of a new convert; and it is hardly mentioned in today's Christian culture that the average Christian knows it like he or she knows a foreign language. Such speech makes no sense. Given the seemingly broad ignorance on the subject, it will do us good to investigate it. What we will see is that because modern preachers have neglected such an essential teaching of scripture, modern Christianity has become void of the idea and the benefits that come in one's relationship with God. Therefore, I wish to bring this teaching back into the spotlight. Right were it needs to be. I wish to challenge all those preachers and teachers in the ministry to dust it off again. Away with your smooth tongue and flattering speech! Put down the feather and pick up the sword! Stop tickling people's ear and start cutting into their conscience! Do you think that you are doing the kingdom of God a favor by not heralding a message that is hard to hear? You are doing more harm than good. Every time a person softens a hard truth or holds back the full council of God; every time a preacher aims for applause; they are robbing their hearers of truth and contributing to their spiritual downfall. Also, not to mention, they are usurping the authority of the one who called them into the ministry and gave them a commission to preach the word!

The apostle Paul tells the Philippian believers to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to do according to His good pleasure." (2:12). Thus, the way in which we are to carry out our Christian lives is with this attitude of fear and trembling. If not, we are making no strides in our sanctification. The lack of this attitude is why many in the modern church are in such a spiritually impotent and unholy state. Our salvation is to be worked out with an attitude which recoils at the thought of offending a holy and gracious God. An attitude that stands in reverential awe of who He is; a disposition of humility and trust the cast itself on the promises of a God who is faithful to the utmost and free from any corruption. Proverbs 8:13 sums up best what the fear of the LORD is, "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate."

We must also note that this fear does not include torment. It is not a debilitating fear- Psalm 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever. The word translated "clean" denotes a purity of refined silver that is free from any type of imperfection. It is also used in reference to a "pure heart", one that is free from moral evil and wicked motives. It can also be used in a ritualistic sense of being made clean in order to come into the courts of the LORD. In the context, it means that the fear of the LORD is a pure fear; fear that has no imperfections or evil in it. It is clean, lovely, and beautiful.

Certain things can only be attained by the fear of the LORD. It is the very beginning of knowledge and wisdom. Thus, if you never have it, you cannot even begin to obtain genuine knowledge or wisdom: Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. True intimacy with God cannot be obtained without it: Psalm 25:14The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant. The Hebrew word translated "secret" gives the idea of intimacy with the LORD. God will only reveal the depth of Himself and His covenant to those who fear Him. Sure, a person can have knowledge of facts about God and about his covenant. But that is all it will ever be. It will never be knowledge of experience with God. We live in a day and age where there is so much theological knowledge and information, yet we are as spiritually impotent in our knowledge of God as the Catholic Church was in the years before the Magisterial Reformation. The LORD will also fulfill the desires of those who fear Him: Psalm 145:19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him. The reason He does so is that the person who fears the LORD loves what He loves and hates what He hates. Thus, their petitions and desires are Spirit born and are a request of the will and desire of God. Finally, God favors those who fear Him: Psalm 147:11 11 The LORD favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His lovingkindness. God takes delight in and shows His divine favor towards those who fear Him.

We have only begun to scratch the surface. In other places the Bible also says that the angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him; He shows His compassion to those who fear Him, and His covenant loyalties are towards those who fear Him. In light of this very brief and incomplete overview, we see that the fear of the LORD is not something we should neglect nor take lightly. Back to the reference in Philippians 2:12. Our salvation is to be worked out not half heartedly; not flippantly; not in a manner of selfishness, pride, or luke warmness, but in awe and reverence of a Holy God. For it is this Holy, Jealous God that is working with in us giving us both the will and the ability to do according to His good pleasure.

What will the life of those who fear the LORD look like? One word-obedience. A conformity to the will of God in passion, motive, action, and speech. There will be an ever-increasing likeness of the Son of God in their life. They are enthralled with the Holiness of God, humbled by the Grace of God, and passionate about the Glory of God. They are people of prayer, boldness, love, compassion, and sincerity. They are truthful in their speech and show integrity in their teaching. They know that one day the quality of their work will be measured-all the way down to the motive in which they carried it out. Knowing the omniscient eye of God, they bow in poorness of spirit to the Eternal King of the Ages and throw themselves upon the power of Christ to carry out His life through them. This is the man who fears the LORD and delight in His way. All others are pretenders.

I'll close with the words of Moses: Deuteronomy 10:12-13 "Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the LORD'S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?