CONTINUE IN FEAR

Acts 2:43; 5:5; 5:11; 9:31; 10:35

Fear of the Lord the — is in the Old Testament used as a designation of true piety (Prov. 1:7; Job 28:28; Ps. 19:9). It is a fear conjoined with love and hope, and is therefore not a slavish dread, but rather filial reverence. (Comp. Deut. 32:6; Hos. 11:1; Isa. 1:2; 63:16; 64:8.) God is called “the Fear of Isaac” (Gen. 31:42, 53), i.e., the God whom Isaac feared.

A holy fear is enjoined also in the New Testament as a preventive of carelessness in religion, and as an incentive to penitence (Matt. 10:28; 2 Cor. 5:11; 7:1; Phil. 2:12; Eph. 5:21; Heb. 12:28, 29).

[1]

fear of the Lord, the awe that a person ought to have before God (Prov. 5:7; Eccles. 12:13). As such it can be said to constitute ‘true religion’ (Ps. 34:11). This ‘fear of the Lord’ is represented by the ‘fear and trembling’ with which Paul exhorts the Philippians to work out their salvation (Phil. 2:12). It describes the piety of the growing church in Acts 9:31. However, it may also carry overtones of judgment (2 Cor. 5:11; 1 Pet. 1:17).

[2]

Psa. 31:19; Psa. 33:8, 18; Psa. 34:7, 9, 11; Psa. 46:10; Psa. 52:6; Psa. 60:4; Psa. 64:9; Psa. 67:7; Psa. 72:5; Psa. 76:7, 11; Psa. 85:9; Psa. 86:11; Psa. 89:7; Psa. 90:11; Psa. 96:4, 9; Psa. 99:1; Psa. 102:15; Psa. 103:11, 13, 17; Psa. 111:5, 10Prov. 1:7; 9:10. Psa. 112:1; Psa. 115:11, 13; Psa. 118:4; Psa. 119:63, 74, 79Psa. 66:16. Psa. 128:1, 4; Psa. 130:4; Psa. 135:20; Psa. 145:19; Psa. 147:11;[3]

Special instances: Noah in building the Ark – Heb. 11:7

                             Abraham in offering Isaac – Gen. 22:12

                              Job – Job 1:8

What does the fear of the Lord produce?

FROM THE BOOK OF PROVERBS, WE LEARN...      1. The "fear of the Lord" is the beginning of knowledge - Pr 1:7    2. The "fear of the Lord" will cause one to hate evil – Pr 8:13      3. The "fear of the Lord" will prolong life - Pr 10:27      4. The "fear of the Lord" provides strong confidence and is a         fountain of life - Pr 14:26-27  5. The "fear of the Lord" prompts one to depart from evil - Pr 16:6      6. The "fear of the Lord" leads to a satisfying life, and spares   one from much evil - Pr 19:23    7. The "fear of the Lord" is the way to riches, honor, and life!    - Pr 22:4           

Fallen Fear

            Leads to: disobedience, distance from God, distractions from the things of God

Faithful Fear

            Leads to: obedience, devotion to God

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[1]Easton, M. (1996, c1897). Easton's Bible dictionary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[2]Achtemeier, P. J., Harper & Row, P., & Society of Biblical Literature. (1985). Harper's Bible dictionary. Includes index. (1st ed.) (305). San Francisco: Harper & Row.

[3]Swanson, J., & Nave, O. (1994). New Nave's. Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems.