In my previous article I addressed the topic “Fear not!” I gave many reasons from the Bible why believers as the children of God do not have to be fearful in God’s world. However there is a place for the right kind of fear in our lives as believers. The Bible not only has the phrase “Fear not!“ but also has “Fear Him!” referring to God. What does it mean to “fear Him?”
1]. Those Who “Fear Him” Are Those Who Trust In God
Deu 13:4 “You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him.” What is involved in fearing God, is to keep His commandments, to obey His voice, serve Him and hold fast to Him. It is a commitment by humans to love God and to faithfully keep on serving Him.
Job 37:23 -24, “The Almighty—we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. 24 Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.” The fear of God derives from the recognition of the greatness of God both in His almighty power and in His justice. Such people are not conceited in their own limited wisdom.
Psa 25:14 “The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.” God becomes a friend to those who accept His friendship and He helps them understand the covenant He has formed with His people.
Psa 33:18 “Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love.” Here we see that hoping in God’s steadfast love is equated with having the fear of God. God watches over those who look to Him in faith.
Psa 22:25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. The Psalmist’s praise to God stems from his faith in Him and this faith encourages him to perform his vows before others who likewise fear God.
Psa 147:11 but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. The Psalmist adds another truth about the character of God when he describes God as taking pleasure in those who fear Him.
Rev 19:5 And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.” An unidentified voice addresses all God’s servants who fear Him and commands them to praise their God.
2]. God Promises To Protect And Bless Those Who Fear Him
Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. God through this unnamed representative protects believers in the same way as an army encamped around a city protects the city.
Psa 34:9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! God’s saints [hoi hagioi autou] [οι αγιοι αυτου] are those set apart to God. As such He provides for them so that they do not lack.
Psa 85:9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. God’s presence among His people is their salvation and thus they are able to live to His glory.
Psa 103:11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him. Believers are assured of God’s steadfast love for them because it is immeasurable.
Psa 103:13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. Compassion [oikteirō; οἰκτείρω] is an understanding love,characteristic of a father’s love for his children. But human compassion is only a faint shadow of the great compassion God has for His children.
Psa 103:17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children. God’s steadfast love [Greek eleos; ἔλεος] can mean the tender mercy coming from God’s deep understanding of us. It is eternal, for He never changes. But as the next verse reminds us, those who fear him are those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.
Psa 111:5 He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. The Israelites knew of God’s provision of food for His people as He led them from Egypt towards the promised land. He would continue to provide for those who feared Him because He was faithful to His covenant people.
Psa 145:19 “He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.” God knows the desires of His people whether they are expressed in prayer or hidden in their hearts. He fulfils their desires and saves them.
Luk 1:50 “And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.” Mary the mother of Jesus expressed these words in the Magnificat as she gave glory to God. She had been the recipient of God’s mercy and realised that His mercy would extend to all generations, on those who feared Him.
3]. “Fear Him!” Used As A Command
Psa 67:7 ‘God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!” The Psalmist had been writing of the goodness of the Lord and how He had blessed His people. He wanted everyone to share in God’s blessings so he wrote in verses 3 and 5 , “Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!” He finished the Psalm with the same desire, “let all the ends of the earth fear Him!” The fear the Psalmist is referring to is the reverential respect for the loving and faithful God who blesses His people.
Mat 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear himwho can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Jesus was teaching His disciples that they had no need to fear the humans who might seek to kill them. The worst they could do would be to kill the body but they were unable to kill the soul. The right sort of fear is the reverential fear of God who has the ability to destroy both body and soul in hell. It is interesting that Jesus followed these seemingly harsh words with these comforting words, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Mat 10:29-31.
Luk 12:4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!
This is similar to the Mat 10:28 reference above with its emphasis on the fact that the worst humans can do is to kill another human. Only God has the authority to cast someone into hell.
SUMMING UP
In most of these verses where the words “fear him” are used it is mainly to show that those who fear God are in a right relationship with Him. As such He has pity on them, protects them, saves them, and blesses them. It also shows that those who fear him don’t need to fear their fellow humans. They may kill the body but have no jurisdiction on what happens to the soul.
However, we have challenging words in Matthew 10:28 and Luke 12:4 where the disciples are told by Jesus that they need to have a reverential fear of God because He alone has the authority to cast people into hell.
It is interesting though that the emphasis in the Bible is on the grace of God in wooing people to have faith in Himself. Consider the case of the two thieves who were crucified at the same time as Jesus. One of them had a mocking attitude to Jesus, as he cried out, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” He had no recognition of who Jesus was. But the other somehow recognised that the battered body of the man crucified next to him was a king who would somehow survive his crucifixion and take up his kingdom. He addressed Jesus with a request, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Luke 23:42.
Who looked less than a king than Jesus as He hung on the cross in utter weakness? But this second thief saw beyond the natural and recognised that Jesus was about to become a king and asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom. He recognised that he himself was a sinner and pleaded with Jesus for mercy as He established His kingdom. He had learned to “Fear Him!” How reassuring it must have been for him to hear Jesus‘ reply to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43.
How reassuring it is for believers today to know that when they learn to “Fear Him,” from the moment of their death they will be with Jesus in paradise. Or the promise in the words of St Paul, that to be “absent from the body,” through death means to be “present with the Lord!” 2 Corinthians 5:8.
Blog No.488 posted on Thursday 06 July 2023.
holbeck 
488. Whom Do We Need To Fear? “Fear Him!”
In my previous article I addressed the topic “Fear not!” I gave many reasons from the Bible why believers as the children of God do not have to be fearful in God’s world. However there is a place for the right kind of fear in our lives as believers. The Bible not only has the phrase “Fear not!“ but also has “Fear Him!” referring to God. What does it mean to “fear Him?”
1]. Those Who “Fear Him” Are Those Who Trust In God
Deu 13:4 “You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him.” What is involved in fearing God, is to keep His commandments, to obey His voice, serve Him and hold fast to Him. It is a commitment by humans to love God and to faithfully keep on serving Him.
Job 37:23 -24, “The Almighty—we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. 24 Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.” The fear of God derives from the recognition of the greatness of God both in His almighty power and in His justice. Such people are not conceited in their own limited wisdom.
Psa 25:14 “The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.” God becomes a friend to those who accept His friendship and He helps them understand the covenant He has formed with His people.
Psa 33:18 “Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love.” Here we see that hoping in God’s steadfast love is equated with having the fear of God. God watches over those who look to Him in faith.
Psa 22:25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. The Psalmist’s praise to God stems from his faith in Him and this faith encourages him to perform his vows before others who likewise fear God.
Psa 147:11 but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. The Psalmist adds another truth about the character of God when he describes God as taking pleasure in those who fear Him.
Rev 19:5 And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.” An unidentified voice addresses all God’s servants who fear Him and commands them to praise their God.
2]. God Promises To Protect And Bless Those Who Fear Him
Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. God through this unnamed representative protects believers in the same way as an army encamped around a city protects the city.
Psa 34:9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! God’s saints [hoi hagioi autou] [οι αγιοι αυτου] are those set apart to God. As such He provides for them so that they do not lack.
Psa 85:9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. God’s presence among His people is their salvation and thus they are able to live to His glory.
Psa 103:11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him. Believers are assured of God’s steadfast love for them because it is immeasurable.
Psa 103:13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. Compassion [oikteirō; οἰκτείρω] is an understanding love,characteristic of a father’s love for his children. But human compassion is only a faint shadow of the great compassion God has for His children.
Psa 103:17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children. God’s steadfast love [Greek eleos; ἔλεος] can mean the tender mercy coming from God’s deep understanding of us. It is eternal, for He never changes. But as the next verse reminds us, those who fear him are those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.
Psa 111:5 He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. The Israelites knew of God’s provision of food for His people as He led them from Egypt towards the promised land. He would continue to provide for those who feared Him because He was faithful to His covenant people.
Psa 145:19 “He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.” God knows the desires of His people whether they are expressed in prayer or hidden in their hearts. He fulfils their desires and saves them.
Luk 1:50 “And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.” Mary the mother of Jesus expressed these words in the Magnificat as she gave glory to God. She had been the recipient of God’s mercy and realised that His mercy would extend to all generations, on those who feared Him.
3]. “Fear Him!” Used As A Command
Psa 67:7 ‘God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!” The Psalmist had been writing of the goodness of the Lord and how He had blessed His people. He wanted everyone to share in God’s blessings so he wrote in verses 3 and 5 , “Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!” He finished the Psalm with the same desire, “let all the ends of the earth fear Him!” The fear the Psalmist is referring to is the reverential respect for the loving and faithful God who blesses His people.
Mat 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear himwho can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Jesus was teaching His disciples that they had no need to fear the humans who might seek to kill them. The worst they could do would be to kill the body but they were unable to kill the soul. The right sort of fear is the reverential fear of God who has the ability to destroy both body and soul in hell. It is interesting that Jesus followed these seemingly harsh words with these comforting words, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Mat 10:29-31.
Luk 12:4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!
This is similar to the Mat 10:28 reference above with its emphasis on the fact that the worst humans can do is to kill another human. Only God has the authority to cast someone into hell.
SUMMING UP
In most of these verses where the words “fear him” are used it is mainly to show that those who fear God are in a right relationship with Him. As such He has pity on them, protects them, saves them, and blesses them. It also shows that those who fear him don’t need to fear their fellow humans. They may kill the body but have no jurisdiction on what happens to the soul.
However, we have challenging words in Matthew 10:28 and Luke 12:4 where the disciples are told by Jesus that they need to have a reverential fear of God because He alone has the authority to cast people into hell.
It is interesting though that the emphasis in the Bible is on the grace of God in wooing people to have faith in Himself. Consider the case of the two thieves who were crucified at the same time as Jesus. One of them had a mocking attitude to Jesus, as he cried out, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” He had no recognition of who Jesus was. But the other somehow recognised that the battered body of the man crucified next to him was a king who would somehow survive his crucifixion and take up his kingdom. He addressed Jesus with a request, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Luke 23:42.
Who looked less than a king than Jesus as He hung on the cross in utter weakness? But this second thief saw beyond the natural and recognised that Jesus was about to become a king and asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom. He recognised that he himself was a sinner and pleaded with Jesus for mercy as He established His kingdom. He had learned to “Fear Him!” How reassuring it must have been for him to hear Jesus‘ reply to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43.
How reassuring it is for believers today to know that when they learn to “Fear Him,” from the moment of their death they will be with Jesus in paradise. Or the promise in the words of St Paul, that to be “absent from the body,” through death means to be “present with the Lord!” 2 Corinthians 5:8.
Blog No.488 posted on Thursday 06 July 2023.
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About Jim Holbeck
Once an Industrial Chemist working for the Queensland Government but later an Anglican minister in Brisbane, Armidale and Sydney. Last position for eighteen years before retirement in 2006 was as the Leader of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney.