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!!!!