Fear God Stuart
L. Brogden 10 Mar 2007
What's your
favorite verse about fear? Perhaps 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath
not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound
mind." Indeed, the Bible tells us many times to FEAR NOT, mainly
with regards to being cowardly in the face of worldly trials (such as in 2 Tim
1:7).
But the Bible has another message about fear ...
There are those who say Christians need not indeed ought not fear God, preferring to focus almost exclusively on the love of God. Yes, God loves His chosen ones more than we know, God gives His people reason and commands to fear Him should we turn a blind eye to this? As He makes clear, Gods main purpose for man is to glorify Him. The fear of God is one element that enables His people to do so.
To purposefully ignore any one of Gods self-described characteristics is to make ones own god idolatry. Read His Word a few extracts below and decide for yourself: should a Christian fear God? Should you?
Exodus 18: 21 - Moses was instructed to designate men who
fear God as judges over the tribes of Gods people: Moreover thou shalt
provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating
covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers
of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
Exodus 20:19 & 20 Moses informs the Hebrews that the fear of God will keep them from sin: And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
Leviticus 19:14 The Hebrews are told that they should not
abuse the helpless but fear God: Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a
stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.
Deuteronomy 6:2 Fear God for your childrens sake: That
thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his
commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all
the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
Deuteronomy 6:24 The fear of God is commanded and is for our own good: And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.
Deuteronomy 10:12 The fear of God enables us to love and
obey Him: And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but
to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to
serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
Deuteronomy 17:19 & 20a Gods servants are to fear Him
so as to keep His commands and to walk humbly: 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:
That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren,
Deuteronomy 31:12 & 13 Gods people teach one another
to fear Him, for obedience and their good: Gather the people together, men,
and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they
may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to
do all the words of this law: And that their children, which have not known any
thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the
land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.
2 Samuel 23:3 The man who would rule over people is to
fear God: The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that
ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
Nehemiah 5:9 The fear of God silences foolish talk against
Him: 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?
Nehemiah 5:15 The fear of God will keep a man from abusing
his position: the former governors that had been before me were chargeable
unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of
silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I,
because of the fear of God.
Psalms 15:4 God honors those who fear Him: he honoureth them that fear the LORD.
Psalms 34:9 God provides for those who fear Him: O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
Psalms 147:11 God delights in those who fear Him: The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
Proverbs 2:5 The fear of God leads to the knowledge of
God: Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge
of God.
Proverbs 8:13 To fear God is to hate evil: The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of God leads to wisdom: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Proverbs 14:26 & 27 The fear of God gives comfort and life: 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.
Proverbs 15:33 The fear of God leads to wisdom: The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
Proverbs 16:6 To fear God leads away from evil: By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Proverbs 22:4 Fullness of life awaits those who fear God: By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
Isaiah 8:13 & 14a The fear of God is a refuge in times of trouble: Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary
Isaiah 29:13 The fear of God must be taught by God, not men: Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men
Ecclesiastes 8:12 God rewards those who fear Him: Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him
Ecclesiastes 12:13 To fear God and obey Him is the whole
duty of man: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and
keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Luke 5:26 The fear of God convinces people of Who He is: And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
Luke 7:16 The fear of God causes people to glorify Him: And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
Acts 9:31 The fear of God leads to spiritual maturity: 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.
Romans 3:15-18 No fear of God leads to ruin: Their feet
are swift to shed blood:
Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Holiness demands the fear of God: Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:21 The fear of God enable us to serve one another: Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Hebrews 12:28 & 29 To fear God is to worship Him: Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.
1 Peter 2:17 Its our duty to fear Him: Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
1 Peter 3:15 The fear of God lives in the meek hearted man: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Revelations 19:5 Gods redeemed people fear Him: And a
voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and
ye that fear him, both small and great.