The Fear Of The Lord

by JOHN MCCORMICK | Category: General | Jul 1963

To seek after wisdom, spiritual wisdom, is a godly exercise. God will give wisdom to those who ask Him, realizing their lack of this necessary grace (James 1.5). There are two manifestations of wisdom among men. First, that which is natural, which itself is seen operating in two ways. Some men are wise in the affairs of men. There is also that of which the Scripture speaks, the wisdom which is not a wisdom that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish (James 3.15). It was this wisdom that led men to crucify the Lord of Glory (See 1 Corinthians 2.6-8). In contrast, there is a wisdom which is from above, and this again is manifested by the manner of life of those who have acquired it (James 3.17, 18). The obtaining of this wisdom should be the constant exercise of the child of God, so that the benefits produced may be of use both to himself, and to those joined with him in the bonds of fellowship. As a prerequisite he must learn the fear of the Lord. This is a reverential fear begotten of knowledge, even though small, of God and of Christ. That this can be learned and grow is clearly indicated in the word of God. It is our desire to show the way in which it should work in the heart. It is interesting to notice that godly fear was found in Noah who walked with God (Genesis 6.9), and in Hebrews 11.7 we are told, Noah. .. moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house." Again we read "By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac;" (Hebrews 11.17) and in Genesis 22.12, the Angel of the LORD says, "Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from Me". The fear of the LORD was so real in the hearts of these two men, that it found expression in their walk and actions. Interesting, too, is the fact that God is called, "The Fear of Isaac" (Genesis 31.42 and 58). While Isaac appears to have been a quiet man with nothing spectacular recorded of him, yet it seems he lived in the fear of God constantly. Of this Jacob had taken knowledge.

The greatest example of the fear of God is in the Lord Jesus. Speaking of the Lord, Isaiah says,

"And the Spirit of the LORD shall Test 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; and His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD" (Isaiah 11. 2, 8)

while in 33.6 we find

The fear of the LORD is His treasure".

What a delightful picture of the coming One, who, though great in power and might, came as the meek and lowly One! David in his last recorded words, speaks of

"One that ruleth over men righteously,

That ruleth in the fear of God" (2 Samuel 23.8).

Though He is King of kings and Lord of lords, and though He shall rule the nations with a rod of iron, nevertheless He shall rule in the fear of God. He shall rule according to the word of God.

It may be asked, How can we receive this blessing of fearing the Lord? We have already said that it can be learned, and can grow. Let none of us think that it comes to every believer on the ground of faith in Christ. This is not so. There are many children of God today of whom the words are true,

"This people honoureth Me with their lips;

But their heart is far from Me " (Matthew 15. 8).

To receive His blessing calls for personal exercise of heart before God. One of the characteristics of one seeking the fear of the LORD is found in Isaiah 66.2,

"But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at My word."

Here is one in whom the word of God has free course. It has entered into a receptive heart. He sees himself in abject poverty. His sins are ever before him producing a state of contrition and that because he trembles at God's word. See also Isaiah 57.15.

Think, too, of the experience of Josiah, king of Judah, who at eight years of age came to the throne. At sixteen he began to seek the LORD. At twenty he began to purge the land. At twenty-six he began to repair and cleanse the temple. Notice the finding of the book of the law, the reading of which had such an effect upon this young man. He trembled at the word of God, because it was God's word to him. And notice the words used of him, "because thine heart was tender". This is where the fear of God is seen, and this is the beginning of wisdom, example indeed for young people. Please read 2 Chronicles 34 and 35.

It has ever been the desire of God that men should fear Him, and particularly those who are found in His house. With the people of Israel He took special care that they should learn the fear of the LORD, whether king, priest, ruler, judge or people. Thus we find at Horeb the LORD said,

"Assemble Me the people, and I will make them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days that they live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children" (Deuteronomy 4. 10).

In the Scriptures He also reveals Himself. The more we know Him, the deeper will be our reverence for Him. We will think of Him with awe and learn to fear Him. This was not for the fathers only, but was to be handed on to their children that they also might learn to fear the LORD (see Deuteronomy 31.12-18). But this learning is not confined to the reading of the word. It is seen also in the doing of the commandments.

"And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which He shalt choose to cause His name to dwell there, ... that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always" (Deuteronomy 14.28).

Any king who should rule over God's people should be one who, "by reading the law, should learn to fear the LORD" (Deuteronomy

17.18-20).

Then as to judges, Jehoshaphat gives a striking example,

"And Jehoshaphat ... set judges in the land ... and said to the judges, Consider what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD; and he is with you in the judgement. Now therefore let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it" (2 Chronicles 19.4-7).

Likewise to the Levites and to the priests and to the heads of fathers' houses of Israel, he said,

"Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart" (2 Chronicles 19.9).

Thus it can be seen that in all the service of God from the highest to the least, God looks for men whose hearts are perfect toward Him, faithful men, for such are they who fear the LORD.

"Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear Him, Upon them that hope in His mercy;

To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine" (Psalm 33.18, 19).

"What man is he that feareth the LORD?

Him shall He instruct in the way that He shall choose.

The secret of the Loan is with them that fear Him; And He wilt shew them His covenant" (Psalm 25.12, 14).

One of the things associated with the fear of the LORD is the desire not to displease Him.

"The fear of the LORD is to hate evil:

Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way,

And the froward mouth, do I hate" (Proverbs 8.13).

These are things that God hates. We should hate them also; and to hate is good reason to depart from them.

"By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil" (Proverbs 16.6).

So that the fear which teaches us to hate gives also the power to depart from the evil.

Further, they that fear the LORD are the recipients of precious promises, such as,

"The angel of the Loan encampeth round about them that fear Him, And delivereth them" (Psalm 34.7).

"0 fear the LORD, ye His saints: For there is no want to them that fear Him" (Psalm 34.9).

In regard to those who in Malachi's day feared the LORD we read,

"Then they that feared the LORD spoke one with another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before Him, for them that feared the Loan, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine, saith the Loan of Hosts, in the day that I do make, even a peculiar treasure" (Malachi 3.16, 17). "But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings" (Malachi 4.2).

With such promises within our reach, should we not say in the language of the New Testament,

"Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" ?

(2 Corinthians 7.1).

If the fear of God finds a place in our hearts, it will lead to a happy state of affairs in our relationships one with another as the people of God. Gone would be our wrong thoughts of one another. Gone would be evil speakings. Fellowship with one another would be of a kind to bring joy to ourselves and honour to our God. In fact it would bring about that state of affairs so loved of God, "in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself" (Philippians 2.3). It would put an end to all superiority complexes, for then we should be obeying the command, "Subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ" (Ephesians 5.21).

May we be found in that attitude of mind and heart that the fear of the Lord will be our treasure. So that it may be said of us "So the church ... had peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied" (Acts 9.31).

JOHN MCCORMICK | Jul 1963
General