Thoughts on “Fear the Lord”

[BillyBob]

We are instructed to fear the Lord:

Deuteronomy 10:12-22
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?

2 Kings 17:36
but the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, Him you shall worship, and to Him you shall offer sacrifice.

Psalm 112:1
Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who delights greatly in His commandments.

In the Bible when God speaks of a people fearing Him, it speaks well for those that He is speaking of. And the opposite is true for those who do not fear Him.
A Godly fear is required if we are to hear and obey his word. It results in living for Him, putting our trust in Him, and thankfulness for all we have received.
We should never fear anything in this world more than we fear the Lord. In fact, God himself uses such misdirected fear to punish people.

Jeremiah 49:5
Behold, I will bring fear upon you,” Says the Lord God of hosts, “From all those who are around you; You shall be driven out, everyone headlong, And no one will gather those who wander off.

What are your thoughts on the subject?

 

[SirSolaScriptura]

I prefer the English translation in place of fear as "revere the Lord," reverent fear is a type of fear that isn't "I am afraid of harm."
Though there is some merit to the other definition of fear that Jesus himself says, "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28).

I believe the fear is that He is God, at the end of the day He is your Friend and Savior yes, but He is also God, The Ancient of Days and King of the Universe who is to be respected and revered as such. For it is written, "every knee shall bow, and every mouth shall confess Jesus as LORD." (Philippians 2:10-11)

 

[Magenta]

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

 

[Blade]

"revere the Lord," reverent fear" AMEN

Not my words but I like "having profound respect, reverence, and awe for His power and authority, leading to a life of love and obedience" But fear Him never. He told us He has not given us the spirit of fear.

You know thinking about it.. not sure about you but there have been times in 50+years walking with Him .. very very few that you just know He is there... and if He just showed up in His glory and power.. I would fall flat on my face.. no way to move.. It not fear but.. I fear that make sense? Its not fear of Him but.. wow He is holy.. He is just He is the great I AM. To think just taking a breath is because HE did it. I find I am not as thankful as I should be.. let it be written Father forgive me.

 

[Inquisitor]

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

 

[GWH]

We are instructed to fear the Lord:

Deuteronomy 10:12-22
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?

2 Kings 17:36
but the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, Him you shall worship, and to Him you shall offer sacrifice.

Psalm 112:1
Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who delights greatly in His commandments.

In the Bible when God speaks of a people fearing Him, it speaks well for those that He is speaking of. And the opposite is true for those who do not fear Him.
A Godly fear is required if we are to hear and obey his word. It results in living for Him, putting our trust in Him, and thankfulness for all we have received.
We should never fear anything in this world more than we fear the Lord. In fact, God himself uses such misdirected fear to punish people.

Jeremiah 49:5
Behold, I will bring fear upon you,” Says the Lord God of hosts, “From all those who are around you; You shall be driven out, everyone headlong, And no one will gather those who wander off.

What are your thoughts on the subject?

Another Psalm in the same vein is:

PS 111:10. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Instead of fear it would be better to revere. Reverence for the Lord or appreciation for who He is should be the motivation for loving and serving Him by those who are wise. As PS 116:12 asks, “How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me?”

 

[BillyBob]

I believe that there is a Godly fear along with the reverence toward our God. I think it comes out when we know that we have not loved God as we should or walked in His ways.
Even the best of God's people feel this way from time to time. It is necessary to experience this fear. It is what draws us back to Him with repentance and sorrow.

When God speaks of those who do not fear Him, He is speaking of those who sin without Godly sorrow for their actions!

 

[homwardbound]

"revere the Lord," reverent fear" AMEN

Not my words but I like "having profound respect, reverence, and awe for His power and authority, leading to a life of love and obedience" But fear Him never. He told us He has not given us the spirit of fear.

You know thinking about it.. not sure about you but there have been times in 50+years walking with Him .. very very few that you just know He is there... and if He just showed up in His glory and power.. I would fall flat on my face.. no way to move.. It not fear but.. I fear that make sense? Its not fear of Him but.. wow He is holy.. He is just He is the great I AM. To think just taking a breath is because HE did it. I find I am not as thankful as I should be.. let it be written Father forgive me.

It is written, it is done by Son forever for us all, to no more fear once anyone sincerely believes Father in risen Son for them
This perfect love casts out all fear for us
1 John 4:18
Thank you Blade seeing, God gives that to you, and I thank God for you

 

[homwardbound]

I believe that there is a Godly fear along with the reverence toward our God. I think it comes out when we know that we have not loved God as we should or walked in His ways.
Even the best of God's people feel this way from time to time. It is necessary to experience this fear. It is what draws us back to Him with repentance and sorrow.

When God speaks of those who do not fear Him, He is speaking of those who sin without Godly sorrow for their actions!

To see the change of times for us the people here today
A before the cross all those in hope for the Messiah to come and do what is now done today once for us all
Today we all here today are after the cross to believe God Father did raise Son from the dead to make us new in his being risen in love to all
What, but I need to do too, do I not? NOT!!!!!!!!!!
It is not that anyone needs to do as had to do it before the cross of Son for us all
First reconciled everyone to himself in that one time willing death for us all, (2 Cor 5:16-20)
that is now done as in John 19:30 states this, " It is Finished" Ask Father in Spirit and Truth, what is finished?
The fulfillment of Law is fulfilled Matthew 5:17 done by Son in John 19:30 for us all to believe, receive and see new in the risen Son to us and be made new in love and mercy to all too.

Believe it, receive it and be it and not of self doing it anymore, since no other flesh can ever please God in doing any work to get saved.
Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:3
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Son took everyone's deserved place to be killed. Then is risen where Father gives new life for us to stand in, and eventually see as all sin leaves you, over time in not ever giving up, on it is done for you to be new and not of self anymore
Thanks
God did it, I accept this and am seeing new from it. Had to get out from under Law (Romans 7:10) to start new and once for us all see the whole truth, by God he did all, for us to either believe this in thanksgiving and praise over it or not, consciously
Once I saw to leave trying to do Law, that I see now I cannot do, nor anyone else either. Sin began falling off
Like as when an onion gets peeled, it causes crying over getting peeled, yet, once anyone gets to the center it is a sweet smelling savor. No more pride or quilt in the way anymore
Believe, do not quit belief, then one day you will see and remain in humility over it all
thank you Lord Psalm 100:4, I see Psalm 103:12 now I tis done for me too, thank you
I see this new Heart Ezekiel 36:26, Thank you

 

[Aaron56]

The fear of the Lord is beginning of wisdom.

As an aside:

When I was in the public sector, I had to deal with a certain Director. She was arrogant and extremely religious (Roman Catholic).

She had a picture in her office wall that read "Wonder is the beginning of wisdom".

"How succinctly Satanic" I thought to myself every time I saw the picture.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

We are instructed to fear the Lord:

Deuteronomy 10:12-22
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?

2 Kings 17:36
but the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, Him you shall worship, and to Him you shall offer sacrifice.

Psalm 112:1
Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who delights greatly in His commandments.

In the Bible when God speaks of a people fearing Him, it speaks well for those that He is speaking of. And the opposite is true for those who do not fear Him.
A Godly fear is required if we are to hear and obey his word. It results in living for Him, putting our trust in Him, and thankfulness for all we have received.
We should never fear anything in this world more than we fear the Lord. In fact, God himself uses such misdirected fear to punish people.

Jeremiah 49:5
Behold, I will bring fear upon you,” Says the Lord God of hosts, “From all those who are around you; You shall be driven out, everyone headlong, And no one will gather those who wander off.

What are your thoughts on the subject?

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:

But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

…..praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:41-44, 47‬ ‭

What’s wonderful is To those who learn to fear the lord , he says never be afraid

“While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭17:5-7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We should fear God exceedingly but we can’t let ourselves become afraid of him fear teaches us reverence and respect but being afraid will Keep us away from him .

When we learn to fear him he tells us this of all other things we face because he’s with us our deliverer

“Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭42:11‬ ‭

We should fear God because

“For as the heaven is high above the earth, So great is his mercy toward them that fear him.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭103:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And

“O fear the LORD, ye his saints: For there is no want to them that fear him.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭34:9‬ ‭

Scriptures teach it what it means and what it is

“Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭34:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

but when we learn to fear him as a child fears and respects his father he always does the same and says the same

“Like as a father pitieth his children, So the LORD pitieth them that fear him.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭103:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Fear in this term , is to genuinely respect and to hold true reverence for our father and his word of blessing and promises of life and his warnings of death and damnation.

“But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, And his righteousness unto children's children;”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭103:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

blessings

“He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭115:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

salvation and fulfilling thier desires

“He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭145:19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Your question is the key to life everlasting the fountain of life and escape from death

“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, To depart from the snares of death.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14:27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It is a shield and guard against evil

“The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: And he that hath it shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19:23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And the church is called to walk in it

“Then had the churches rest throughout all Judæa 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.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:31‬ ‭

To not fear God our maker is foolish knowing his wrath by his own word of truth

Yes sir we should fear exceedingly The Lord who can speak and create a world or speak and destroy one. But when we do he’s going to teach us never to be afraid of anyone or anything …….because he’s with us !!

 

[Magenta]

I believe that there is a Godly fear along with the reverence toward our God. I think it
comes out when we know that we have not loved God as we should or walked in His ways.
Even the best of God's people feel this way from time to time. It is necessary to
experience this fear. It is what draws us back to Him with repentance and sorrow.

When God speaks of those who do not fear Him, He is speaking of those who sin without Godly sorrow for their actions!

So true, BillyBob! And highest on the list of those who sin devoid of Godly sorrow is the natural man, *who has no fear of God, which by necessity must precede belief, since it is the beginning of wisdom! That is another reason why I do not believe the natural man, while a slave to sin and a lover of darkness, captive to the will of the devil and inherently hostile in his mind toward God as a child of wrath who can neither receive nor comprehend the spiritual things of God, will choose, of his own volition, to believe the gospel message, which is foolishness to him... despite the many here who think they were smart enough to decide to believe as a matter of morality or whatever other reason they give which ignores the many Scripture verses which oppose their standpoint, including the fact that the heart of the natural man is definitely not good ground for producing good fruit. I just designed a panel the other day with that very sentiment on it*! I posted it to our lovely @LifelongLearner the other day but it had not yet had the verse citations added to it, so this is the first time being posted in a more complete form .

John 3-6, Romans 8-7, Galatians 5-17, 2 Timothy 3-13, Romans 3-18 ~ Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. The mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. The flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other. Evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. There is no fear of God before their eyes.

 

[BillyBob]

So true, BillyBob! And highest on the list of those who sin devoid of Godly sorrow is the natural man, *who has no fear of God, which by necessity must precede belief, since it is the beginning of wisdom! That is another reason why I do not believe the natural man, while a slave to sin and a lover of darkness, captive to the will of the devil and inherently hostile in his mind toward God as a child of wrath who can neither receive nor comprehend the spiritual things of God, will choose, of his own volition, to believe the gospel message, which is foolishness to him... despite the many here who think they were smart enough to decide to believe as a matter of morality or whatever other reason they give which ignores the many Scripture verses which oppose their standpoint, including the fact that the heart of the natural man is definitely not good ground for producing good fruit. I just designed a panel the other day with that very sentiment on it*! I posted it to our lovely @LifelongLearner the other day but it had not yet had the verse citations added to it, so this is the first time being posted in a more complete form .

John 3-6, Romans 8-7, Galatians 5-17, 2 Timothy 3-13, Romans 3-18 ~ Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. The mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. The flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other. Evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. There is no fear of God before their eyes.

This panel declares a lot in a few words. I like it very much!

 

[Magenta]

This panel declares a lot in a few words. I like it very much!

Thank you Billy Bob! You may like this one also, which I have designed recently as well, using Grace Kelly's face for the third time in a row... The last verse really struck me given how so many free willers here say things like, God is unfair if He reveals Himself in personal ways to people that differ in how He might reveal Himself to another person, or, if He acts unilaterally, He is an unjust tyrant kidnapping people against their will. That certainly does not come across in any way as proclaiming His virtues!

 

[JohnDB]

God's power alone is not a reason to fear
Nor is God's Sovereignty, omniscience, omnipresence, or immutability.

What is absolutely petrifying is God's goodness....AKA: Holiness.

Holiness is described as : good, pure, ascribed for only dedicated special use instead of common.

Show bread on the table in the Temple vx a loaf of discount special wonder bread at the day old bakery. Show bread is Holy....wonder bread is not.

Pure 24karat gold vx gold plated brass....one will turn your finger green....the other is 99.9999% pure. One is reserved for exchange...the other is sold at the discount jewelry counter without a guard or inside a locked case.

Then there's the solid 24 karat gold candle holders at the cathedral....

Again....pure, good, and reserved for special use. All three.

Now...to the crux!

Holy is not a static state. YOU cannot declare something holy...God can though.
The state of Holy is not static either. It has a positive reaction to error if such a thing were to emerge.

God is Holy, Holy, Holy. (3rd level)
The Ark of the Covenant was said to be the 2nd level of Holy. And touching or looking at it was a death sentence. (Not by man but by God)

The Temple as well was but a shadow...a symbolic representation of what exists in Heaven...and people died from treating it as common...simply because they did not respect it enough.

AND that is what is important about fearing God. ALL the Old Testament laws and rituals and procedures are shadows of the new Covenant....and still required spiritually. (Same God)
God's Holiness has destroyed entire kingdoms, mountains, changed the environment, made the stars go backwards in the sky....all kinds of things. There is no limit.

So excuse me if I'm just a bit apprehensive when it comes time for prayer or gaining God's focused attention.

 

[LifelongLearner]

So true, BillyBob! And highest on the list of those who sin devoid of Godly sorrow is the natural man, *who has no fear of God, which by necessity must precede belief, since it is the beginning of wisdom! That is another reason why I do not believe the natural man, while a slave to sin and a lover of darkness, captive to the will of the devil and inherently hostile in his mind toward God as a child of wrath who can neither receive nor comprehend the spiritual things of God, will choose, of his own volition, to believe the gospel message, which is foolishness to him... despite the many here who think they were smart enough to decide to believe as a matter of morality or whatever other reason they give which ignores the many Scripture verses which oppose their standpoint, including the fact that the heart of the natural man is definitely not good ground for producing good fruit. I just designed a panel the other day with that very sentiment on it*! I posted it to our lovely @LifelongLearner the other day but it had not yet had the verse citations added to it, so this is the first time being posted in a more complete form .

John 3-6, Romans 8-7, Galatians 5-17, 2 Timothy 3-13, Romans 3-18 ~ Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. The mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. The flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other. Evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Greetings and hugs precious friend and love this panel, not just for the scripture, the girl looks so like my daughter. I'll show it to her, it'll surprise her too and i know you're not what's called Calvinist either, however, we are absolutely incapable of effecting our salvation.

When walking or running somewhere really beautiful, i thought there must be a God many times in my life. However, it's less than a year since belief became strong enough to make me take real action. Really believe God must have given a helping hand there, no way did that impetus come from me.

Hope that makes some sense, blessings and hugs for now precious friend

 

[Blain]

I was in his presence so strongly once that my body was trembling and shaking I dared not even lift my head I learned the fear of the Lord that day his awesomeness and might is truly amazing

 

[LifelongLearner]

I was in his presence so strongly once that my body was trembling and shaking I dared not even lift my head I learned the fear of the Lord that day his awesomeness and might is truly amazing

That sounds a really beautiful experience dear friend but thinking you don't mean fear as in scared? Think i might have experienced something like that but if i try to analyse it, the best description would be that it .......... Ah! glad i looked again before finishing and posting, awareness of his awesomeness and might is so close to what i felt.

Had a few things to sort and a little unpleasantness here, which i hope might now be resolved. Will reply to your testimony, when my mind is clear enough to do it some justice, God's blessings and hugs from me for now

 

[Magenta]

Greetings and hugs precious friend and love this panel, not just for the scripture, the girl looks so like my daughter. I'll show it to her, it'll surprise her too and i know you're not what's called Calvinist either, however, we are absolutely incapable of effecting our salvation.

When walking or running somewhere really beautiful, i thought there must be a God many times in my life. However, it's less than a year since belief became strong enough to make me take real action. Really believe God must have given a helping hand there, no way did that impetus come from me.

Hope that makes some sense, blessings and hugs for now precious friend

Wow, that is so amazing that I am doing all these panels using Grace Kelly's face because of/inspired by you and it turns out your daughter looks like her! She must be a very beautiful young woman... or perhaps, not so young any more, as even my own daughter will be, my goodness, thirty nine this year! Among other minor alterations to the face, I have been slightly changing the shade of her lipstick, because she is always wearing red and I prefer shades more to the pinkish side. I wondered if you could see that when I showed you the original photos with the panels in progress... Any ways, I am really pleased to discover that these panels I am designing with the face I have chosen because of you have a surprising deeper connection with you! God moves in mysterious ways! Heh, yes, we hear that and know it is not directly taken from Scripture, and yet it is very true. I was thinking about these issues, that man is without excuse, yet juxtaposed against, they know not what they do, as I was driving home from work today. And it is true that God's glory is made manifest in creation, and yet the gospel message is something entirely other. It is interesting to me that I can say I discovered I needed no more convincing and someone jumps to, I was forced. It really comes across as these others have no idea what it is like to be drawn by God's loving kindness... especially given some of the things said by them. And I cannot but ponder the fact that psychologists largely stay in business because often people need to do some deep digging to discover what they believe and how those beliefs impact their life. And of course the best advise ever is to live by Biblical principles... the very thing most men of the natural world do not want to do as they jostle for more and more freedom. "For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh." And now I am more keen than ever to finish panel number four with GK's face! .

 

[homwardbound]

God's power alone is not a reason to fear
Nor is God's Sovereignty, omniscience, omnipresence, or immutability.

What is absolutely petrifying is God's goodness....AKA: Holiness.

Holiness is described as : good, pure, ascribed for only dedicated special use instead of common.

Show bread on the table in the Temple vx a loaf of discount special wonder bread at the day old bakery. Show bread is Holy....wonder bread is not.

Pure 24karat gold vx gold plated brass....one will turn your finger green....the other is 99.9999% pure. One is reserved for exchange...the other is sold at the discount jewelry counter without a guard or inside a locked case.

Then there's the solid 24 karat gold candle holders at the cathedral....

Again....pure, good, and reserved for special use. All three.

Now...to the crux!

Holy is not a static state. YOU cannot declare something holy...God can though.
The state of Holy is not static either. It has a positive reaction to error if such a thing were to emerge.

God is Holy, Holy, Holy. (3rd level)
The Ark of the Covenant was said to be the 2nd level of Holy. And touching or looking at it was a death sentence. (Not by man but by God)

The Temple as well was but a shadow...a symbolic representation of what exists in Heaven...and people died from treating it as common...simply because they did not respect it enough.

AND that is what is important about fearing God. ALL the Old Testament laws and rituals and procedures are shadows of the new Covenant....and still required spiritually. (Same God)
God's Holiness has destroyed entire kingdoms, mountains, changed the environment, made the stars go backwards in the sky....all kinds of things. There is no limit.

So excuse me if I'm just a bit apprehensive when it comes time for prayer or gaining God's focused attention.

A time change in the risen Son for us to be new in Heaven for us, seeing new from the soul over the old flesh trying to do wha tit cannot do, that is be perfect, therefore God Father is for us through risen Son to us,a t least me thanks I got things from what you said there
God did it for us to be ne win God for us and love all, wow! Yes even those that have done me wrong and those trying to still go others wrong as well
Forgiver, since am forgiven by God Father in Son first, that is done for us all to respond to, at least me this I see
Blows my mind
I, see said the blind person to the deaf person, as that person picked up the hammer and saw

God does love us all y'all. As far as the east is from the west? How far is the east from the west?
Is this doe in Son for us all or not? To me it is and wow is me now forever in this ;love and mercy given. therefore I see to give it as is given, you think?