Nehemiah 5:1-12; Psalm 128
One of the major problems in society today is a lack of the fear of God. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of the fear of God in the church too. It is dwindling among believers today. Some consider the fear of God to be an Old Testament concept that is no longer relevant now that we understand God’s love and are under grace. However, as much as the church needs to hear of His goodness as a foundational life changing truth, J.I Packer warns in his classic Knowing God that one always needs to talk of the “goodness and severity of the Lord.” Without that perspective, God becomes some fluffy Santa Clause figure that is no God at all. The fear of God is so important, that there are at least 144 references to fearing God in the Bible, with 19 of those appearing in the New Testament.
According to the Bible, the real reason for the sinfulness of the wicked is that ‘there is no fear of God before their eyes’ (Romans 3:18; Neh. 5:1-12). But when we choose to walk in the fear of the Lord, we will be richly blessed (Psalm 112:1-10; 128:1-6) and our church will also grow by leaps and bounds (Acts 9:31 (KJV) 31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied)! The Spirit of God is the Spirit of the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2, 3). Paul told believers to be “perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Again, in Ephesians 5:21, Paul instructed believers to be “submitting to one another in the fear of God”. The apostle Peter also instructed believers to “fear God” in 1 Peter 2:17. Our Lord Jesus Himself commanded, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). This saying of Jesus reveals two important things.
Firstly, we are not to fear man. Secondly, we are to fear God. Jesus reveals that the fear of God is rooted in knowing His ability to punish us, and in knowing the severity of that punishment – “fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell”. But what does it mean to fear God? The fear of God is a deep-seated reverence for God that causes men to want to please Him at all costs. There are at least five characteristics of those who fear God.
- One, they draw near to God and enjoy intimacy with Him (Psalm 25:14). The Bible says, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ’God is a consuming fire’ (Hebrews 12:28-29). This reverence and awe is what it means to fear God means for Christians.
- Two, they never speak disrespectfully about God no matter what happens to them (Job 1:1, 22; 2:9). Job was a man who feared God (Job 1:1). Job lost his family, wealth, and health but in it all he never spoke disrespectfully about God. We read that in all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong (1:22).
- Three, they honour the Word of God (Isaiah 66:2). To Fear God is to fear His Word and obey His commandments (Psalm 112:1; Deut. 6:2; Eccl. 12:14). Those who fear the Lord are described as trembling at God’s Word in Isaiah 66:2. Fearing God means that we have a great reverence for His Word. We dare not treat it lightly. We must be quick to do what it says.
- Four, they live a holy lifestyle (2 Cor. 7:1). To fear the Lord is to hate evil (Prov. 8:13). Job feared God and hated and shunned evil (Job. 1: 1, 8). Joseph feared God in his life and ran away from evil (Gen. 42:18; 39:9). A true Christian is one who behaves himself a Christian when no one is watching him. Fear of God is doing good. It is not enough to hate evil. We must be people who do good if we fear God. The Bible says, “You shall not curse the blind, but shall fear your God;…you shall not do injustice…not be partial…not go about as a talebearer…not hate your brother in your heart… not seek revenge…not bear a grudge against anyone…Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and fear your God (Lev. 19:14-18, 32). Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God (Lev. 25:17). Do not take interest or accept bribe, and rule over others ruthlessly but fear your God (Lev. 25:36, 43).
- Five, they do whatever God says no matter what it is (Gen. 22:12). Abraham proved that he feared God by not withholding his only beloved son in obedience to God’s voice. Abraham’s radical obedience to God demonstrated the fact that he feared God, and that is what God is looking for in us. It is quite possible that God allows us to go through certain things to see if we have this one, precious thing: the fear of the Lord. It is so precious to God, that Isaiah 33:6 says “the fear of the Lord is His treasure” (NKJV). Notice the word ‘treasure’. The fear of the Lord is an extremely valuable attitude to God, and He wants it to be in each of us. What if God spoke to you and asked you to give up the thing that was most valuable to you? Would you give it up? Perhaps God has been speaking to you to give up something. See to it that you obey Him, for then you will demonstrate what is most valuable to God – the fear of the Lord.
Second, how can we acquire the fear of God? As we grow to know the attributes of God, the names of God, the triunity of God, the eternal decrees of God, and the acts of God, there is a healthy, holy, reverential awe that swells and grows within our hearts. It is cultivated through prayer and worship. It is cultivated by being with other believers who take God seriously. It is cultivated by time in the Word and under the Word. In addition to these, it comes as a gift from God. The Psalmist prayed in Psalms 86:11— “11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” Our hearts are naturally divided because they are constantly pulled in more than one direction. The man with a divided heart serves more than one master, and gives none his full attention. But an undivided heart is a heart that is fully committed to God and His will. It is a heart that is set on God and willing to submit to Him in complete surrender. It is a heart like the heart of Jesus who loved the Father and only did what the Father commanded Him (John 14:31).
Finally, what are the blessings that come from the fear of the Lord? The Bible says, “What does the Lord require of you, but to fear the Lord your God…for your own good?’ (Deut. 10:12, 13; 6:24). Let me mention some of the many good blessings the Lord bestows on them who fear Him: God prepares good things for them (How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you. Psalm 31:19); The angel of the Lord comes to protect them (The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Psalm 34:7); They lack nothing (Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. Psalm 34:9); They become close confidants of God (The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. He will teach them his ways. Psalm 25:12-14); God fulfils their desires and listens to their prayers (He fulfils the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. Psalm 145:19); God rewards them with wisdom (The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; Psalm 111:10); The Lord adds length to their lives (The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short. Proverbs 10:27); They will have a secure fortress for their children (Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge. Proverbs 14:26); God keeps them from the snares of death (The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27); Their lives will be untouched by trouble (The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble. Proverbs 29:23); They will get riches and honour and life from God (Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honour and life. Proverbs 22:4); They don’t need to fear anyone or anything. Those who don’t fear God will fear other gods, magic, witchcraft, people, Second coming, judgement, hell etc. There are many ‘fear nots’ in the Bible. They are for those who fear God. Those who fear God can be bold as lions (Psalm 91:5, 6).
Oswald Chambers says, “The remarkable thing about fearing God is that, when you fear God, you fear nothing else; whereas, if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.” The day will come when the Lord will separate whose who fear Him and those who do not. Malachi 3:16-4:3 is the tale of two, the one who did not fear God and the one who did fear Him. Where shall you stand? Blessed is the man who fears the Lord!
- Rev. Kayode Ilupeju,
Good News Baptist Church,
47/49, Olufemi Road,
Off Ogunlana Drive,
Surulere, Lagos.
Tel.: 0803-302-1008
