OUTLINE >> UNDERSTANDING THE FEAR OF THE LORD
by Pastor Tim Morbitzer
The beginning of wisdom and the supreme wisdom is to properly fear and reverence God. (Word Study Dictionary) "As wisdom is the key to life, the fear of the Lord is the key to wisdom."
We are commanded to fear the Lord:
Deuteronomy 6:24; 10:12-13.
- Ecc 12 : 13: Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. NIV
- 2 Cor 7:1; Eph 5.21; Heb 12.28; 1 Pet 1:17; 3.2, 15; Rev 14.7.
- We must choose the fear of the Lord! Pro 1.29; 8.13.
Neh 5:9 Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
- God's Word Translation: I added, "What you're doing is wrong. Shouldn't you live in the fear of our God to keep our enemies from ridiculing us?"
What the fear of the Lord is not:
- The fear of the Lord is not natural fear.
- The fear of the Lord is not demonic fear. 1 Jn 4.18; 2 Tim 1.7.
- The fear of the Lord is not religious fear. Isa 29.13.
- The fear of the Lord is not the fear of man. Ps 27.1,3; Pro 29.25.
What the fear of the Lord is:
- The fear of the Lord is reverence and awe. Pro 23.17.
- The fear of the Lord is clean and endures forever. Ps 19.9.
- The fear of the Lord is the hatred of evil. Pro 8:13.
- The fear of the Lord is to delight in His commandments. Pr 1.2-5; 16.6; Ps 112.1-10.
- The fear of the Lord is obedience to God. Dt 6.24; 17.19.
- The fear of the Lord is to keep your tongue from evil. Ps 34.11-13.
- The fear of the Lord is a treasure and fountain of life. Isa 33.6; Pro 9.10-11; 10.27; 14:26-27; 15:16; 19:23; 22:4.
- The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Pro 1.7; 9.10; 15.33.
Robert B. Strimple said this about the fear of the Lord, "It is the convergence of awe, reverence, adoration, honor, worship, confidence, thankfulness, love, and fear."
20 Benefits of Fearing God:
Deuteronomy 6:2 - enjoy long life
Deuteronomy 6:24 - always prosper and be kept alive
Psalm 25:12 - He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.
Psalm 25:14 - The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.
Psalm 33:18-19 deliverance and provision
Psalm 34:7 - the angel of the LORD encamps around them & delivers them.
Psalm 34:9 - those who fear him lack nothing.
Psalm 103:13 - the LORD has compassion on those who fear him
Psalm 103:17 - the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children
Psalm 111:6 covenant provision
Psalm 115:11 - the LORD he is their help and shield
Psalm 128:1, 4 - Blessed are all who fear the LORD
Psalm 145:19 fulfilled desires and answered prayer
Psalm 147:11 - the LORD delights, takes pleasure in those who fear him
Proverbs 9:11 gives quality of life
Proverbs 10:27 - adds length to life
Proverbs 14:26 - He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.
Proverbs 14:27 its a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death
Proverbs 15:16 better than great treasure
Proverbs 15:33 - teaches a man wisdom
Proverbs 16:6 - through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil
Proverbs 19:23 - leads to life: then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
Proverbs 22:4 - brings wealth and honor and life.
Proverbs 28:14 brings true happiness
Nehemiah 5:9 keeps enemies from ridiculing you
2 Corinthians 7:1 perfects holiness
Ephesians 5.21 enables us to submit to and serve one another
Hebrews 12.28 enables us to serve God acceptably
Revelations 11:18 brings eternal rewards
The Christian is a man who always walks in the fear of God not craven fear, because 'perfect love casteth out' that fear.
Not only does he approach God in terms of the Epistle to the Hebrews, 'with reverence and godly fear', but he lives his whole life like that. The Christian is the only man in the world who does live always with and under this sense of judgement. He must do so because our Lord tells him to do so. He tells him his building is going to be judged, the test of life is going to come. He tells him not to say, 'Lord, Lord', nor to rely upon his activities in the Church as being of necessity sufficient, because judgement is coming, and judgement by One who sees the heart ... These New Testament people lived in the fear of God. They all accepted the teaching of the Apostle Paul when he said, 'We must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad' (2 Corinthians 5:10). That is addressed to Christians. Yet the modern Christian does not like that; he says he will have nothing to do with it. But that is the teaching of the Apostle Paul as it is the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount. 'We must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ'; 'Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord ...' Judgement is coming and it is going to 'begin at the house of God', where it should begin, because of the claim we make. It is all impressed upon us in the final section of the Sermon on the Mount. We should always be living and walking, distrustful of the flesh, distrustful of ourselves, knowing we have to appear before God and be judged by Him. It is a 'strait gate', it is a 'narrow way', this way that leads to life which is life indeed. - Martyn Lloyd-Jones
"The fear of God and is viewed as a positive quality... This fear is produced by God's Word and makes a person receptive to wisdom and knowledge. The fear of the Lord may be lost by envy of a sinner's situation. This fear restrains people from sin; gives confidence; helps rulers and causes judges to act justly; results in good sleep; and leads to riches, honor, and life." (Complete Word Study Dictionary)