"Fear God"
(1 Peter 2:17)

Everyone is commanded to fear God.

"Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him" (Psalm 33:8).

"Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth -- to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people -- saying with a loud voice, 'Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water'" (Revelation 14:6,7).

We fear God because He is our judge. Jesus said: "My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!" (Luke 12:4,5).

This fear encourages us to turn away from evil. "Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil" (Proverbs 3:7). "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil" (Proverbs 8:13).

The fear of God encourages us to keep His commandments. "Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him" (Deuteronomy 8:6). "And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?" (Deuteronomy 10:12,13). "You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him" (Deuteronomy 13:4).

Rulers should fear God.

King David explained: "The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God" (2 Samuel 23:3,4).

When King Jehoshaphat appointed judges, he charged them: "Take heed to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. Now therefore, let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes" (2 Chronicles 19:6,7). "Thus you shall act in the fear of the LORD, faithfully and with a loyal heart" (2 Chronicles 19:9).

The Scriptures teach us to fear God.

"And Moses commanded them, saying: 'At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of release, at the Feast of Tabernacles, when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the LORD your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess" (Deuteronomy 31:10-13).

The king of Israel was to read the Scriptures daily to learn to fear the Lord: "Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel" (Deuteronomy 17:18-20).

Wisdom proceeds from the fear of Lord. One who does not fear God cannot be wise. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever" (Psalm 111:10). "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7). "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10). "The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility" (Proverbs 15:33).

The fear of God encourages us to seek His approval.

Of Hezekiah, king of Judah, it is said: "Did he not fear the LORD and seek the LORD's favor?" (Jeremiah 26:19).

They who fear God, want to be faithful and true. Joshua told Israel, "Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth" (Joshua 24:14). Later, Samuel reminded them: "Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you" (1 Samuel 12:24).

God has promised that we can be His sons and daughters if we separate ourselves from the uncleanness of the world (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1).

God cares for those who fear Him.

"The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them" (Psalm 34:7). "Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him" (Psalm 34:9).

"The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them" (Psalm 145:18,19).

"Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God" (Ecclesiastes 8:12,13).

"Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. 'They shall be Mine,' says the LORD of hosts, 'on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him'" (Malachi 3:16,17).

God is merciful to those who fear Him.

"His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation" (Luke 1:50). "Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy" (Psalm 33:18). "The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy" (Psalm 147:11).

"He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children, To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them" (Psalm 103:10-18).

Let us walk in the fear of the Lord.

"Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied" (Acts 9:31).

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

"You who fear the LORD, praise Him!" (Psalm 22:23).

"Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!" (Revelation 19:5).

Roy Davison


Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)