The Fear of the Lord
Godly fear. Very little is said about this subject that is so prevalent in Scripture. This subject is found throughout the Word of God in regards to everything from parents to especially God Himself. The matter of a proper fear of God is undermined today. It’s not that man has no god, but he has created a god that does not exist and serves that god. Most gods worshipped today are gods made in the likeness and form of man. The Apostle Paul tells us, in speaking of this state of gods worshipped by man, in Romans 1:25, “(They) changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” Athletes, movie stars, recording artists, and other forms of heroes are elevated, adored, and used as examples of a successful life to be emulated. The truth is, the thought of fear and the consequences of answering to a Holy God for our actions has been compromised and has diminished almost into total oblivion. When a person no longer fears God and His Word, he falls into a false sense of peace that leads him to deny God’s place in his life, which will ultimately lead to his destruction. This has produced an ignorance with all of its failures because Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Some today look at God as One in Whom they can believe or ignore as they choose. This kind of thinking about God has produced a god that no one feels he should, or has any reason to fear. Again, there is wisdom in a Godly fear. (Proverbs 9:10)
God said of Abraham’s obedience in Genesis 22:12, when he was taking his son Isaac to be a sacrifice, “...for now I know that thou fearest God.” It was Abraham’s obedience to offer up his son that brought this response from God. When there is a fear of God, there will be obedience to God.
The end of the matter is to be found in our ultimate concept of God. 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.”
Revelation 15:4, “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.”