BASIC | Fear God

Information

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Biblical Relevance

The “fear of the Lord” motif occurs in three distinct ways in the Old Testament:

1. As an expression of corporate Israelite religion—the religious system of worshiping Yahweh. Occurrences of the phrase “fear of the Lord” in the general sense of religious piety mostly appear in Wisdom texts. In this sense, “fear of the Lord” is an essential component of Israel’s theology (Perdue, Wisdom and Creation, 78–79). It essentially means faith in Yahweh.

2. As a description of personal piety—the act of worshiping and obeying Yahweh. In Deuteronomy 5:29, God declares to Moses His desire that the people would fear Him enough that they would obey His commandments. “Fear” can be expressed as (positive) obedience caused by reverence for Yahweh and/or (negative) obedience caused by the threat of divine punishment (Weinfeld, Deuteronomy 1–11, 325).

3. As an identification of a religious person, i.e., a worshiper of Yahweh. Joseph identifies himself as a God-fearer when he is reunited with his brothers (Gen 42:18). Jonah similarly identifies himself as a God-fearer when he is questioned by the sailors (Jonah 1:9; compare Pss 25:14; 33:18; 34:9).

It seems as though the Old Testament motif of the “Fear of The Lord” is different than what is experienced in

5 And as they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.1

5 And as they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

TERROR: Fear, Horror, Shiver, Tremble, Startled, Be in dread.

another place we see this word used in the OT is (ESV)

(ESV)

The NET Bible Chapter 6

6:4 For the arrows10 of the Almighty11 are within me;

my spirit12 drinks their poison;13

God’s sudden terrors14 are arrayed15 against me.

4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

speaks to reverence and piety while speaks to horror and paralysis. We are talking about 2 different things here but our words in english oftentimes mislead us into thinking they are much more closely related. THE DANGER with that is we could possibly become inconsiderate and weak in our perspective of God. When we speak to God is it with a sense of underlying reverence? I hope so. But that is only one layer of the response and action I’m seeing in scripture. Entire towns were paralyzed in terror by God. so much so that they couldn’t move from their homes to engage in the pursuit of Jacob.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why do you tink the psalmist calls the fear of the Lord the “beginning of Wisdom”?

2. As you examine your life, do you actually fear God? What evidence is there that you do or don’t fear God?

3. We all have basic assumptions about God. SOme of these are scripturally based; many are not. try to honestly asses your view of God. write downa brief description of some of the ways you view God, and give a short expalantion of why you’ve come to see God in these ways. (example: I picture God as patient and forgiving because my father is very kind.)

Revelation 1:9–18 ESV

9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Revelation

john