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The Fear of the Lord  (Fear of God)   last edit probably March 21 2019, small edits July 22, 2019
© 2019 by Greg Clements    Permission is granted to copy and distribute this document as long as no fee of any kind is charged and this copyright notice is included in the document. 

This study was put together by Greg Clements in March 2019 from documents I put together in 1994 and 2008 for Sunday School classes at Calvary Temple (Full Life Church now) in Fremont, Nebraska.  This document follows what I labeled in 2008 as the “Leaders Guide.”  Instead of having blanks for students to write in answers during the Sunday School class the blanks are filled in.  In addition, in 2019 I am adding more comments.  Where it may not be obvious I will try to put (GLC) in front of my comments.  This is not an exhaustive document about this topic.  You should perhaps  use this document as a starting point and expand it with your own studies and prayer.

In 1994 and 2008 I believe I used the New International Version (NIV) translation of the bible.  In 2019 I will quote from the NET bible and put (NET) after those verses.  The verses that don’t have the (NET) are from the NIV bible.  THE NET BIBLE (NET), NEW ENGLISH TRANSLATION, COPYRIGHT © 1996 BY BIBLICAL STUDIES PRESS, L.L.C. This Bible is a free download from www.bible.org. The First edition without notes is free from https://netbible.com/download. The second edition with notes is $4.95 download as of 2018. The NET 2nd edition can be read online for no cost at https://lumina.bible.org/bible/Genesis+1 (starts at Genesis).

In this document I will put (GLC) before my statements.  After my statement will often be a Bible verse related to that statement.  Our statements needed to be based on something secure, not on an opinion.  I believe the Bible was inspired to be written by God, that the Bible we have today is a faithful copy of the original writings, and that the Bible passages hold truth and applications that apply to today’s (and future) conditions.  


Question to class: TRUE or FALSE Having a “fear” of God is just an Old Testament concept since the New Testament teaches about the “love” of God, not the “fear” of God.
  
(GLC)False.  The NT also instructs us to have a fear of God.  The word “fear” carries the risk of a misconception as you read it.  The fear of God should not make us retreat from God, but rather respect and pay attention to God, respect and obey his commands.  God is on our side, as long as we are on God’s side by accepting the free gift of salvation.   We obtain salvation through forgiveness of sins by God  that was accomplished by Jesus substitutionary death on the cross.  Jesus was the sacrifice acceptable to God for the sins of mankind.  But we need to personally ask for this forgiveness.

The phrase “fear of the lord” occurs 22 times in NIV … “fear God” 9 times
The words fear and lord are in the same verse 130 times … fear and God in same verse 89 times

(NET) search NT  “fear of the Lord” 3 times; “fear God” 21 times; “fear of God” 21 same verses  
(NET) search OT  “fear of the Lord” 91 times; “fear God” 71 times; “fear of God” 71 same verses

Overview: 1. What is “fear of God” or “fear of the Lord”? 
2. Who should fear God?
3. Why should we fear God?
4. How do people come to fear God? 
5. What does having the fear of God do to our behavior?
6. What reward (blessing) is there for fearing the Lord?
7. Why should people fear a loving God?
8. Is there a wrong fear of God?
9. Other Topics

*****
1. What is “fear of God” or “fear of the Lord”?
Fear from “Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words” W.E. Vine, M.F. Unger, W. White, Jr. Thomas Nelson Publishers (1996) pages 229, 230
OLD TESTAMENT
1. yare verb “to be afraid, stand in awe, fear” the psychological reaction of fear
“standing in awe” when used of a person in an exalted position; reverence; submission
2. yirah noun “fear, reverence”
NEW TESTAMENT
1. phobos noun “that which may cause flight” 2. phobos noun “reverential fear”
3. eulabeia noun “caution; reverence, godly fear”
4. phobeo verb “to show reverential fear” 5. eulabeomai verb “to be cautious, to beware”
Another good resource: http://www.acts17-11.com/fear.html

Fear from “The New Bible Dictionary” J.D. Douglas ed. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (1962) page 419
Holy fear “comes from the believer’s apprehension of the living God.” It “is God given, enabling men to reverence God’s authority, obey his commandments, and hate and shun all form of evil.”

(Fear from Nelson's Expository Dictionary of the Old Testament”) Hebrew word means "standing in awe" when used of a person in an exalted position.  Reverence, whereby an individual recognizes the power and position of the individual revered and renders him proper respect. 

Job 28: 28 And he said to mankind, ‘The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom,
and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
Life Application Bible notes for .Job 28:28: It means to have respect and reverence for God and to be in awe of his majesty and power.



(GLC)The bible teaches us to rightly consider who God is.  He is the “I AM,” the one who has always existed.  (Read a little of my discussion of this in the “Characteristics of God” document I wrote in 2018/2019.  I believe we need to consider that there is a difference in what “time” is for us and for God.)  He is creator, all powerful, holy, just, loving, merciful, and so much more.  God wants us to fear him in the sense that we should acknowledge his rightful place in the universe, and in our lives.  We should be in awe but at the same time we should rejoice that God invites us to be in relationship with him via Jesus sacrifice for our sins.  The “fear of God” is a reverential fear, not a trembling, let-me-hide or run-away, fear.


(GLC) Psalm 19: 7,8 talk about the law of the Lord.  These verses give weight to the “commands” in verse 9 to more motivate us to fear (respect, honor, obey) God.
Psalm 19:  7 The law of the Lord is perfect and preserves one’s life.  The rules set down by the Lord are reliable and impart wisdom to the inexperienced.  8 The Lord’s precepts are fair and make one joyful.  The Lord’s commands are pure and give insight for life.  9 The commands to fear the Lord are right and endure forever.  The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy and absolutely just. (NET)



Psalm 89: 5-8 The heavens praise your wonders, O LORD , your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. 6 For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD ? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings? 7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. 8 O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD , and your faithfulness surrounds you.


2. Who fears God or Who should fear God?
GOD EXPECTS US TO FEAR HIM
Deuteronomy 10: 12 Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you except to revere him, to obey all his commandments, to love him, to serve him with all your mind and being, 13 and to keep the Lord’s commandments and statutes that I am giving you today for your own good? (NET)

(GLC) Ecclesiastes discusses what is vain actions in our lives.  The author’s conclusion is that fearing God and keeping his commandments are the most important things in our lives.  Other things may be good in our lives but this is the best.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.


(GLC) It will be announced to the whole world that they should fear God.
Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, and he had an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth – to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 7 He declared in a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has arrived, and worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water!”(NET)

(GLC) There will be true worshippers from all nations who fear God.
Revelation 15:2 Then I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and his image and the number of his name. They were standing by the sea of glass, holding harps given to them by God. 3 They sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: “Great and astounding are your deeds, Lord God, the All-Powerful! Just and true are your ways, King over the nations!  4 Who will not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name, because you alone are holy? All nations will come and worship before you for your righteous acts have been revealed.”


DEMONS FEAR GOD
Luke 4:33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Ha! Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God.”

James 2:19 You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear.

(GLC) The demons should fear God because God is greater than them.
1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that refuses to confess Jesus, that spirit is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world.  4 You are from God, little children, and have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.


 3. Why should we fear God?
(GLC) FEAR BECAUSE WE HAVE SINNED
Genesis 3:8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God moving about in the orchard at the breezy time of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the orchard. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 The man replied, “I heard you moving about in the orchard, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” 11 And the Lord God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave me, she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it.” 13 So the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman replied, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.” (NET)

(GLC)THERE ARE GOOD REASONS TO FEAR GOD
(GLC)God set a boundary for the sea.  God gives rain to produce a harvest.
Jeremiah 5:20 "Announce this to the house of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah: 21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear: 22 Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD . "Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it. 23 But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away. 24 They do not say to themselves, 'Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.' 25 Your wrong doings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good.

GLC) God is creator.  We should recognize this and be in awe of God.
Psalm 33:6 By the Lord’s decree the heavens were made; and by the breath of his mouth all the starry hosts.  7 He piles up the water of the sea;  he puts the oceans in storehouses.
8 Let the whole earth fear the Lord!  Let all who live in the world stand in awe of him!
9 For he spoke, and it came into existence,  he issued the decree, and it stood firm. (NET)


(GLC) Fear God only.  He is unique.  He is beyond us.
Psalm 76:4,7 (NIV) You [O God] are resplendent with light... You alone are to be feared.

Micah 6:8 it is sound wisdom to fear Your name:



(GLC) God is Awesome
Psalm 89:5 O Lord, the heavens praise your amazing deeds, as well as your faithfulness in the angelic assembly. 6 For who in the skies can compare to the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings, 7 a God who is honored in the great angelic assembly, and more awesome than all who surround him?


(GLC) Those who are close to God in heaven fear him.  Again, the fear is proper, reverent, fear.
Psalm 89:7 (NIV) In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared.


(GLC) We fear God when we recognize God’s Authority
Psalm 119:120 My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.
Isaiah 8:13 You must recognize the authority of the Lord who commands armies. He is the one you must respect; he is the one you must fear.




(GLC) God judges.  God redeemed you with the precious blood of Christ.
1 Peter 1:14-19 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 17Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

(GLC) God judges.  God is creator.
Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, and he had an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth – to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 7 He declared in a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has arrived, and worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water!” (NET)

Revelation 14:7 He declared in a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has arrived, and worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water!”

(GLC)We all will eventually face judgment. 
2 Corinthians 5:7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.


(GLC)We fear God because he is Holy, Righteous
Revelation 15:4 Who will not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name, because you alone are holy? All nations will come and worship before you for your righteous acts have been revealed.”


4. How do people come to fear God?
Exodus 14:31 When Israel saw the great power that the Lord had exercised over the Egyptians, they feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
(GLC) Israel had feared the military power of Egypt as they were pursued by the army after Israel left Egypt.  Israel was backed up against the Red Sea and about to be attacked.  But God made a path for them through the sea.  Israel saw the Egyptian army covered by the sea when that army attempted to pursue Israel to the other side of the Red Sea.

Deuteronomy 4:9 Again, however, pay very careful attention, lest you forget the things you have seen and disregard them for the rest of your life; instead teach them to your children and grandchildren. 10 You stood before the Lord your God at Horeb and he said to me, “Assemble the people before me so that I can tell them my commands.Then they will learn to revere me all the days they live in the land, and they will instruct their children.” 11You approached and stood at the foot of the mountain, a mountain ablaze to the sky above it and yet dark with a thick cloud. 12 Then the Lord spoke to you from the middle of the fire; you heard speech but you could not see anything – only a voice was heard. 13 And he revealed to you the covenant he has commanded you to keep, the ten commandments, writing them on two stone tablets. 14 Moreover, at that same time the Lord commanded me to teach you statutes and ordinances for you to keep in the land which you are about to enter and possess. (NET)
and
Deuteronomy 31:11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God in the place he chooses, you must read this law before them within their hearing. 12 Gather the people – men, women, and children, as well as the resident foreigners in your villages – so they may hear and thus learn about and fear the Lord your God and carefully obey all the words of this law. 13 Then their children, who have not known this law, will also hear about and learn to fear the Lord your God for as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

(GLC) We should not become complacent about God.  We should remember all he has done for us.  Some of what we should remember includes: creating this universe, creating us, forgiving our sins through Jesus sacrifice, inviting us to have fellowship with him, desiring that we spend eternity with him in heaven.  The document you are reading is my attempt to fulfill Deuteronomy 4:9,10 and 31:11-13  to my descendants. Pam and I taught our children about God.  Our children should engage in conversation with their spouses about God.  Those who have children should engage in conversation with those children about God.  I am trusting that the generations that follow Pam and I will be guided and called by God into relationship with him that comes as they personally accept Jesus as their saviour. 

(GLC) The older generation should teach the younger generation to honor God.
2 Chronicles 26:3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah, who was from Jerusalem. 4 He did what the Lord approved, just as his fatherAmaziah had done. 5 He followed God during the lifetime of Zechariah, who taught him how to honor God. As long as he followed the Lord, God caused him to succeed. (NET)

(GLC) God may make himself known in his power to a person.
Job 23:13-16 (NIV) God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.”

(GLC) Some may come to fear God after seeing how God judges.
Psalm 64:7 But God will shoot at them;  suddenly they will be wounded by an arrow.
8 Their slander will bring about their demise.  All who see them will shudder,
9 and all people will fear.  They will proclaim what God has done,
and reflect on his deeds. (NET)

(GLC) Ask God for protection, deliverance and to teach you how to live.  The Hebrew word for fear can be translated as honor.
Psalm 86:A prayer of David. Listen O Lord! Answer me! For I am oppressed and needy.
2 Protect me, for I am loyal! You are my God; deliver your servant who trusts in you!
3 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry out to you all day long!
4 Make your servant glad, for to you, O Lord, I pray!
5 Certainly O Lord, you are kind and forgiving, and show great faithfulness to all who cry out to you.  6 O Lord, hear my prayer! Pay attention to my plea for mercy!
7 In my time of trouble I cry out to you,  for you will answer me.
8 None can compare to you among the gods, O Lord! Your exploits are incomparable!
9 All the nations, whom you created, will come and worship you, O Lord.
They will honor your name.  10 For you are great and do amazing things.
You alone are God.  11 O Lord, teach me how you want me to live!
Then I will obey your commands.  Make me wholeheartedly committed to you!
12 O Lord, my God, I will give you thanks with my whole heart!
I will honor your name continually! (NET)

(GLC) Let God’s forgiveness prompt you to honor (fear) him.
Psalm 130:1From the deep water I cry out to you, O Lord.  2 O Lord, listen to me!
Pay attention to my plea for mercy!  3 If you, O Lord, were to keep track of sins,
O Lord, who could stand before you?   4 But you are willing to forgive,
so that you might be honored. (NET)


(GLC)Focus on God
Jeremiah 32: 37 I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. 38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. 40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.


(GLC) Understand that God controls the universe
Luke 8: 22 One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. Now a violent windstorm came down on the lake,and the boat started filling up with water, and they were in danger. 24 They came and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are about to die!” So he got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they died down, and it was calm. 25 Then he said to them, “Where is your faith?” But they were afraid and amazed,saying to one another, “Who then is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him!” (I think this is NET)
(GLC) People should have a reverent fear of God after seeing him work a miracle.  I fully trust that the Bible passages are true accounts, and my reverent fear of God is increased as I read those passages.  (For more discussion on why I trust the Bible please read my document “2018 01 18 Is the Bible True” found in this folder on my backup portable hard drive  Greg/Church/Bible Studies 2018 and Later.)

Luke 23:39 One of the criminals who was hanging there railed at him, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” 43 And Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (NET)

(GLC) Fully appreciating God’s majesty and holiness brings on reverent fear.  When we accept Jesus sacrifice for our sins we are invited to draw close to God without the trembling fear.  We should still have the reverent fear but it is a fear that leads to joy with our closer relationship to God.
Hebrews 12:18-24 For you have not come to a mountain that can be … so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, «I AM FULL OF FEAR and trembling.» But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,







5. What does having the fear of God do to our behavior?
(GLC) Fearing God leads to obedience to God.
Genesis 22:12 “Do not harm the boy!” the angel said. “Do not do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God because you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me.”

(GLC) Here is a contrast of the types of fear.  The people were afraid and drew back.  God wanted them (and wants us) to have the reverent fear that allows them (and us through Jesus sacrifice) to approach God and helps them (and us) to not sin.
Exodus 20:18 All the people were seeing the thundering and the lightning, and heard the sound of the horn, and saw the mountain smoking – and when the people saw it they trembled with fear and kept their distance. 19 They said to Moses, “You speak to us and we will listen, but do not let God speak with us, lest we die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you so that you do not sin.” 21 The people kept their distance, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.

(GLC)  The person who fears God seeks to keep sin from his life and turns away from evil.
Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. (NET)



Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

2 Corinthians 7:1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

Proverbs 8:13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil.
Proverbs 16:6 by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

Philippians 2:12 continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling
(GLC) This is not saying that our salvation is a result of the good works that we do.  We are expected to do good works after being saved by accepting Jesus sacrifice for our sins.  We are to rightly consider our position relative to God and have the proper respect and actions.  The trembling is not to make us withdraw from nearness to God, but rather it is to point out to us that we should be humble.


Psalm 34:9 Fear the Lord, you chosen people of his, for those who fear him lack nothing!
10 Even young lions sometimes lack food and are hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.  11 Come children! Listen to me! I will teach you what it means to fear the Lord.
12 Do you want to really live? Would you love to live a long, happy life?
13 Then make sure you don’t speak evil words or use deceptive speech!
14 Turn away from evil and do what is right! Strive for peace and promote it! (NET)


Revelation 19:5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God all you his servants,
and all you who fear Him, both the small and the great!”

(GLC) We speak better words and act better because God hears us and sees us.
Leviticus 19:14 You must not curse a deaf person or put a stumbling block in front of a blind person. You must fear your God; I am the Lord.


(GLC) The fear of God leads us to obey.
Exodus 9:19 So now, send instructions to gather your livestock and all your possessions in the fields to a safe place. Every person or animal caught in the field and not brought into the house – the hail will come down on them, and they will die!”’” 9:20 Those of Pharaoh’s servants who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their servants and livestock into the houses, 9:21 but those who did not take the word of the Lord seriously left their servants and their cattle in the field.

Proverbs 16:6 by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.


(GLC) The fear of God affects our relationships with people.
Acts 10:1 … Cornelius, a centurion … 2 He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was all his household; he did many acts of charity for the people and prayed to God regularly.
Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Colossians 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching – like those who are strictly people-pleasers – but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord.
1 Peter 2:17 Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.



(GLC) Having a fear of God helps us in our Worship of God
Psalm. 118:4 (NIV) Let those who fear the LORD say: “His love endures forever.”
Acts 19:17 they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor
Hebrews 12:25 Take care not to refuse the one who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less shall we, if we reject the one who warns from heaven? 12:26 Then his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “I will once more shake not only the earth but heaven too.” 12:27 Now this phrase “once more” indicates the removal of what is shaken, that is, of created things, so that what is unshaken may remain. 12:28 So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe. 12:29 For our God is indeed a devouring fire.

Rev 14: 6Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth--to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."

(GLC) Have integrity
Genesis 42:14-19 But Joseph told them, “It is just as I said to you: You are spies! 42:15 You will be tested in this way: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not depart from this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 42:16 One of you must go and get your brother, while the rest of you remain in prison. In this way your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If not, then, as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!” 42:17 He imprisoned them all for three days. 42:18 On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do as I say and you will live, for I fear God. 42:19 If you are honest men, leave one of your brothers confined here in prison while the rest of you go and take grain back for your hungry families. 42:20 But you must bring your youngest brother to me. Then your words will be verified and you will not die.” They did as he said.

Exodus 18:19-22 Now listen to me, I will give you advice, and may God be with you: You be a representative for the people to God, and you bring their disputes to God; 18:20 warn them of the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. 18:21 But you choose from the people capable men, God-fearing, men of truth, those who hate bribes, and put them over the people as rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 18:22 They will judge the people under normal circumstances, and every difficult case they will bring to you, but every small case they themselves will judge, so that you may make it easier for yourself, and they will bear the burden with you.

(GLC)   share the gospel
2 Corinthians 5:11 (NIV) Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to  persuade men...


(GLC) worship/Serve God
Joshua 24:12-20 I sent terror ahead of you to drive out before you the two Amorite kings. I gave you the victory; it was not by your swords or bows. 24:13 I gave you a land in which you had not worked hard; you took up residence in cities you did not build and you are eating the produce of vineyards and olive groves you did not plant.’24:14 Now obey the Lord and worship him with integrity and loyalty. Put aside the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt and worship the Lord. 24:15 If you have no desire to worship the Lord, choose today whom you will worship, whether it be the gods whom your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But I and my family will worship the Lord!” 24:16 The people responded, “Far be it from us to abandon the Lord so we can worship other gods! 24:17 For the Lord our God took us and our fathers out of slavery in the land of Egypt and performed these awesome miracles before our very eyes. He continually protected us as we traveled and when we passed through nations. 24:18 The Lord drove out from before us all the nations, including the Amorites who lived in the land. So we too will worship the Lord, for he is our God!” 24:19 Joshua warned the people, “You will not keep worshiping the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God who will not forgive your rebellion or your sins. 24:20 If you abandon the Lord and worship foreign gods, he will turn against you; he will bring disaster on you and destroy you, though he once treated you well.” 24:21 The people said to Joshua, “No! We really will worship the Lord!”




6. What reward (blessing) is there for fearing the Lord?
(GLC) God guides those who reverently fear him.
Psalms 25:12-14 Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. …, And He will make them know His covenant.

(GLC) Having the fear of the Lord is the starting point to having the correct view of the world and how to behave.
Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
Proverbs 9:9-11 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,


Psalm 128:1-5 HOW blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.


(GLC) In Jerusalem, the Greek-speaking Jews tried to kill Paul.  Paul went to Tarsus and the church experienced peace.  The church grew as it had an active fear of the Lord and encouragement from the Holy Spirit. 
Acts 9:31 31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced peace and thus was strengthened.Living in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the church increased in numbers. (NET)

2 Corinthians 7: Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that could defile the body and the spirit, and thus accomplish holiness out of reverence for God. (NET)



(GLC)We get help in avoiding trouble.
Proverbs 14:26-27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.

(GLC) We are less agitated, worried.
Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied,

(GLC) God watches over us.
Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him

(GLC) People know that God is with us.
Psalm 60:4,5 You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed
Acts 10:22 They said, “Cornelius the centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man, well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear a message from you.”


(GLC) Those who fear God receive God’s mercy.
Psalm 85:9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land.
Luke 1:50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

Malachi 3:16-17 a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name. 17«They will be Mine,» says the LORD of hosts, «on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.»

Psalm 145:19 He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.



Psalm 111:5 He has given food to those who fear Him; He will remember His covenant forever

Psalm 147:11 The LORD favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His loving kindness.
Jeremiah 32:38-40 I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them.

Hebrews 5:7 During his earthly life Christ offered both requests and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death and he was heard because of his devotion. (glc devotion: in NIV reverent submission)



(GLC) God will give us vindication
Malachi 4:1-3 1 “For indeed the day is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant evildoers will be chaff. The coming day will burn them up,” says the Lord who rules over all. “It will not leave even a root or branch. 4:2 But for you who respect my name, the sun of vindication will rise with healing wings, and you will skip about like calves released from the stall. 4:3 You will trample on the wicked, for they will be like ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,” says the Lord who rules over all.


(GLC) God  takes care of us
Psalm 111:1-7 111:1 Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the godly and the congregation. 111:2 The Lord’s deeds are great, eagerly awaited by all who desire them. 111:3 His work is majestic and glorious, and his faithfulness endures forever. 111:4 He does amazing things that will be remembered; the Lord is merciful and compassionate. 111:5 He gives food to his faithful followers; he always remembers his covenant.
111:6 He announced that he would do mighty deeds for his people, giving them a land that belonged to other nations. 111:7 His acts are characterized by faithfulness and justice; all his precepts are reliable.

Psalm 147:11 The Lord takes delight in his faithful followers, and in those who wait for his loyal love. (NET)   (GLC) Notes in NET say that “faithful followers” could be translated as “those who fear him.”


(GLC) We  live for God
Jeremiah 32:38-40 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 32:39 I will give them a single-minded purpose to live in a way that always shows respect for me. They will want to do that for their own good and the good of the children who descend from them.



7. Why should people fear a loving God?
(GLC) If we don’t fear God we are in danger of being cut off.
Romans 11:19-22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.



8. Is there a wrong fear of God?
(GLC) Some people only saw the greatness of God and also saw they deserved to fear God.  God has now invited people to draw close to him through the sacrifice of Jesus for sins.
2 Kings 17:30-33 they feared the Lord and served their own gods according to the custom of the nations from among whom they had been carried away into exile







9. Other Topics
(GLC) Those Who Don’t Fear God Can Have Bad Behavior
Genesis 20:11 Abraham replied, “Because I thought, ‘Surely no one fears God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.’

Romans 3:9 What then? Are we better off? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin, 3:10 just as it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one,
3:11 there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. 3:12 All have turned away,
together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, not even one.”3:13 “Their throats are open graves, they deceive with their tongues, the poison of asps is under their lips.” 3:14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 3:15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood, 3:16 ruin and misery are in their paths, 3:17 and the way of peace they have not known.”
3:18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”




(GLC) There Are Those Who Fear God And Want To Learn More About Him
Acts 13:16 So Paul stood up, gestured with his hand and said, “Men of Israel, and you Gentiles who fear God, listen:
Acts 13:26 Brothers, descendants of Abraham’s family, and those Gentiles among you who fear God, the message of this salvation has been sent to us


1 John 4:18 perfect love drives out fear (v16 God is love)


(GLC) As God’s children we don’t have to have the fears in our lives that those without confidence in God have.   We don’t have to fear what non-Christians fear.
Isaiah 8:12-13 (NIV) ...Do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it.
Matthew 10:28 (NIV) [Jesus] “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

(GLC) “God-fearing” can be a religious term.
Acts 13:49 So the word of the Lord was spreading through the entire region. 50 But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high social standing and the prominent men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their region. (NET)








References

“The Full Life Study Bible NIV” D. Stamps ed. Zondervan Publishing House (1992) page

”New Testament TransLine” M. Magill, Zondervan (2002) page

“Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words” W.E. Vine, M.F. Unger, W. White, Jr. Thomas Nelson Publishers (1996) page

“Quest Study Bible NIV” Zondervan (1994) page

“The New Bible Commentary Revised” D. Guthrie and J. Motyer eds. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (1970) page

Expository Dictionary of the Old Testament” M. Unger and W White, Jr. eds. Thomas Nelson Publishers (1980) page

“Life Application Bible NIV” Tyndale House and Zondervan (1991) page

“The New Bible Dictionary” J.D. Douglas ed. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (1962) page

“The Wycliffe Bible Commentary” C. F. Pfeiffer and E. F. Harrison eds. Moody Press (1962) page

THE NET BIBLE (NET), NEW ENGLISH TRANSLATION, COPYRIGHT © 1996 BY BIBLICAL STUDIES PRESS, L.L.C. This Bible is a free download from www.bible.org. The First edition without notes is free from https://netbible.com/download. The second edition with notes is $4.95 download as of 2018. The NET 2nd edition can be read online for no cost at https://lumina.bible.org/bible/Genesis+1 (starts at Genesis).

Copyright © 2008, 2019 by Greg Clements Permission is granted to copy and distribute this document as long as no fee of any kind is charged and this copyright notice is included in the document.

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