A fear that leads to humility

Is 44:6-8 - Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.”

Why are we not to fear? The Lord, the King, the Redeemer, the first, the last, the only God who knows what is to come and what will happen has told us, “Fear not!” There is no Rock like our Rock. There is nothing as sure as God. As we remember our God in the midst of fear, we gain perspective that virtually replaces our fear from that on earth to the fear of our God in Heaven. We have heard it from Him. We are not to fear.

Ps 55:19 - God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God.

The promise is that we will be humbled if we do not change and do not fear God. We should be changed by the fear of God. It should change how we see our future, interact with people and deal with situations. It is prideful to fear because when you fear you are relying on yourself. God gives us none other than himself as the solution for all life’s problems and worries. And as we humble ourselves in the fear of God, he will exalt us as James 4:10 promises, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

A fear out of love

Dec 29, 2007

Is 44:2-5 - Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen.

We are commanded to fear not because the God who made us, formed us and chosen us will help us. It really is that simple. IF we remember our creator and sustainer and our Lord, we will not need to fear. There is nothing greater than our God who reigns in holiness and goodness. The name Jeshurun is a poetical name for the Israelites which means “upright or straight.” It is a name like when Simon became Peter or Jacob became Israel. God calls his people a name which expresses his intimacy and love for them and gives them a way to see this fear they feel. Our mighty and intimate God says, “Fear Not!”

2 Sa 23:2-4 - “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.’

When someone rules in fear of God, the world is righted. The result of living the name Jeshurun is light and brightness. I love this verse.

fear and glory

Dece 28, 2007

Is 43:5-7 - Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

The beginning and end form an incredible truth that we should mediate on deeply… Fear not for I am with you…because I created you for my glory, whom I formed and made. Because we were created by an almighty God who was created for God’s glory alone, we can rest in absolute peace that nothing will hinder God in doing what we were created to do.

Nu 25:11 - “Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites; for he was as zealous as I am for my honor among them, so that in my zeal I did not put an end to them.

I so love the description of Phineas that I would name my child after him, if it weren’t such an unusual name. What a epigraph. Do we have the same zeal for God’s glory? The anger of God was turned away from the sin of the Israelities because one man zealously feared the glory of God. These two verses form an incredible truth for which we need to take to heart. Fear keeps a man from bringing man glory, while fearing God brings Him glory. Fear gives a great glory to whatever is that has more power than God. Fearing God gives all power to God and thus brings him glory.

It's a wonder we fear

Dec 27, 2007

Is 43:1-3 - But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

These verses so paint a picture of why we should not fear, I fear it is hard to improve on them. But, I do want to make an observation, which is that it isn’t if we got through waters or through rivers or walk through fire, it is when. We all walk through these fires in life and when we do, we are to fear not, because our sovereign and powerful God who looking back has created us, redeemed us and called us by name. As we look forward we also realize that he will be with us, that He is our savior. God is behind and before us and beside us.

2 Sa 7:22-24 - “How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, O Lord, have become their God.

There is no one like our God. The wonders he has done should lead us to fear Him and Him only. He has proved himself over and over again. He redeems us, performs great and awesome wonders, and he has established us as his own, forever… There is no one to fear!’

Hearts enlarged

December 26, 2007

Is 41:14 - Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

The Israelites are commanded to not fear because God is the one who helps them. The term “worm” is how they are referred to by other nations in that they are despised, weak people. But, God assures them that despite what the others think, that God is the Lord, the one who redeems them, the Holy One. The words that are in this passage are significant. The Lord is sovereign. Nothing can happen apart from his control. Redeemer means to buy back. Holy One means that nothing evil comes from Him. So putting them together, we understand that we don’t have to fear because the Lord that is in control is both good and intimately merciful. The more we understand our Lord, the stronger we will live.

1 Sa 12:24 - But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

As in the previous passage, this too emphasizes the importance of knowing God’s character as a basis for fearing and serving Him. If we don’t know Him or don’t consider the great things He has done for us, than our hearts will grow smaller and our perspective of problems will grow bigger. It is when we consider the great things He has done and the great God that He is that our hearts are able to deal with situations in perspective because we fear our God!

Fear, Serving and Obedience

Dec 25

Is 41:13 - For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

We are commanded to “Fear Not!” But this command is surrounded by two comforting promises. This verse is broken into three parts, and for each part, God clarifies His authority and identity by saying “I”. I, the Lord your God. I Say to you. I am the one. And the two comforting promises that surround the command are that he holds our right hand, like a father to a child, to guide, protect and to offer assurance that he helps us. The reason we fear not is because he is intimately involved in the affairs of our life to protect and help us.

1 Sa 12:14-15 - If you fear the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God—good! But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers.

It is impossible to separate our fearing the Lord, serving the Lord and obeying the Lord. These three seem to fit together as one. I do not think it is possible to do one without the other. You will not obey God without fearing Him. You cannot fear Him without serving Him. You will not serve Him if you do not obey Him. In this verse there is an encouragement and a warning. It is a striking image that when we fear Him, his hand his holding our hand. But when we do not fear him, his hand will be against us. It is so apparent how fear can be used for good or for bad. And, so much rides on how we treat this emotion. Will we in our lack of faith fear those circumstances around us? If we do, not only will our peace be disturbed, but God’s hand will be against us. But, if we seek Him in faith in our fear, God will hold our hand and He will help us.

Give and Help

Dec 24

Is 41:8-10 - But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Once again, God offers himself as a solution for his command not to fear. He has chosen them, called them and the led them. He is with them, He is their God, He will strengthen, help and uphold them in righteousness and in intimacy. It helps when the one giving the command is able to back up their command with the help needed to obey the command. There is one things commanded in this situation, “Fear not!” Everything else is accomplished by our Father in Heaven.

Dt 31:12-13 - Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

In order to fear the Lord, they must first listen to His words, and then they must learn to fear the Lord and then carefully follow all the words of the Lord. There is a process to fearing the Lord, and it comes by knowing not only how God has acted on behalf of the people and what He has commanded the people but by also being obedient to his commands. Fearing God leads to obedience. When we know who it is we are fearing, it changes our actions. Thus, God is both the giver of the commands and the helper in the commands. These two connect because it is the words of the Lord that leads us to fear the Lord so that we will not fear anything.

Rightsizing fear

Dec 23

Is 40:9-10 - Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.

In the midst of difficult and captivity as the Babylonian captivity would be, there is good news for all which removes any fear. The cure for this fear is that God will come with might and His arm rules. He will provide reward and justice for all people. How many fears would be relieved if we would just proclaim, “Behold our God!” in all situations. To truly size him up against the fears, the anxieties and the discourgement that we may feel at any moment, I believe, would do wonders for our fears. What is there to fear next to an almighty, sovereign, good and faithful God?

Dt 28:58-60 - If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name—the Lord your God— the Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses. He will bring upon you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will cling to you.

The warning is clear. And the opposite truth is also clear: Follow the words of the law and revere the glorious and awesome God and He will bless you. Size up our God and it will help you rightsize your fears.

Who is stronger?

Dec 22

Is 37:5-7 - When the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah, Isaiah said to them, “Say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the young men of the king of Assyria have reviled me. Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.’ ”

Who is stronger than the Lord? King Hezekiah is warned not to be afraid because of words and the reason he is not to be afraid is because God will send rumor and will personally see that the king and his men do not live. The answer to all our fears are God’s words. How foolish I am when I face fears and do not go to God’s word to find the remedy. There is nothing to fear but God because he is in control of everything.

Dt 25:17-19 - Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and cut off all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God. When the Lord your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land he is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!

Those who do no fear God sin ruthlessly against God and His people. God will act in vengeance, therefore we need not be afraid of unfulfilled injustice. Vengeance is mine says the Lord, and in this case the Israelites were going to be the ones to blot out the memory of these evil men forever. Truly, God is in control.

fearfully at peace

Dec 21

Is 35:3-4 - Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”

Fear produces anxiety. The answer to anxiety is that God will come and He will save us. It is promise that we can bank on. Therefore we are to strengthen our hands and our knees and walk confidently in the power of our God. The answer to our fears is God. As Php 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Dt 17:19 - It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees

Reverence leads to obedience. Simple as that.

12 stones of faith

December 20, 2007

Is 10:24-27 - Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts: “O my people, who dwell in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrians when they strike with the rod and lift up their staff against you as the Egyptians did. For in a very little while my fury will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction. And the Lord of hosts will wield against them a whip, as when he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb. And his staff will be over the sea, and he will lift it as he did in Egypt. And in that day his burden will depart from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck; and the yoke will be broken because of the fat.”

God’s encouragement to the Israelites really shows the absolute power of the Lord God Almighty. He can do what He wants, when He wants, how He wants. It provides great perspective that His timing is always His timing and His hand is never too short in accomplishing what he desires to accomplish. We can believe Him when he tells us not to fear. Nothing happens apart from His will.

Jos 4:19-24 - On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”

The 12 stones are reminders of God’s power to part the Jordan River so that the Israelites could walk through them. The reason God commanded these stones to be put in the water was so that they would know the Lord is powerful and learn to fear the Lord. They were to learn to fear God so that will not fear anything else that they were about to accomplish. They would need the fear of God to not only keep from sin, but also to defeat the many enemies that they were about to accomplish Just as God reminds the Israelites in the first passage about Egypt and Midian to show his strength, he orders these rocks to remind them in the future about what God had done in the past. When we remember and act on God’s accomplishment in the past, we will be victorious and fruitful in the present. When God’s accomplishments in the past produce fear, we will live fearless in the present.

Faith and Fear

December 19, 2007

Is 7:3-4,9b - And the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer’s Field. And say to him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah… If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.

The context of this passage is regarding God’s message to Ahaz, in that the two invading kings will not prevail. It is a practical message for us that in times of fear, we are to be careful that we do not do anything or say anything out of fear, that we quiet our hearts and our souls in His goodness and faithfulness, and not allow our hearts to be faint, but to grow strong in courage and trust. The last line is worth gold to our lives if we heed it. Faith will allow us to remain firm in our times of fear, but without faith, we will not be firm at all.

Dt 17:19-20 - It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.

All the rules for a king boiled down to this, “Remember who is the true King.” This is a great parallel to the passage for Ahaz because both are commands to trust in the true King to lead and save you. This passage is a stipulation of how Israelites are to choose their kings. Most of all, they are to fear God and follow carefully all the commands of God. They are not above their fellow Israelities and they are not to turn to the left or right. They are commanded to not let pride diminish your fear of God.

Sleep Well

December 18, 2007

Pr 3:24-26 - If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

My daughter has this verse written out and put above her bed. This verse is so poignant because when we are afraid, sleep is the first thing to go. We are either are afraid while we sleep or we can’t sleep because we are fearing something. Sleep signifies peace and rest. Fearful lives don’t sleep well. Just like yesterday’s passage, I am not afraid of bad news or sudden disaster. We are not afraid of accidents because we know that God is in control of everything. God is our confidence in good and in bad. In his goodness, we rest.

Dt 6:24-25 - The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.”

The fear of God leads to obedience which leads to prosperity. Though prosperity is an old testament concept, I think it still serves true for us that fearing God leads to a fearless life. The only thing we need to be careful of is to obey all the laws of the Lord our God.

Delightfully fearing

December 17, 2007

Ps 112:7-8 - He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.

What a striking verse. This is such an indictment on our culture and a contradiction in most of our lives. Bad news is something we are always afraid of as it is the unknown that is right around the corner. When we are so confident in our fear of the sovereignty and goodness of God, our fear of the bad news will dissapiate for it is the Lord that we trust. When we trust in the Lord, our heart is steady and we will not be afraid. He expects victory in the Lord. Oh to live a life that isn’t afraid of the uknown, but that trusts in the goodness and sovereignty of God.

Ps 112:1 - Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands.

This verse is from the same Psalm and really sets up this Psalm well. When we fear God, we won’t fear man. Moreover, when we fear God, we will find great delight not only in His commands, but also in the peace and joy that comes from His word.

Fear is the key to fearless living

December 16, 2007

Ps 91:1-6 - He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

In the midst of terror and arrows and plagues and disease, you will not fear. The reason you will not fear is because you dwell in the shelter of the Lord. You will rest. You will be able to say that God is your refuge and your fortress in whom you trust. When God is our refuge, we need fear nothing. It really is as simple as that. But, when we forget to trust, when we in our pride think we don’t need to trust, our hearts beat fast, our pulse will rise and we won’t sleep good at night. Find your peace under his wings and you will sleep well at night.

Dt 6:2 - so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.

The condition here was that the Israelites could enjoy long life and prosperity if they kept the commands of the Lord. He wouldn’t need to be afraid of anything, if only they feared their God. Fear of God leads to obedience, but when we lose our fear of God, we do not obey. Fear of God keeps us from fearing things that man fear. Fear of God gives you a place to be fearless, under his wings, in His shelter. And, when we choose to fear our God, our children will learn and their children will learn. Fear really is the key to fearless living.

Fearing to be not afraid

December 15, 2007

Ps 78:52-54 - Then he led out his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. He led them in safety, so that they were not afraid, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. And he brought them to his holy land, to the mountain which his right hand had won.

When God leads, we are not afraid. Fear comes from the unknown, from danger, from doubt, from confusion and from danger. But, when God leads us we are safe in his hand. The issue isn’t safety, it is being in the will of God. When we wait on the Lord, we can be confident that His hand leads us.

Dt 8:6 - Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and revering him.

I think it is this simple. We observe the commands of the Lord as we walk in his ways and fear or revere him. It is impossible to do the commands of the Lord unless we fear Him and walk in His ways. How do we revere him? We recognize Him as the one whose authority and power requires of us that we obey Him and imitiate His righteousness and Holiness. Fear is a necessary part of obedience. It is the reason we obey.

Remember and live, part II

December 14, 2007

Ps 56:10-11 - In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

This is a similar verse to yesterdays verse, and poetry often does that. It repeats for emphasis. He repeats the same words “In God, whose word I praise,” and “In God I trust” but then adds, “In the Lord whose word I praise.” The word Lord signifies sovereignty and rule and absolute power. When we understand God’s name and all that it signifies, it can give us confidence to say as David said, “I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Dt 10:17-21 - For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt. Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.

When we remember our God, the God who is the God of gods and the Lord of Lords, when we remember how he acts and the strength and love and goodness and the necessity of obedience to his commands and his will, it causes us to fear him rightly. When we fear, our fears are right-sized. Man can do nothing to me outside of God’s providential care and concern. That is worthy of our praises.

Remember and live

December 13, 2007

Ps 56:4 - In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

This verse reminds me of the words of Jesus when he says, “Lk 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.” The most important thing about life is where you go after you die. If flesh can not affect that, than according to Jesus and David in this Psalm, there is nothing flesh can do to me. If God is our trust, our fears of man will be engulfed in our fear and trust in God. But, it is His word that gives us this confidence, in that it is the anchor for our confidence, it is the assurance for our peace. We need to allow the Word of God to give us the peace of God.

Jos 4:20-24 - And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”

There is so much truth in this story about the importance of remembering. The stones were placed so that they people would remember how powerful is the hand of God, and as a result they would fear the Lord. The Words of God are like these stones. The more we remember, the more we spend time learning and listening and exacting change due to the word in our lives, the less we have to fear. If these stones remind the Israelites of the power of God, it changes how they deal with situations in the future. Likewise, if we praise the Word and remember it is in situations, it will change how we deal with fear. We will not need to be afraid.

Trust and obey, there is no other way

December 12, 2007

Ps 56:3 - When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

This is so simple. Not if I am afraid or questioning why he is afraid, but when I am afraid. Fear is normal and to be expected, but the response is not. If when I feel fear, I allow fear to dominate my thoughts, my actions and and my life, than it is wrong. But, if my feelings of fear, I put my trust in God, my fears can be relieved. It is not accident that the word trust is there. In whom will you put your trust, your dependence when hard times come. Yourself, your friends, your family or your career? Who will you trust? God is the worthy one for your trust, the one who is trustworthy, who is faithful and good, gentle and powerful.

Dt 28:58-59 - If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name—the Lord your God— the Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses.

The opposite of putting our trust in Christ is putting it in ourselves or our nation or countless other things. Not only does God provide comfort when we are afraid, he also demands that we trust Him. By carefully following all the word of the law, we are revering Him as Lord. The things which cause us fear may come as discipline to help us realize that He is all we need to fear.

A question with an easy answer

December 11, 2007

Ps 49:5 - Why should I fear in times of trouble?

This is a great question for which the answer is simple. We shouldn’t. The answer is such because we have a God who is greater than all our troubles, who is both sovereign over the world and yet very intimate in our troubles. He rules the world and yet knows the hairs of our head. Because he is both faithful and good, we can have confidence in times of trouble that God will use the troubles to mature us and to glorify Him.

Dt 6:13 - Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.

Fear the Lord only and serve Him only. In hard times and trouble, we need to hold fast to him as that which is source of our fear.

Fearing God only

December 10, 2007

Ps 46:1-3 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. 

This verse is a cause and effect. Because God is our refuge and strength and a present help in trouble, therefore we will not be afraid. If God is not our refuge, our strength or our present help in trouble, than we will fear. There are no circumstances that are big enough that warrant us to fear. Even in the most extreme cases, for example, like the earth gives way, mountains are moved and the water roar and foam. In our most extreme cases, when our world give way, when those things which we thought were unmovable, and our hearts and minds roar with injustice, havoc and anxiety, we can be without fear. We can be without fear if God is our refuge, the one we run to, the one in whose strength we find our strength.

Jos 24:14 - “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.

When we fear God only, we will have no other Gods before the Lord. Fear comes when our values are threatened, but if we value God above all other things, God will be all we need. We need just be faithful in serving Him and seeking Him out when our world does give way.

Fearing that walks rightly

December 9, 2007

Seeking God as the cure for fear

Ps 34:4 - I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

This is a verse you will want to put to memory. There are some great observations here. First, David has many fears like we all do. God delivered David from all fears. God is able to deliver us from all fears. But, the key part of this sentence is the beginning, when David writes, “I sought the Lord.” He will answer but only after we pursue and seek after and go to God with our fears.

Dt 10:12-14 - And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

The only thing the Lord asks of us is to fear God. If we fear Him, we will walk in his ways, we will grow in His love and we will serve him without hearts. But, until we have the proper understanding that God belongs in heaven, and that the world is his, we won’t fear him only.

Setting ourselves to Fear

December 8, 2007

Ps 23:4-5 - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

(The next week we will be looking at the Psalms. Though the verses do not say, “Do not be Afraid!” they do share about David and others how they dealt with fear. The words of God are inspired and are meant to guide and command us on how we should live, so I included them in the “do not fear” section.

This Psalm by David was written as a shepherd about the great Shepherd who cares for his sheep. The reason that David does not fear evil is directly related to the fact that God is with Him. God uses a rod and a staff to protect and comfort and guide. And in the midst of the threat of evil, God prepares a place of rest and eating and abundance. The comfort of God is comfort enough against all threats of evil and fears.

2 Ch 26:5 - He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.

This is the testimony and description of Uzziah the king. If we set ourselves in the direction of fearing God only, of pursuing and embracing all that God is we can confident like David in the shadow of death. God will prosper us in difficult time and terrifying times. He will be our comfort. But, we like Uzziah must set ourselves to be instructed in the fear of God.

Fearing God so sleeping is fearless

December 7, 2007

Ps 3:3-6 - But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.

This verse about sleep is written out by my daughter and hangs on the wall above her head. I will not be afraid… Though this verse is not a direct command from the Lord, the fact that that it is in the scriptures indicates that there is truth that should be obeyed. We are not to fear, even if there are many thousands who have set themselves after us. The reason he can sleep is that David has cried out to God and has been answered by God from His holy hill. David recognizes that the Lord is a shield, is his glory and lifts his head. He has sought the Lord and the Lord has filled him with peace and confidence so that he could go to sleep and sleep well.

Ps 2:11 - Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.

This verse puts fear into perspective where our fear should be. Despite the many armies and enemies that face the Israelites, they were continually brought back to the place where the only one to fear was God. Serve him with fear and rejoice with trembling. Serve Him understanding his might and his power and his anger and his joy. Rejoice in this serving, but do it with trembling and cautiousness as you revere and respect our creator and our judge. We would do well to grow in our respect of the almighty.

Delighting and Walking in the Fear of God

Fear

Ne 2:2 - And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid.

Ne 6:13 - For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me.

Ne 6:14 - Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.

Ne 6:19 - Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.

The book of Nehemiah is a great story of fearing, being told not to fear and the fear of God working together to bring glory to God. Four times in the short book there is word of either being afraid or someone else trying to make Nehemiah afraid. This is tension of fear is continually expressed and illustrated throughout the book.

Do Not Fear

Ne 4:14 - And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

I love this rallying cry from Nehemiah to the Israelites. When we fear, we do not remember the Lord who is great and awesome and will be to afraid to fight for those who are dearest to us. The motivation and the foundation of not being afraid is remembering the Lord and his mighty attributes. If we would remember long enough, I really believe that our fears would disseminate and we would fight for the lives of the vulnerable.

Fear Not

Ne 1:11 - O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Ne 5:9 - So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?

In this same story, Nehemiah begins this story with a prayer of the fear of God. I like how he describes it as those who delight to fear His name. I think too often we see fearing God as a bad thing, as something that is heavy and confusing. When we delight to fear His name, we are reveling in the holiness and dependence and humility that makes enjoying God so wonderful. This idea of delighting in the fear of God is written only one other time in Isa 11:3 “And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.” He also describes fear as something you walk in. It is written about in Acts 9:31 “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.” What a great calling for our churches today, to walk in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit”

Fear leads faith leads to fear

2 Ch 20:1-12 - After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

This is such a great example of how to deal with fear. Jehoshaphat was afraid and instead of worrying or fretting or getting discouraged, he set his face to see the Lord and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. He prayed an amazing prayer, acknowledging God’s soveriengty, his power, his faithfulness, and his goodness. He spent time praising God which both glorifies God and puts all our problems and fears in their right perspective. I especially love the last line: “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” This example of faith and fasting as a response to fear should be such an encouragement to us today.

2 Ch 20:13-17 - Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

As a result of their prayers, God speaks through Jahaziel in an amazing display of his Spirit. The tribe of Judah was to not be afraid because the battle is the Lord’s. They didn’t need to fight. All they needed to do was stand firm, hold their position and see the Lord work on their behalf because the Lord will be with them. They were commanded twice in this spirit-led exhortation: Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. I wonder how much we miss out on when we fear God, when we don’t have faith in God’s promises.

2 Ch 20:18-26 - Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.” And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another. When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped. When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found among them, in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much. On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the Lord. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this day.

2 Ch 20:27-30 - Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies. They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the Lord. And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.

The response of Jehoshaphat and all of Judah was worship and humility. Jehoshaphat exhorts the Jews with the great words of faith, “! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” It was when they began to sign and praise that God routed the enemies completely. Judah did nothing but reap the blessing of God’s work As a result of this mighty work of God, the fear of God can on all the kingdoms. Over and over again, I have seen in scripture that fear comes on people when we fear not and trust God. This is a perfect example of that.

How fear not leads to Fear Him, Part II

1 Ch 28:20-21 - Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished. And behold the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and with you in all the work will be every willing man who has skill for any kind of service; also the officers and all the people will be wholly at your command.”

This is a continuation from yesterday, in that a few chapters later, again, David is exhorting and challenging his young and inexperienced son. These are his last words to his son before he died. They are a great reminder to us again that all things are from God, and for God and through God. David said that God is will not leave you or forsake you as he works for God to build him the house for the glory of God as he leads the people of God. David reminds him of his leadership responsibilities and the work that God has laid before him. Again, his only job is to be not fearful or discouraged, but to remain strong and courageous. Where does that courage come from? It comes from knowing that God will be with him as he does the work of God.

2 Ch 6:28-31 - “When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when enemies besiege them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, and when a prayer or plea is made by any of your people Israel—each one aware of his afflictions and pains, and spreading out his hands toward this temple— then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive, and deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of men), so that they will fear you and walk in your ways all the time they live in the land you gave our fathers.

This prayer of Solomon was also given at the dedication of the temple as like yesterday. Solomon acknowledges in his prayer many things about our God. First, that though this temple has been completed and people will pray toward the temple, God dwells in Heaven. He also states that even though he dwells in heaven, that he alone knows the hearts of men. Lastly, Solomon asks that God would forgive each man so that they will fear him and walk in his ways. So far there has been many things that cause us to fear our God, but so far forgiveness has not been one of them. But, when we see the disciplines in our life, the famines and plagues and enemies coming into our own lives, when we cry out to God to forgives us, not only does he forgive us but that leads us to fear Him and causes us to walk in his ways. As the passage in Heb 12:11 says, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” The training of this discipline causes us to fear our God. And again we see how when we don’t fear the world, it leads other to a correct fear of God. If the temple had not been built, Solomon would have never prayed this prayer.

How fear not leads to Fear Him, Part I

1 Ch 22:11-13 - “Now, my son, the Lord be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the Lord your God, as he has spoken concerning you. Only, may the Lord grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the Lord your God. Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed.

This passage is God heavy. We learn a great thing in this passage. But, first, some background. David is commission and exhorting his Solomon to carry on the plans for building the temple. David desired to build it, but God did not let him. And now, it is up to Solomon to carry out this great task. These are David’s last words and the passion of David pour s out. There are some great lessons for us to learn from this. We learn first that there are works for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 confirms this, that we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. Second, we learn that as we do these works for God, that for us to succeed we need Him to be with us. We need his indwelling presence to do that which he has planned for us to do. Third, we need God to grant us discretion and understanding so that we can obey the law of God. We are to be careful to keep the rules that God has commanded. It is for God and through God and to God that all things exist. We are dependent on God from first to last. It is fitting then, that after we are clear that everything is from and to and through God that we are commanded to Fear not. What is there to fear?

2 Ch 6:32-33 - “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.

This is a fitting passage because Solomon is praying at the dedication of the now completed temple. The prayer is long and amazing but in particular the above passage includes a prayer for the fear of God. He asks that God may hear the prayer of the foreigner who comes and prays to this temple so that the peoples of the earth may know His name and that they may fear Him as Israel does. This is an amazing before and after look at how when we do not fear it leads us to do works so that people may fear to one, true God.

When your reputation becomes His glory

1 Ch 14:13-17 - And the Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley. And when David again inquired of God, God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; go around and come against them opposite the balsam trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” And David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. And the fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.

The pivotal part of this passage is when that which could bring fear hits the Israel’s doorstep, David immediately inquires of the Lord. After he inquires, David get the answer for what He is to do. David trusts God and does exactly what he is supposed to do and God brings the victory. Something interesting happens here. Instead of saying “Do not Fear” to David, he puts the fear of David upon all the nations. The same people, the Philistines, had the same result as they did in the days of Goliath, because David feared God more than he feared people. And and interesting thing happens, the Lord brings the fear of David upon all the nations. Not only was David not fearful, but because of his unwavering trust in the most powerful one, God puts the fear of David upon all the nations. When the glory of God becomes our priority, God will bring his honor, and in this case, fear to all the nations. Read these words that David sang as they came victoriously home:

1 Ch 16:23-26 - Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be held in awe above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.

We are to declare his glory among the nations, by trusting Him and holding him in awe only. He is the true God who made the heavens and the earth and his people. Fear Him only!!!!

Fear leads to blessing

2 Ki 19:5-7 - When the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah, Isaiah said to them, “Say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have reviled me. Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.’ ”

Here is another example that of the difference that the words of the Lord can make in a situation. If God says something, we can have confidence in his faithfulness to do what he has said and his power to enable the situation to go as He has planned. The promises of God are sure and we can rest assured that what He has said, he will do. Therefore, we do not need to be afraid. In this situation, the king of Assyria was make false claims and trying to deceive the people of Israel. King Hezekiah was very distressed by this ordeal and he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth. The prophet Isaiah came in and spoke the best words one can speak to a person who trusts in God, “Thus says the Lord.” If God says it, whatever is to follow can be considered done. Perhaps this is why Paul writes Col 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. We need to remind one another of truths of what God has said, to show us reality in difficult situations.

Dt 5:29 - Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!

If we fear God, we will keep his commands. If we keep his commands, things will go well with us and our children. Quite simply, when we obey God’s word and turn from sin, there is blessing. If only we could grasp this fully and understand the importance of obeying God’s word. It provides us with confidence, assurance and joy.

Open your eyes

2 Ki 6:15-20 - When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria. As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

This is one of my favorite stories in the entire Bible. Elisha saw what the young man didn’t which was a mountain full of horses and chariots of fire. For the fear to be removed, Elisha first needed to pray. This is a great reminder. For our eyes to be open to the reality of the situation, we first need to pray. Prayer gives peace and comfort and power and joy. Elisha prayed for the servant to have his eyes open to see the spiritual reality of the situation. What a great prayer. If only we would pray that every time we feared, so that we could see God’s hand and His power present in a situation. The other prayer was to shut the eyes of the enemies. And then, in an amazing display he walked them a long distance to Samaria. May this be a reminder to us that when we are afraid, we ask that God would open our eyes and close the eyes of the enemy?

Do not Fear

Dt 10:21 - He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.

Just as the servant had his eyes opened, we too have seen God perform great and awesome deeds. May we remember often and make Him our praise. Is He our praise today? May your prayer be today that He would open your eyes to see the great and awesome wonders He is performing daily in your midst to both remove fear and cause you to fear Him only.

Finding your courage in the Word

Do not Fear

2 Ki 1:15-17 - Then the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he arose and went down with him to the king and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron—is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word?—therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ” So he died according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken. Jehoram became king in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, because Ahaziah had no son.

When God speaks, or an angel speaks, or His word speaks, we have confidence and courage to act according to what has been said. In this occasion, an angel speaks to Elijah and tells him to go tell the king a very difficult message. There is nothing fun about this message, and yet Elijah obeys even though it could cost him his life. It is interesting the question that Elijah asks of the King, “Is it because there is no God in Isarael to inquire of His word?” God is still in Israel and His words stands both supreme and sovereign. It is His word that fills us with confidence to act courageously. It was the downfall of this king that He didn't seek the word of God and it was the courage of Elijah to hear and obey the word of God. The word gives us the confidence to act in obedience.

Fear God

Dt 4:10 - Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.”

The beginning of revering or fearing God is hearing His words. Our courage comes from His words because we know that He is faithful and true. So, when we hear his words, we need to be careful to fear Him more in obedience than fear the situation we are in. In addition, we are commanded to pass them onto our children and the next generation.

Faith in God's promises removes Fear

1 Sa 23:15-18 - David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the Wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.” And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.

Le 25:43 - Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God.

This message from Jonathan to David is significant. It isn’t the Lord speaking, but at the same time, it is. Jonathan is reminding David of what God has already told him, which is that He will be the king, he will not be found and that Jonathan will be with him. He also let him know that Saul knows this. Sometimes, we need to hear from people what God has already promised and made clear. It will fill us with courage and faith. We need to speak these words to each other and fill each other with the faith that will enable us to persevere and conquer fear. As it went, the only thing that did not happen in what Jonathan said here was that Jonathan would be next to him. Jonathan died in battle. But, truly, it was never promised that Jonathan would be there next to him, but the other things were. It does not have matter how much faith you have, but what you have your faith in.

Fear God

This is another great reminder in the book of Leviticus that when we fear God correctly, it will change how we live our lives. In this case, the Israelites are commanded to treat their countrymen, the Israelties as workers and not as slaves. We are to treat them well in the fear of God because they are servants of God. This is a great illustration of how fear God relates directly to how we should treat the children of God and those created in His image. As we fear and respect God, we will treat His people with a godliness that comes from this fear

Giants fall when fear is rightsized.

1 Sa 17:11 - When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

1 Sa 17:24 - All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid.

1 Sa 17:31-37 - When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

What a great contrast in their respective responses to fear. Where Saul and the men of Israel responded with fear, David responded with courage and faith in his fear of God. He was more concerned with the glory of God than he was with the fear of man. Though this story is very familiar, there are some great principles to be gleaned from this story. First, remembering is important. David remembered how God came through for him in killing lions and bears, but Saul the men of Israel seemed to forget all that God had done. When we remember the character of God and how he acted and acts on our behalf, it will change our response to difficult and fearful situations. God is both good and in control, He is all powerful and intimately sovereign. Second, it is does matter the size or age or skill to act courageously. God delights in bringing Himself glory and does it more often through weak vessels so there is no question who get the glory. Third, when we fear our heart fails. Fear destroys courage and joy and peace. Fear defeats a person before the thing we fear ever does. When we fight for the glory of God, whether things that directly oppose God or even as simple as doing everything as unto God, we can be confident and courageous in the fear of God.

How considering God leads to Godly fear

Do not Fear and Fear God

1 Sa 12:19-25 - And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.”
And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”

There are many passages that include both a command to not be afraid or fear not AND fear the Lord. This is one of them. After the Israelites wanted to be like all the other nations and have a king, they realized their sin. And Samuel, as the prophet and mediator, assures them that they have done evil, but they need not fear. God will not forsake his people. But, they are commanded to fear the Lord by considering the great things that he has done for them. This is a great description of how to fear the Lord. We fail in fearing God because we do not consider all that He has done for us. When we see His mercy towards us, His love, His holiness, His power, His sovereignty and His grace, when we see how good He has been to us, we grow in godly fear. Consider what the Lord has done for you today. Consider His faithfulness and grow in gratitude. As we consider the Lord, we serve Him.