Fear the Lord

We live in fearful times. With an uncertain economic future, government upheavals, job losses, health issues and lack of medical care, it seems that each day there is more to be concerned about.

I opened my Bible to the concordance to find out what God's Word says about fear and I was surprised at what I discovered.

There are numerous references to the fact that we should fear God. After Moses was given the 10 commandments, God gave him warnings about the importance of keeping His commands. 

Moses told the people, "Fear the Lord your God, serve Him only and take your oaths in His name." Deuteronomy 6:13

Moses repeated that advice again in Deuteronomy 10:12-13. "And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good."

Before Moses' death, he left the people with these words. "Assemble the people - men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns - so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law." Deuteronomy 31:12

A fear of the God was needed to serve Him and from what Moses said, it wasn't something that was naturally ingrained in people, but something that was learned. The people needed to first hear the law or commandments and then they would learn to fear God.

As I think about those who are evil and shun God, I realize that most of them either have never heard God's commands or have made a conscious effort to defy those commands. Evil people have no fear of God, some do not believe that He exists and others don't believe that He is capable of harming them.

The word states that a fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, it adds length to life, it is the fountain of life, it teaches wisdom, it avoids evil, it leads to life, and it prompts us to hate evil.

In a nutshell, having a healthy fear of God is a wonderful thing. Isaiah 11:2-3 had this to say about the root of Jesse (which was a prophecy about the coming Messiah). "The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord - and he will delight in the fear of the Lord."

Yes, Jesus delighted in the fear of the Lord. He knew just how powerful, almighty, righteous and just the God of heaven and earth really is. He knew that to refuse to be obedient to God would be futile. 

God had a purpose and a plan for his life and it was necessary for the good of all mankind. 

Jesus spoke about this fear to a crowd of thousands in Luke's gospel. 

"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." Luke 12:4-5

I believe that if we have a healthy fear of God, our own fears will dissipate because our trust is in Him. 

Hear these words of comfort from the scriptures about our earthly fears:

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff they comfort me.

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 91:5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. (This verse tells us that day or night, through terror, disease and famine - we, who have put our trust in the Lord, have nothing to fear).

God's word says that the fear of man is a snare, but that God is with us and He will deliver us from all our fears. 

When we give our hearts to God, we become His precious children and He will take care of us - it's as simple as that. Give your fears to God and let Him vindicate you.

I leave you with these words from 1 John 4:18. "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

God has so much love for you and I and He will drive away the fears because of that great love!