A frequent command given to God's people in the OT is to "fear God" or "fearfulness the Lord." It'south important that we understand what this control means for Christ'due south followers today. Merely equally we truly fear the Lord will we be freed from all destructive and satanic fears. Past fearing God, we can avoid being trapped by the natural pull toward going our ain manner, defying God and giving in to the inviting means of immoral behavior.

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

"These are the commands, the decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to discover in the land that you lot are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that y'all, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God every bit long as yous live past keeping all His decrees and commands that I give you, and and so that you may enjoy long life." — Deuteronomy vi:1-2

What does it Hateful to FEAR God? The wide command to "fear the Lord" involves understanding several things about a believer'southward relationship with God.

One: GOD IS LOVING & But

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

TWO: FEAR OF THE LORD CAN PRODUCE AWE

Fearing the Lord means to exist in reverent awe of His holiness, to give Him consummate reverence and to honor Him as the God of cracking glory, majesty, purity and power. For example, when God revealed Himself to the Israelites at Mount Sinai through "thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mount, and a very loud trumpet blast," they all "trembled" in fear (Ex 19:xvi) because of His great power. They even begged Moses to deliver God's message to them so they would non take to see God Himself (Ex 20:18-19; Dt 5:22-27). Also, when the psalm author reflects on God as Creator, he says: "Let all the world fear the Lord; allow all the people of the world revere Him. For He spoke, and it came to exist; He commanded, and information technology stood firm" (Ps 33:eight-nine).

3: Fright OF THE LORD Tin PRODUCE Religion

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

FOUR: GOD IS ANGRY ABOUT SIN

Finally, to fright God involves recognizing that He is angry about sin and has the power to punish those who stand arrogantly confronting Him and pause His laws (cf. Ps 76:vii-8). When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they were afraid and tried to hide from God'south presence (Ge 3:8-10). Moses experienced this attribute of the fearfulness of God when he spent 40 days and nights praying for the sinful Israelites: "I feared the acrimony and wrath of the Lord, for He was angry enough with yous to destroy you" (Dt nine:xix). In the NT, the author of Hebrews acknowledges God's coming vengeance and judgment, then writes: "Information technology is a dreadful matter to autumn into the easily of the living God" (Heb 10:31). This blazon of fear is to be afraid, specially if you are defenseless on the wrong side of God's justice.

WHY Fearfulness GOD?

The reasons for fearing God are found in the different meanings of the "fear of the Lord," as described above. Although there are different types of fright, part of our respect and awe is in the knowledge of his wrath and power. Information technology's all continued.

  • We should be in awe of Him because of His matchless ability equally the Creator of all things and all people (Ps 33:6-9; 96:4-5; Jnh i:9).
  • In addition, the amazing power that He continues to practise over his creation–including humankind–is cause for fearing God (Ex twenty:xviii-twenty; Ecc 3:14; Jnh ane:11-16; Mk 4:39-41).
  • When we truly realize God's holiness (i.eastward., His purity, perfection and separation from evil), the normal response of the man spirit is to fear Him (Rev xv:4).
  • Anyone who sees or experiences a manifestation (i.e., a visible or physical sign or demonstration) of God's celebrity cannot help but become afraid (Mt 17:1-eight).
  • The continual blessings we receive from God, especially the forgiveness of our sins (Ps 130:4), should lead us to fear and honey Him (1Sa 12:24; Ps 34:9; 67:7).
  • Above all, the fact that the Lord is a God of justice who will judge the unabridged human race should be reason enough to produce a godly fear (Dt 17:12-thirteen; Isa 59:18-19; Mal 3:5; Heb 10:26-31). Information technology 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 actions, both at present and on the day of our personal judgment.

How will fearing God bear upon our lives? The fearfulness 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 6 to get started:

1. Nosotros Go OBEDIENT

First, if we truly fear the Lord, we will obey His commands, alive according to His Word and say "No" to sin. One reason why God inspired fright in the Israelites at Mountain Sinai was so that they might learn to avoid and reject sin and to obey his law (Ex xx:20). In his final address to the Israelites, Moses repeatedly connected fearing God to serving and obeying Him (due east.chiliad., Dt 5:29; 6:2, 24; viii:6; 10:12; xiii:iv; 17:19; 31:12).

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

Solomon taught that "through the fearfulness of the Lord a man avoids evil" (Pr sixteen:6; cf. 8:xiii). In Ecclesiastes, the whole duty of the human race is summarized past two simple requirements: "Fearfulness God and keep His commandments" (Ecc 12:13). On the contrary, anyone who is content to alive wickedly or defy God does then because "there is no fearfulness of God before his eyes" (Ps 36:1-iv).

two. We TEACH OUR CHILDREN

Not only should the fear of the Lord affect private lives, but it should as well touch on families. God instructs His followers to teach their children to fearfulness Him past training them to hate sin and to love God's commands (Dt 4:ten; 6:1-2, 6-nine). The Bible ofttimes states that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Ps 111:ten; Pr 9:x; cf. Chore 28:28; Pr 1:7). A Christian'south bones goal for his or her children should be that they learn to live by God's principles of wisdom (Pr 1:1-6). Teaching them to fright the Lord is a critical kickoff stride.

3. WE GROW IN SANCTIFICATION

The fear of the Lord has a sanctifying (i.eastward., purifying, separating from sin, spiritually maturing) upshot on God's people, just as applying the truth of God's Word does (Jn 17:17). It compels us to detest sin and avoid evil (Pr 3:seven; 8:thirteen; 16:six). It causes u.s.a. to be careful in what nosotros say (Pr x:19; Ecc five:two, 6-7). It protects us from weakening our consciences and our moral sensitivity toward what is right. The fear of the Lord has a spiritually cleansing, purifying and restoring effect that can final forever (Ps 19:9).

4. WE WORSHIP WHOLE-HEARTEDLY

The holy and reverent fear of the Lord motivates God'south people to worship Him with their whole existence. People who truly fearfulness God will praise and laurels Him as Lord of all (Ps 22:23). David said that a worshiping congregation is the aforementioned equally "those who fear" God (Ps 22:25). At the finish of history, when the angel who proclaims the eternal gospel–the "good news" well-nigh Jesus Christ–calls anybody on world to fright God, he immediately adds, "and give Him glory … Worship Him who made the heavens, and earth, the sea and the springs of h2o" (Rev 14:6-7).

5. THERE IS A PROMISED Reward

God has promised to reward all those who fear Him. "Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life" (Pr 22:4). Other promised rewards include security and protection from death (Pr 14:26-27), provisions for daily needs (Ps 34:9; 111:5) and a long life (Pr 10:27). Those who live in reverent awe of God know that "information technology will get better with God-fearing men," regardless of what happens in the world effectually them (Ecc 8:12-13).

half dozen. WE Gain A Humble Conviction

Finally, fearing God brings a humble confidence and overwhelming spiritual comfort. The NT directly links the fearfulness of the Lord with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31). Those who do non fright God will take footling or no sense of his presence and protection. However, those who fear God and obey his Give-and-take will experience a deep sense of spiritual security and the anointing (i.due east., empowering) of the Holy Spirit. They tin can exist sure that God ultimately will "evangelize them from death" (Ps 33:18-nineteen).

1 John four:xviii states, "In that location is no fearfulness in honey. But perfect beloved drives out fear, because fear has to do with penalty. The one who fears is not made perfect in love". Although this verse may seem contrary to the above information, it'southward all about perspective; when nosotros are filled with and washed over by God'due south perfect dearest, we do not need to be afraid of His wrath.

Fire BIBLE STUDY NOTES

fire bible study notes fear of the Lord

This blog is adapted from the Fire Bible Report Notes. Learn more almost this resource and lookout how it works in the Olive Tree Bible App by visiting our website.

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