The fear of God

Wisdom and knowledge, pride deludes us into thinking that we already know everything.

How this looks:

It applies to non-scholar and scholar alike.

A 13 year old thinks he knows everything. This is hard to change.

Doing what feels right. “It doesn’t matter.”

Judges 21.25 - “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

Proverbs 3:6 “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

How to start?

FEAR OF THE LORD (Proverbs 1.7)

Proverbs 1:29 “Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,”

Proverbs 2:5 “then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”

Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.”

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”

Proverbs 10:27 “The fear of the Lord prolongs life...”

Proverbs 14:26 “In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.”

Proverbs 14:27 “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.”

Proverbs 15:16 “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.”

Proverbs 15:33 “The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.”

Proverbs 16:6 “By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.”

Proverbs 22:4 “The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.”

Proverbs 23:17 “Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.”

Proverbs 31:30 “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

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

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

Ecclesiastes 12:13 “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

This is not respect, but terror.

GOD ACTS TO INSTILL TERROR IN HIS PEOPLE

Isaiah 6:5 “And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!””

Exodus 20:18–19 “Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.””

Mark 4:40–41 “[calms storm] And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?””

Philippians 2:12–13 “Therefore, my beloved, ... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

1 Samuel 6:19–20 “And he struck some of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they looked upon the ark of the Lord. He struck seventy men of them, and the people mourned because the Lord had struck the people with a great blow. Then the men of Beth-shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God? And to whom shall he go up away from us?””

Daniel 5:5–6 “[hand appears to Belshazzar]. Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.”

Matthew 27:51–54 “And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. ...When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with [terror] and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!””

Revelation 6:15–17 “Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?””

Don’t say, “I will stand!” casually.

FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEST THING (Proverbs 1.7)

Amos 5:18–20 “Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! Why would you have the day of the Lord? It is darkness, and not light, as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him. Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?”

“beginning” - (resit) - “the first thing, best thing” - intentionally ambiguous.

those who cannot or will not be taught will never attain wisdom - fools despise instruction

fool - one who looks within and around for instruction

you must love instruction, be humble

Proverbs 26:12 “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”

CONCLUSION

2 Corinthians 5:10–11 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.”

How I live. This reality wrecked my life. I would stay awake with demons, “chasing God.” [bad theology]

Psalm 139:23–24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

I instruct my kids.

Want to get my attention? Rattle me? Tell me I am in sin. Even if you are not walking with Christ I will process the charge. Promise.