Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. While fear of God is very important, who is teaching us to fear God, and how are we fearing Him? In this post we will explore the fear of God taught by various people in Scriptures.
Taught by men
Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men … Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the LORD, And their works are in the dark; They say, “Who sees us?” and, “Who knows us?” Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, “He did not make me”? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?
Isa 29:13,15-16
Fear of God taught by commandments of men are to make people move away from God. Their works are in dark and even reject the very existence of God himself. A good example in modern times are the churches who allow every abominable thing mentioned in the Bible within the church and then preach God loves everyone including sinners.
Taught by God
“[especially concerning] the day you stood before the LORD your God in Horeb, when the LORD said to me, ‘Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and [that] they may teach their children.’
Deut 4:10
If anyone hears the words of God, they will fear. This is exactly what God spoke to Moses.
when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who [is] within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the LORD your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, and [that] their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.”
Deut 31:11-13
God wants the children of Israel to read and hear the law so that they may learn to fear the LORD our God.
Taught by Jesus
“But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
Luke 12:5
Jesus taught us not to fear men but God who has the power to cast us into hell after we die.
He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with [their] lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching [as] doctrines the commandments of men.’ “For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men–the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” He said to them, “[All too] well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. “For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ “But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me [is] Corban”–’ (that is, a gift [to God]), “then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, “making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
Mark 7:6-13
Jesus not only taught us what God really wants us to do e.g., even hating without cause is equal to murder and lust in heart is equal to adultery – but also taught how not to reject the commandments of God using commandments or traditions of men. Have you heard preachers lying that we can never achieve God’s standard of holiness, so Jesus became our standard and fulfilled for us by being holy? This is one example of several lies told by the church who use doctrines and traditions of men to nullify the commandments of God.
Taught by Angel
Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth–to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people – saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”
Rev 14:6-7
Finally, just before the hour of God’s judgement, the everlasting gospel was preached to everyone who dwell on the earth. The everlasting gospel or the good news is that we must fear and give glory to Him because His judgments has come. Are you being misled by several churches that the gospel is about God’s love? Sorry to disappoint you. You must learn to fear God from Him, not men.
Conclusion
We must learn to fear God from God Himself and Jesus Christ but not men.
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight [is] in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.
Isa 11:1-4
As Jesus Christ did, we too must delight in the fear of the LORD.
