D I S C I P L E S H I P W O R K B O O K Jay Wegter, Bible Teacher
Walking in the Fear of the Lord (Part One)
Adapted from “The Fear of God,” Thomas Watson, Religion our True Interest, Blue Banner Prod, Edinburg, 1992, pp. 9-44
I. What are the qualities found in the fear of God?
A. The fear of God is not a natural fear. In other words, natural fear issues from our instincts of
self-preservation. Therefore we naturally fear high exposed places; stormy seas; poisonous snakes; vicious dogs; armed robbers; and high voltage. The fear of God is NOT the same as a heart-pounding adrenal rush we might experience when faced with an imminent threat. (Regarding natural fear, see Eccl 12:5; Prov 29:25; 1 Jn 4:18).
The fear of God is not a superstitious fear. People around the world experience superstitious fear, and as a consequence turn to forms of religion in order to manage that fear (note that there is a fear of the dark in many cultures which hold to the belief that evil spirits abound at night). Scripture condemns sinful fear as dishonoring to God (Is 54:4; 57:11-13). Those who fear man instead of God look to human schemes for self-protection. Attempts to dodge the fear of man include the following: treachery, accommodation, appeasement, hiding, negotiation, and aggression.
B. The fear of God is a divine fear (it is of divine origin). The genuine fear of God is positive (as
opposed to recoiling from a threat). The fear of God is reverencing and adoring God’s holiness. The fear of God is deep reverence, respect, and awe. And, it is placing ourselves always under His divine inspection of us. The infinite distance between us and God (between self-existent Creator and dependent creature) causes holy fear. When God’s glory was shining forth at Mt. Sinai and accompanied by earthquake, smoke, and trumpet sound; Moses said, “I am full of fear and trembling” (Heb 12:21).
The fear of God is the sum of all true religion. “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil” (Eccl 12:13-14). The fear of God is the first, the leading grace which God sows in the heart. Once a person becomes a believer, he is afraid of displeasing God because God is so great and good. “Fear this honored and awesome Name, the Lord your God” (Deut 28:58). We have a ‘filial’ (or sonship) kind of fear of God; as redeemed sons and daughters of God we do not wish to offend our Heavenly Father (Rom 8:14-16).
It is impossible to act and be and live as a true Christian without this fear. The very constitution of the soul of the saint has the fear of God as his fixed posture. There is a great difference between fearing God and being afraid of God. The wicked have a fear that is servile and craven—a paralyzing kind of fear. They are prisoners of their fear (Rom 8:15). By contrast the reverential fear in God’s elect is admirable; it is mixed with other graces; it exalts God’s moral majesty and God’s moral government (Ps 52:5-7; 64:7-10).
C. The fear of God is mixed with the love of God and the brethren. “The Lord keeps all those
who love Him” (Ps 145:19-20). Reverential fear of God and the love of God work in conjunction with one another. Love functions as wind-filled sails to the soul, and fear serves as ballast to keep us stead and watchful. Fear of God keeps the soul in state of circumspection (discretion and good judgment). The one who fears God can see evil at a distance so that he may steer clear of it. He sees and avoids those ‘rocks’ which others run upon and wreck upon (Heb 5:13-14; Prov 22:3). The person who fears God is a wise as a serpent; but harmless as a dove. He is cautious; but not cowardly (Matt 10:16).
D. The fear of God is mixed with faith and hope. “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear
Him, on those who hope in His lovingkindness” (Ps 33:18). “In reverence (fear) [Noah] prepared an ark for the salvation of his household” (Heb 11:7). When the gracious soul looks to its own sinfulness, or to God’s holiness, it fears—but it is a fear mixed with faith in Christ’s merits. The soul trembles yet it trusts. God in His great wisdom couples together these graces of faith and fear. Fear preserves our seriousness and faith our joy and cheerfulness. Holy fear is the ‘lead in the net’ to keep the Christian from floating in presumption. Faith is the ‘cork’ to keep him from sinking in despondency and despair.
One might be tempted to think that fear would destroy hope; but that is not the case with divine fear. True reverential fear of God cherishes hope knowing that God is as good as His promises (as well as His threats). Fear is to hope as oil is to a lamp—it keeps it burning; for the more we reverence God’s unbending justice, the more we hope in His mercy. By contrast, those who have no fear of God may sometimes have hope; but it is an optimism of presumption. They ‘hope’ things will fare well with them; but their hope is not the good hope of grace (2 Thess 2:16-17). Instead they make their religious efforts and their moral striving the support of their souls. Therefore their ‘hope’ never rises above presumption. The true saint has good hope through grace—and the helmet of hope (1 Thess 5:8).
E. The fear of God is mixed with a zeal for good works (Heb 11:7). Christ gave Himself for us
that He might have a people who are “zealous for good deeds” (Titus 2:14). There is a non-divine fear of God which represents God as a severe judge; but that kind of fear keeps the soul from industry and diligence (Matt 25:25). Divine fear of God produces diligence. The genuine Christian fears God; prays; reverences God; and repents. The fear of God banishes sloth and passivity. Paul could say, “but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God” (1 Cor 15:10). Holy fear says the greatest pain felt in the labor of true religion is far less than the least pain the damned feel in hell. It is the faithful, sensible slave whom His Master will put in charge of His household when He returns (Matt 24:45-46).
II. Why do the Scriptures enforce and command the holy fear of God?
A. We are to fear God because the eye of our omniscient God is always upon us (Ps 139:7-12;
Job 31:4; Jer 17:10). God looks on the heart, all things are open and laid bare before Him with Whom we have to do (Heb 4:12). In a courtroom trial, an earthly judge gathers the facts until the case is has become clear. God is the Supreme Judge—He sees our motives, thoughts and intents. There is no secret hidden from Him.
God interprets our not fearing Him as slighting Him. “Why has the wicked spurned God? He has said to himself, “Thou wilt not require it” (Ps 10:13). God is worthy of honor. Those who conceive of Him other than He is draw down His wrath upon them (Rom 1:18ff.). Those who do not fear God make themselves His adversaries (Ps 36:1-4; 55:19, 23; 64:7-9). God’s fury rises up against those who erect an idol of a deity in their minds in place of the one true God. “You thought I was just like you; I will reprove you, and state the case in order before your eyes. Now consider this, you who forgot God, lest I tear you to pieces, and there be none to deliver” (Ps 50:21-22).
B. God has the power to destroy us. “Fear Him who has the power to destroy both soul and
body in hell” (Matt 10:28). God has the power to look us into the grave and to blow us into hell. “Who knows the power of His anger” (Ps 90:11). God threatens the souls of men with hell—shall we not tremble before Him? When God pours out His vials of fury, it will be exceedingly dreadful. “And I will bring distress on men, so that they will walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the Lord; and their blood will be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the day of the Lord’s wrath; and all the earth will be devoured in the fire of His jealousy, for He will make a complete end, indeed a terrifying one, of all the inhabitants of the earth” (Zeph 1:17-18). The terror will be beyond the agency of human deliverance (Ez 22:14; Rom 2:5-9).
III. Why is the fear of God filled with practicality?
A. It is our duty to fear God (Rom 3:14-15, 18). Those who are void of the fear of God are
strangers to true religion. A lack of fear of God is the innate cause of all wickedness (Ps 10:3-15). The unjust judge feared not God (Luke 18:1-2). Sin cannot be restrained without the fear of God. Ignorance of God destroys reverence and holy fear. You don’t know God unless you fear Him.
Arthur Pink gave this chilling warning, “The ‘god’ of this twentieth century no more resembles the Supreme Sovereign of Holy Writ than does the dim flickering of a candle the glory of the midday sun.” Men have no fear of God because they presume He is all merciful and loving. But upon whom is God’s mercy? His mercy is upon those that fear Him (Luke 1:50; Ps 103:17).
Those who have no fear and reverence for God’s justice shall not taste His mercy. Men fear shame; poverty; dishonor; danger; slander; and sickness; but not God. Says Thomas Watson, a religious profession without the fear of God is like snow on a pile of manure—it hides a foul heart. We ought to repent over our lack of the fear of God. Why do so few fear God? It is because they do not have the knowledge of God. They have hated knowledge, and consequently they have not chosen the fear of the Lord (Prov 1:29). To not retain God in our thoughts is to choose a darkened path.
If men knew God in His immense glory and majesty, they would be swallowed up with divine amazement and holy awe. When Isaiah has a glimpse of God’s glory, he was stricken with devastation and holy amazement (Is 6:5). When John the Apostle had a vision of the glorified Christ, he became as a dead man at the feet of Christ (Rev 1:17).
B. The fear of the Lord ought to be used to reprove sinners. Unbelievers spend their time in
idolatry, wantonness, joviality, dead religion, and mirth. “They sing to the timbrel and the harp and rejoice at the sound of the flute. And suddenly go down to Sheol. And they say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Thy ways. Who is the Almighty that we should serve Him, and what should we gain if we entreat Him?’” (Job 21:12-14). “They were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:27). God calls us to trembling—to mourning over our sin and to mortification of our sin (Is 66:1-2; James 4:9; Col 3:5).
Sinners harden their hearts with soft pleasures and comforts and ease (Amos 6:4-7). “These men are those who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves” (Jude 12). They forget that death will bring a reckoning paid in hell (Rom 6:23). Like silvery fish pleasantly swimming with the current of the Jordan River until at last they are ejected into the Dead Sea—then immediately the acrid burning salt slays every single freshwater fish that flows into it. The fear of God exalts God’s ineluctable justice and its inescapable payday coming (Rom 2:1-12; 6:23).
Sinners without the fear of God live in a state of false peace. They may say to themselves, “The wrath of God is not on me. I have a beautiful family; health, and a successful career. Surely these things are marks of God’s favor.” Isn’t it ironic that those who are the least safe are the most confident? That false security casts men into a deep sleep. Where there is no fear of God, there is no mortification of sins by the cross. The heart of the unbeliever proceeds from bad to worse; yet he ‘hopes’ to be saved at last as well as the best.
Long ago Moses warned about the evil of presumption in those who were ‘religious’ but did not fear God, “And it shall be when he hears the words of this curse, that he will boast, saying, ‘I have peace though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart . . .’ ‘The Lord shall never be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the Lord and His jealousy will burn against that man” (Deut 29:19).
False peace is from the devil (Luke 11:15; Judges 18:27; 2 Cor 4:4). Birds that nest in church steeples are used to the continual ringing of the bells—in time the clanging no longer startles them. They become immune to the din. They resemble sinners who have sat under the sound of God’s Word for so long their souls become so callous that they are no longer startled by the conviction of sin.
C. This doctrine exhorts us to get the fear of God planted in our hearts (Prov 28:1; Jer 5:22-24).
The fear of God influences all our actions. It makes us obedient to both tables of the law (love of God and love of neighbor). It makes us holy toward God and righteous toward men—it makes us love God enough to live a life of gratitude and to love neighbor enough not to covet. The fear of God is the insignia (or chief characteristic) of the saint (1 Kings 18:3; Gen 22:12; Acts 10:22). Living by an all-pervasive fear of God is a mark of a person in the new covenant, “And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me” (Jer 32:40).
The fear of God is the main support of genuine wisdom (Prov 1:7; Job 28:28; Ps 25:14; 34:11; Prov 19:23). The fear of the Lord makes us careful about spiritual accounts. Wisdom born of the fear of God is expressed in keeping those accounts carefully and exactly. Without this divine fear we will not manifest diligence in the concerns of life in this world. By contrast, the fear of God teaches us to examine our souls critically. The fear of God makes us consider our ways and walk wisely (Ps 119:59; Col 4:5). It causes a man to commune with his soul and consider his paths (Ps 77:6; Ps 119:59). It makes us ask self-examination questions such as: is my faith resting upon God’s promises in His Word, or is it asleep? Does grace prevail or indwelling sin? Has my knowledge and love of God been growing? How do matters stand between God and my soul? Have I been making a provision for any known sin?
D. The fear of the Lord brings satisfaction and contentment (Ps 147:11; 128:1-2; 130:3-4;
Acts 9:31; Eccl 8:12; Prov 19:23). “How blessed is the man who fears always, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity” (Prov 28:14). This of course is a great riddle to the natural man. “How can a person be lacking something of this world, yet have enough to be utterly satisfied?” Though the natural man’s barns may be full; his mind is not quiet. His pursuit of temporal things inflames his thirst and passions rather than satisfying him. He has no contentment.
The man who fears God knows why this is the case for the natural man; for as creatures made in the image of God, created for God; we can never be satisfied with a finite integration point. No created thing, no matter how excellent or in what abundance, can bring wholeness and completeness to the soul of man. God has put eternity in our hearts—only an infinite integration point (God in Christ) can satisfy us (Eccl 3:11).
The person who fears the Lord has his soul filled with grace. His conscience is at peace. His soul is repeatedly replenished by God with inward joy. He abides in the Lord and is satisfied. The fear of the Lord breeds contentment (1 Tim 6:6). It makes having but a little sweet—it produces peace and rest and comfort of soul (Prov 15:16; Heb 13:5; Phil 4:11-12). Jesus said to His disciples, “I have food to eat that you do not know about” (Jn 4:34).
The fear of God is wisdom which makes us understand divine secrets. “The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant” (Ps 25:14). (See also the secret of election, 1 Thess 1:4; the secret of God’s love, Rev 1:5; the secret of His holy anointing, 1 Jn 2:20; the secret of God’s mind, 1 Cor 2:16.)
E. The fear of God is the Christian’s safety (Is 33:6; 57:15; 66:1-2). The true believer wears the
‘breastplate’ of God’s fear. Put him in chains and his conscience remains free. Kill his body and he will rise to honor. God’s providence works happiness in the holy individual. What an inducement this is to solid piety. “It will be well with them that fear God” (Eccl 8:12). “The fear of the Lord leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil” (Prov 19:23). The fear of God is not our plea to be accepted into heaven; the fear of God is our evidence for heaven. The devil has knowledge of God; but he is without reverence for God (James 2:19; 2 Cor 11:14).
The fear of God keeps us concerned about cleanness of soul. The fear of God purges out the love of sin. It sweeps the heart so that it is stays an undefiled temple. “The fear of the Lord is clean” (Ps 19:9). Carnal natural fears are really the enemy of true religion. The fear of God scatters and frightens away our fleshly fears (1 Jn 4:18; Is 8:12-14; 41:10; Jer 2:19). The fear of the Lord is our safety because it guards from apostasy (Jer 32:40). It guards from making a shipwreck of our conscience (1 Pet 3:16; 1 Tim 3:9; 4:2; Heb 4:1; Heb 6:6).
When Chrysostom was threatened with banishment by the empress, he replied, “Tell her I fear nothing but sin.” When Luther was threatened with excommunication and possibly death, he said, “I fear my own heart more than all the cardinals and bishops.” This drives home the point that the one who fears God Almighty, trusting in the Lord; he is ever suspicious and watchful of his own heart (Prov 4:23).
Those who fear God see the absolute folly of throwing away the priceless jewel of the soul by taking Satan’s bait of illicit pleasure and profit. The one who fears God sees the infinite wealth in the gospel. He sees the invaluable gift of being set free from the miserable slavery to sin and the captivity of lusts. He sees the wonder of the glorious liberty of the sons of God (Rom 8:21). Thus the fear of the Lord is our safety because God’s promises are made to those who fear the Lord (Ps 115:13; 147:11). “But for you who fear My name the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall” (Mal 4:2).
The fear of God is our safety because it constantly drives us to Christ as our ‘city of refuge’ (Heb 6:17-20). This fear causes us to repudiate every false hiding place as a refuge of lies (Is 28:14-18ff.). Christ alone is our only refuge. We gladly welcome the Spirit; the divine ‘Building Inspector’ to show us where we have built on sand or constructed with straw and stubble. For, the fear of God instructs us that the coming fire and storm of God’s wrath will uncover and destroy with unquenchable fire any and all false hiding places. So we in godly fear plead with Him, “Lord, inspect me!”
The fear of the Lord is an admirable instrument in promoting salvation. “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12-13). This divine fear is a sentinel of the soul—it is a tireless watchman on the wall guarding against sin, causing us to walk warily. It begets prayer which engages help from heaven (Heb 2:18; 4:14-16). Only those who fear God are those who shall be saved, “Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him” (Ps 85:9). God is far from the wicked who do not fear Him. “Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek Thy statutes” (Ps 119:155).
F. What are the strongest evidences that we truly fear God?
o The believer fears doing doubtful things that would wound conscience (Rom 14:23). o The believer fears even the appearance of sin (1 Thess 5:22).
o He fears sinning secretly; he knows that who he is in private is who he really is (Ez 14:3-7ff.).
o He does not permit himself to engage in revengeful passion (Rom 12:19; Lev 19:15-18). o He seeks to diligently keep God’s commands (Eccl 12:13-14).
o He cherishes divine forgiveness and reverences God for His grace. He knows the
holiest man alive would be cast into the depths of hell if judged solely by divine justice
(Ps 130:3-4).
o He speaks boldly and frequently about the Lord to others (Mal 3:16).
o He is a man of continual prayer (Ps 109:4).
o He is engaged in works of mercy (James 1:27; Matt 25:35-36).
o He experiences the comfort of the Spirit (Acts 9:31).
o He eschews self trust and fears the waywardness of his own heart (Jer 17:9).
o He watches out for, and despises false repentance in himself (Ps 78:34-37).
o He studies and warns others of hell’s strategies (2 Cor 2:11).
o He keeps short accounts with God (1 Jn 1:7-9).
o He studies death and dying and hell—fearing death is the only way to be prepared for
death (Heb 4:1ff, Luke 16:28; 12:4-5;Ps 96:13; Ps 39; Ps 90).
o He renews sorrow for sin in true repentance (Acts 26:20; 2 Cor 7:10).
o He shakes off sloth and pursues spiritual disciplines (Eph 5:15-16).
o He meditates upon God and His Word (Ps 145:1-13).
CONCLUSION: the person who does not fear God can only have superficial sentimental views of Christ—for this person has no idea of why he must flee to Christ for refuge. To lack this fear of God is to be utterly insensible to the infinite danger that awaits the soul by reason of the seriousness of sin. Sin is disastrous BECAUSE of the greatness of God’s holiness and the power of His authority and wrath.
Today’s natural man does not wish to hear anything that will disturb or upset his false peace. And, as long as self is still unhumbled and in charge, his pseudo-peace will continue to bribe his conscience. The fear of God is closely associated with the coming Day of the Lord (Rev 4:8-11; 10:5-6; 11:15-18; 14:6-7; 14:1-4).
Christ dealt frequently with the religious who did not truly fear God. He did not believe their claims to have faith (Jn 2:24-25). Watson reminds us that ‘legal terror’ (moments in which a person has a disturbing sense of fear, remorse, and guilt) is not the same as genuine repentance. Examples of legal terror abound in the Scriptures (1 ki 22:27; Acts 2:37-38; Acts 24:25). Genuine repentance always results in a changed life (1 Cor 6:11).
A note to sincere Christians ought to include the fact that reverential fear of God and assurance of salvation are inseparable. No one was more fearful of the danger of falling into sin than the Apostle Paul (1 Cor 9:27), yet he penned some of the most sublime passages on assurance of salvation (see Ephesians chapters one through three).