Some of the thoughts I shared tonight in our Wednesday evening Bible study. Gives some insight into our culture…
Edward Gibbon, author of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, has attributed the fall of the Empire to:
• The rapid increase of divorce; the undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis of human society.
• Higher and higher taxes and the spending of public monies for free bread and circuses for the populace.
• The mad craze for pleasure; sports becoming every year more exciting and more brutal.
• The building of gigantic armaments when the real enemy was within, the decadence of the people.
• The decay of religion—faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life and becoming impotent to warn and guide the people.
Sounds all too familiar doesn’t it? But here’s what’s most alarming. These are the result of a philosophy of life that fails to account for God. This means significant changes will come only as the result of a spiritual awakening that arouses in men a new and meaningful “fear of God.”
Here are two observations regarding “the fear of the Lord”
a. It is the starting point of wisdom. Wisdom, we have determined, is seeing life from God’s point of view; these verses inform us that it cannot be obtained without “the fear of the Lord”. Prov. 9:10
b. It is the foundation of knowledge. While you can know a lot of things, your knowledge makes no sense, nor does it make any difference apart from the fear of the Lord. In other words, what is the end of knowledge (or anything else for that matter) if there is no fear of God? Prov. 1:7
What does it mean to fear the Lord? In Genesis 22, the fear of the Lord is illustrated in the life of Abraham.
The Bible says, “now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” What are the things God learned about Abraham in the course of these events that led Him to that conclusion? Here are a few:
• Abraham believed in God;
• His belief was demonstrated by a willingness to trust God with himself and his son;
• His trust led to obedience in the face of confusing circumstances and unbelievable questions;
• His obedience manifested the greatest possible sacrifice.
What difference does all of this make? I discovered at least five benefits to fearing the Lord, let’s look at them:
A. Long Life
Deut. 6:2 (NKJV) that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.
Proverbs 10:27 (NKJV) The fear of the Lord prolongs days,
But the years of the wicked will be shortened.
B. Provision & Blessing
Psalm 34:9 (NKJV) Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
Psalm 115:13 (NKJV) He will bless those who fear the Lord,
Both small and great.
Deut. 6:24 (NKJV) And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.
Proverbs 22:4 (NKJV) By humility and the fear of the Lord
Are riches and honor and life.
C. Strong confidence, Safety & Satisfaction
Proverbs 14:26-27 (NKJV) In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge. [27] The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.
Proverbs 19:23 (NKJV) The fear of the Lord leads to life,
And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.
D. Holy Living
Proverbs 3:7 (NKJV) Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
Proverbs 16:6 (NKJV) In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.
Proverbs 8:13 (NKJV) The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.
2 Cor. 7:1 (NKJV) Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
E. Healthy Relationships
Ephes. 5:21 (NKJV) submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Let’s make this practical. Three final questions will sum up our look at this subject. You are the target of these questions, they are meant to assess in you the fear of the Lord.
What are you learning? We are constantly being shaped by something or someone. If society at large is shaping the way you think, you are learning from the world. In contrast, if your understanding of the culture is being shaped by the fear of God, you are being taught by Him. Let me give you an example. Within the last week a legislator from the state of California introduced a bill that would outlaw spanking as a means of discipline for children 4 years old and below. What is your opinion on the matter? If you agree with it, you do not properly fear the Lord. If however, you see it to be the humanistic bunk that it is, you are on your way to a biblical fear of the Lord.
To fear Him you must know Him. To know Him you must pursue Him diligently. Other things will lead you in other directions.
How are you living? If the fear of the Lord affects each area of life, it’s fair to evaluate our lives and see if our actions and attitudes reflect His values.
Who are you loving? That Abraham loved God most is conclusive by what he was willing to sacrifice. “Now I know that you fear God.”