Fearing God

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (KJV)

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

It used to be customary especially in the South when talking of someone who was a Christian a Godly person to use the phrase, "they are a God fearing person." I used to think that was just a quaint little saying, but the more I study the Word of God I see that this should be said of all of us.

But then I began to think - I don't think we fully understand what that means. What is the fear of God? There is a lot of confusion connected with it. I remember my two older brothers were in an accident several years ago, it wasn't anything major but it did total the vehicle - someone either a relative or close friend of the family, I remember mentioned that an incident like that would , "put the fear of God into you." What does that mean? What are we talking about when we use the words "fear" and "God" in the same sentence?

In our passage reading this morning Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, had just spent chapters telling us that all is vanity, you work and labor all your life and then what, all you have accumulated and accomplished goes to someone else and they probabbly won't take care of them like you did - over and over - in some ways it could almost be a depressing book, except If you take some scholar's opinion the book of Ecclesiasties is King Solomon's repentance to God - If that is true you can certainly understand why he would come down to the end of this book and give a statement like this -

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man…"

When the Bible uses the term in reference to God it is not speaking of a terror-stricken or cowardly spirit. This would be a “servile” fear (“servile” – Latin – servus = “slave”). Servile fear is the kind of fear which a slave would feel towards a harsh and unyielding master (Mat. 25:24-25).

But more of a reverence, or great respect for or you might put it this way, Christians are to have a "fillial" fear (comes from Latin word filius meaning 'son') It would be the loving fear of a child toward his father. A proper fear of God would include being afraid to disobey God who according to Heb. 12:29 is a consuming fire, plus the attitude of love, honor, awe and respect.

A more technical definition this comes from Dr. Alan Brown at God's Bible School wrote,

“The fear of the Lord is derived from three important concepts: 1) a biblically correct view of who God is (focusing primarily on His Holiness, majesty and justice), 2) a pervasive sense of His awesome presence watching everything you do, and 3) a constraining awareness of our on-going daily obligation to love him supremely, to obey him implicitly, and to trust him completely.”

It is also not "self-centered" that is the fear that focuses on ourselves a sense of rejection by God - this kind of fear will often draw us away from God or produce a rebellious attitude toward God, and focus on ourselves.

But just as Hebrews 12:28-29 says, we are to, " have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire."

This is not spoken to just a select few but the word "man" in this instance refers to the entire human population. And says it is our duty to revere and respect God.

We are given a full description of the fear of God, throughout the Scriptures.

Descriptions of the Fear of the Lord.

It is hatred of evil. Proverbs 8:13, "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil."

It is wisdom. Psalm 111:10, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

It is of great value. Isaiah 33:6, "The fear of the Lord is his (a believer's) treasure." Proverbs 15:16, "Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.

It is a fountain of life. Proverbs 14:27, "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death."

It is purifies. Psalm 19:9, "The fear of the Lord is clean" (this means its purifies or sanctifies the life).

It endures forever. Psalm 19:9, "The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever."

It is godly. Hebrews 12:28, "Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." This verse explains there is a difference between reverence and the fear of God.

It brings deliverance and protection. Psalm 34:7, "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them."

God confides in those who fear Him. Psalm 25:14, "The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant."

I think it is very safe to say that the Fear of God is very important in scripture -

Going back to our passage we show our fear of God by our obedience to All of God's commandments. One of which is the command to Fear the Lord.

Did you know that the Fear of God must both be taught and actively chosen?

Proverbs 1:29, “For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD.”

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

2 Kings 17:28, “Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.”

Psalms 86:11, “Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.”

And it is used according to 2 Cor. 7:1 as both a motivation and sustaining of holiness.

2 Cor. 7:1: “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”