We see the emphasis that God places on fearing Him in Deuteronomy 4:10 Especially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children. And again in Deuteronomy 17:19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
Here are just a few verses regarding the Fear of the Lord:
Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
Psalms 19:9-11 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever.
Psalms 112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:28-29 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
Proverbs 14:26-27 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Psalms 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.
Psalms 33:18-20 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
Psalms 34:9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
Psalms 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
Psalms 103:17-18 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
Psalms 145:19-20 He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Luke 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
We can see from these verses... both the benefits and penalties for fearing and/or failing to fear the Lord. This is an integral part of our relationship, yet the fear of the Lord is seldom even mentioned. Do not be deceived by those who would say that it only applied in Old Testament times. We cannot have a relationship with God without learning a reverential fear of God. We cannot come into His presence with a flippant, casual, worldly attitude.
We see another requirement... That being obedience to God's voice and walking in the way that He commands. Jeremiah 7:23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. This actually entitles us to be called the people of God. If we obey, we shall be in right standing, or righteous in His sight. Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.
Each one of us needs to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that He might teach us how to properly fear the Lord. God is love, and our fear of Him should not be the fear of the world. But a holy fear, lest we should in any way offend Him by any of our thoughts, words or actions. It is such an awesome thing, that the God of all creation, loves and desires a relationship with us. We who are little more than bits of dust with attitude, in comparison to Him. Yet He does desire just that. And He paid the incredible price of sending His only begotten Son to die for our sins, that we might be brought into that relationship with Him, whereby we too can become sons of the Living God.
Micah 6:8 He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? God's requirements are not strict or harsh... if we are walking in a love relationship with Him they are not even difficult. Because He is our strength, and never asks more of us than we are able to give. That is not to say that we will never experience painful situations. We see David said in Psalms 119:71-73 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. And in the New Testament...
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. We learn by the things that we suffer. Even in the natural, we can tell our child not to touch the pan because it is hot, but sooner or later they are going to touch it. This is how we learn. It is not enough to take the free gift God offers, and then seek only for what else we can get from God.
People want blessings. Health, wealth and prosperity are named and claimed all across this country. Mankind is trapped in the carnal realm of thinking. We are asking for material things, thinking that will make us happy. Many have achieved those things, but have not found happiness. We were created to know God and to have fellowship with Him. When I started this paper, I thought to try and go into the requirements God places upon us. At this point, I now feel that if we could but grasp the true meaning of the fear of the Lord... all the other things; walking in His ways, loving Him, obeying Him, clinging to Him, would fall into place. We cannot truly love Him without fearing Him. And if we truly love Him, we will desire nothing other than to walk with Him, obey Him, and cling to Him with all our strength.
Any who might read this, who have ever experienced the awesome wonder of God's presence, knows that there is absolutely nothing in this world to compare with it. My prayer is that we may all come into the relationship which God desires for us to have with Him. That we will seek to find out for ourselves just what God requires of us, and then examine ourselves and see where we stand. He knows how to bring each and every one of us to the place in Him prepared for us.
