The Fear of the Lord is a profound reverence and awe towards God 

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!” (Psalm 111:10 ESV)

When I was in grade school, I read and memorized a little poem called “Somebody’s Boy.” It was very moving and thought provoking. Brace yourself, it’s heart wrenching.

Somebody’s Boy

Author Unknown

“Somebody’s boy was crossing the street, innocent, young, and fair.

He hadn’t the judgement of older folks and didn’t see danger there.

Somebody’s boy with a song on his lips, but it died in an instant away;

For a motorist ran the little boy down, and he died at the close of the day.

Somebody kneels at the foot of a bed, tight in her grasp a small shoe.

Somebody cries through the endless night, aren’t you glad that someone isn’t you!”

This little poem had a very profound effect on me. I’ve pondered it many times over the years. I thought about the great loss to the parents and how heartbroken and grief-stricken the mother was. I thought about what they might have done to have prevented that tragic accident from happening in the first place. Of course, sometimes accidents happen so quickly that there’s nothing that could have been done to prevent them. But, practical common since measures can be put in place to lesson the chances.

When my children were small I made sure I did everything I could do to make sure they were kept safe. Because we lived next to a busy street, I built a good fence and I constantly reminded them to look both ways while crossing the street.

The fear of the Lord brings wisdom and understanding

I also worked to teach my children to use good judgment in other areas of their lives, to understand the difference between good and evil and to make wise choices. This I knew was a bi-product of being born again (receiving Christ as Savior) and practicing the fear of the Lord personally. The promise verse at the top says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.” And this understanding will give them what they need in every area of their lives and will protect them in many ways throughout their lives. 

Therefore

“And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” (Job 28:28 ESV)

Tomorrow, more about the fear of the Lord and what it produces.

“Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!” (Psalm 33:8 ESV)

The fear of the Lord is different

When we read that we’re to “fear” the Lord, which is a commanded throughout the Bible, it’s important to understand it’s referring to a very different kind of fear than what most usually think of.

The dictionary describes two kinds of fear

1)    Fear: is an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger; alarm, angst, anxious, dread, fright, panic, scare, terror.

2)    The fear of the Lord is a profound reverence and awe toward God; Respect, revere, honor.

When you fear the Lord by applying profound reverence and awe toward Him, He blessed you abundantly in so many ways. Read what the Lord promised through the Prophet Jeremiah.

“I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.” (Jer. 32:39-40)

“I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it.” (Jer. 33:8-9)

Therefore

“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!” (Psalm 112:1 ESV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John  3:16 NIV)

I was recently speaking with a fellow Christian at a local coffee shop, and I asked him what his favorite Bible promise is. He looked puzzled and said, “What is a Bible promise?” His answer is not unusual because, sadly, most Christians don’t know what Bible promises are and can’t think of any if asked. I usually ask them if they know the most famous passage in the Bible, which is John 3:16. And just about everyone does. Then I say, If you know John 3:16, you already know five wonderful Bible promises. Then I explain by breaking the familiar verse into five sections, each a promise. I start with the promise that’s in each section, along with that part of the verse. I’ve bolded the promise and italicized the part of the verse.

PROMISE ONE: God loves you (for God so loved the world…)

PROMISE TWO: God gave His Son, Jesus, for you (that He gave his one and only Son…)

PROMISE THREE: When you believe in Him (that whosoever believes in Him…)

PROMISE FOUR: You won’t go to hell (shall not perish…)

PROMISE FIVE: You will live forever (but have eternal life)

Therefore

If you ever are asked if you know any Bible promises, you can confidently say, “Why yes! I know five, and here’s what they are!

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV)

“You will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere.” (Acts 1:8 NLT)

What does a witness for Jesus do?

A witness for Jesus tells other people what He has done in their life. It’s not complicated. A witness just says, “Here’s what I’ve seen. Here’s what I heard. Here’s what He did for me.”

An example of a witness for Jesus

Jesus healed a blind man and the religious leaders tried to ask him religious questions he didn’t know how to answer. So he simply told what Jesus had done for him.

“One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” (John 8:25)

Therefore

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Col. 4:6)

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the ho that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:15) 

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16 ESV)

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (Isa. 26:3 NLT)

What is perfect peace?

It is a condition of freedom from disturbance within the soul. It is perfect harmony reigning within. The Hebrew word for peace, “Shalom,” has the idea of soundness of health. Being filled with spiritual peace is to be spiritually healthy and free from all discord in the soul 

Perfect peace comes from Jesus

“For he himself is our peace”. (Eph. 2:14)

 “He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (Eph. 2:17-18)

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:26-27)

Therefore

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7)

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:9)

As I was driving along listening to the news on the radio, the announcer suddenly gasped, and then there was silence. When his voice returned, he said, “My apologies for the moment of silence. I was startled because a sparrow hit the window near where I’m sitting and fell to the ground. What startled me was that I remembered a Bible verse that said, ‘God sees when a sparrow falls’, and I was startled to think that I was so close to where God was looking.”

The announcer didn’t understand that the reason God sees when a sparrow falls is because he sees everything all the time, even when a sparrow falls (see Matt. 10:29).

He is ever present!

Because God is spirit and we can’t physically see Him, it’s easy to forget He is everywhere all the time and sees all things, and He even sees us constantly.  

“Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” (Gen. 28:16)

Therefore

“But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.” (Psalm 73:28)

“Let my judgment come forth from Your presence; Let Your eyes look with equity.” (Psalm. 17:2)

“Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” (James 4:10)

“‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.’” (Malachi 3:10)

This promise sounds too good to be true

This promise says some amazing things. First it tells you to bring “the whole tithe” into the storehouse, and then challenges you to “test God” regarding it. That’s pretty bold!

What does it mean?  

Definitions  

·      Test - A procedure for critical evaluation.

·      The whole tithe - Not merely a portion of it. God is not served with partial service (See the story of Ananias and Sophia, Acts 1:5-11, who held back some).

So, you can say it this way: Bring all the tithe, not just part of it, to God’s storehouse. And when you do, God will bless you so much that He will open Heaven’s floodgates with such an abundance of blessings that you won’t have room enough to store it! Test God and prove that it’s true! Wow! That’s huge!

Therefore

“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6.38 ESV)

Because God loves a cheerful giver!

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor. 9:7 ESV)

“And walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Eph. 5:2) 

Sacrificial love

The dictionary says: Sacrificial is used to describe things that involve a sacrifice —something important or precious that is given up for the sake of gaining something or allowing something to happen that is considered more important.

This is what Christ did for us

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)

“So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Heb. 9:25)

Therefore

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32)

“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:14)

According to Dr. George Barna, CRC Director of Research, “Americans have been aggressively redefining the nation’s morality for the past several decades. That shift is still in progress. Our research provides a compelling context for such a moral recalibration,” He said. “The percentage of adults with a biblical worldview has been sliced in half since 1995. The historic foundation of biblical truth and its impacts on family, faith, education, arts and entertainment, and public policy is mostly a distant memory.”

The Bible warned us what would happen if we turned away from God!

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” (Rom. 1:28-32)

The answer to this moral decline according to George Barna 

 “Unless Christian churches return to the basics to restore the foundations of the Christian faith, and parents train their children to embrace those foundations, there is little reason to believe that the coming quarter-century in America will include our historical levels of freedom.”

I believe George Barna is correct, that churches do need to return to their basic Christian foundations and parents do need to train their children to embrace those foundations. But, none of that will happen unless God’s people first do what God says they must do.

God promises He will do something if His people do something 

The promise verse at the top starts with the tiny conjunction word “if”, which means something will happen only if something else happens first. Let’s look at the passage, a small part at a time, to discover what must be done and what you get “if” you do it. 

“if my people, who are called by my name,”

Notice that this is directed only to God’s people who are called by His Name. It’s not directed at anyone else, no matter how worldly important or politically powerful they may be. It’s directed to God’s people, the ones who are called by His Name, period.

“will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,

Notice that God is telling his people to do four things, 1) Humble themselves, 2) Pray, 3) Seek His Face, and 4) Turn from their wicked ways.

That’s it! It really doesn’t seem like a big thing to do in order to get the HUGE results God promises they will get “if” they do it! 

The results

“then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”