Bible Study and More
What is the greatest lack today – that goes for all churches and all denominations – in Christian life, work and experience? Rather than keep you guessing, let me just get to it – the fear of God.
The Fear of God -1985
(“Christianitys Greatest Lack”)
a_fear_01.mp3
2 megs, 12:55 minutes
Angela R.
Should a ‘New Testament’ believer fear God? Was the fear of God commanded to the Israelis because they were “under the law”? Was the fear of God relevant only to ‘Old Testament’ saints? Does 1 John 4:18 negate all the warnings in the Bible to fear God?
Since texts written to the Israelis commanding the fear of Jehovah and proclaiming the benefits of that fear will not be evidence to someone believing that the fear of God is relevant only to folks “under the law,” we will look at only New Testament Scriptures that speak of fearing God.
1. Matthew 10:28 – “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Yeshua (Jesus) is speaking to His disciples. He tells them not to fear those men who can put a body to death, but fear the One able to destroy soul and body. Obviously, this is God. In both places where the word fear is used, it is translated from the same Greek word (phobeo). He is telling them to have a certain state of heart or mind toward God that they should not have toward someone who can kill the body.
Some have determined that a ‘New Testament’ believer should only have awe or reverence for God. Do you think you would feel awe or reverence for someone you thought might kill you?
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2. Luke 12:4-5 – “And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.”
Again, Yeshua is speaking to His disciples. And again, both words fear are translated from the same Greek word (phobeo).
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3. Acts 9:31 – Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
These are ‘New Testament’ believers. Is their walking in the fear of the Lord a good thing? It certainly seems so.
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4. 2 Corinthians 7:1 – Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
5. Ephesians 5:21 – Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Paul is speaking to Ephesian (probably largely non-Jewish) believers. This fear is also translated from the Greek word phobos (from which phobeo is taken).
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6. Colossians 3:22 – Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God.
Paul is speaking to Colossian (probably largely non-Jewish) believers. This fear is also translated from the Greek word, phobeo.
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7. I Peter 2:17 – Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Peter is probably speaking to mostly Jewish believers. Could this be any plainer? The word fear is translated from phobeo.
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8. Revelation 14:6-7 – And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
It seems here that the everlasting gospel is being preached to folks on the earth during the tribulation, and that part of that everlasting gospel is to fear God. Again, this is the Greek word phobeo.
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9. Revelation 15:4 – Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? For thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
The folks who say this are those who have gotten victory over the beast, and his image and his mark, and over the number of his name. They sing the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb. These are saints from the tribulation, not ‘Old Testament’ saints. They are proclaiming the fear of Jehovah. Again, this is the word phobeo.
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10. I John 4:17-18 — Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Do these verses teach that to fear God is to not be perfect in love? The fear mentioned in verse 18 is not identified as the fear of God. Do you throw away all the warnings to fear God because this verse says that perfect love casteth out fear? Does perfect love cast out the fear of God? Could not this be some other kind of fear—especially in light of all the warnings in Scripture to fear God?
The passage is dealing with loving the brethren. Could it be saying that if these folks are to be perfect in God’s love, they will love the brethren without fear and that they’ll be as Messiah—not fearing, but willing to lay down their lives for the brethen?
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Sidenote:
Are a fear of God and a love for God exclusive? If one loves God, does that mean that he cannot fear Him? If one fears God, does that mean that he does not love Him?
Deuteronomy 10:12 — And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Jehovah is commanding these folks to fear Him and to love Him. Fear and love are not opposites. Maybe the opposite of fear is high-mindedness as evidenced by Romans 11:20.
This paper is dedicated to Pastor Robert Berry whose ministry was teaching the Fear of God by preaching, teaching and action. His belief in the inherent evil of each one born into this world (with the exception of Messiah) never detracted from his work to give special rare opportunities to those whose lives came to an impasse. He provided many with what they could never obtain. He taught them the fear of God. His sense of humor and fearless “interference” in the course of injustice will be remembered by the poor who have came to him for help. The author is just one example. Thank you, Ann Miller, for editing help.
I have literally rendered some of the following texts. Others have been left the way you will find them in the King James Version.
Fear is a strong and often-emotional reaction and response to potential consequences and/or danger (known or unknown). A person who fears considers consequences, dangers, and/or responsibility. A person who is without fear has no concern over consequences, danger, and/or personal responsibility.
The fear of Yehovah is the reaction and response to consequences of doing right and/or doing wrong before Him, knowing that Yehovah will certainly judge and consider both in His judgment.
The Fear of Yehovah combines with three other objects Yehovah commanded the Israelis to fear: Mother, Father, and the Sanctuary, in that order. A healthful fear of good and strict parents will often give understanding of what the fear of Yehovah is. The basic aspects of the Fear of Yehovah include:
· The promise of reward for those who do well. Yehovah is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
· Certain chastisement of those who are His: instruction on doing right and correction for doing wrong.
· Protection of His own (when that protection is good).
· Meeting needs of His own (when meeting needs is good).
· Consolation of His own in distress (as a father would a child who hurt himself) when that consolation is necessary
· Certainly doing exactly what He said He will do.
Necessary additions to the above include the following:
· To a young child, his (good) parent knows all; sees all; hears all.
· To a young child, his (good) parent is able to do anything, and has power over death.
These sum up the perspectives and faith that a true fearer of Yehovah must have. The Fear always results in turning from doing evil and turning to do good.
The Fear of Yehovah is the most basic and the most important teaching in the Bible. Without the Fear of Him there is no Spiritual Salvation, no everlasting life, and no relationship with God (except for wrath and certain destruction).
Few teach this Fear; the subject is rare among those who claim relationship with the Biblical God.
The Fear of Yehovah is listed as one of the seven Spirits of God in Isaiah 11. No one can claim to have the Spirit of God without Fearing Him.
Isaiah 11:1 And a twig will exit from the stump of Jesse. And a shoot will fruit from his roots. 2And the Spirit of Yehovah will rest upon Him—Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, Spirit of Counsel and Valiance, Spirit of Knowledge and Fear of Yehovah!
Biblical texts give a large assortment of descriptions and definitions of the Fear of Yehovah. Yet anyone wanting to know it will easily understand. The Fear of Yehovah is pure, everlasting, the beginning of wisdom and knowledge, and the instruction of Wisdom. It is to hate evil. Notice that all has to do with Yehovah. Only a fool will attempt to separate Him from wisdom, knowledge, and the hatred of evil.
Psalm 19:9 The fear of Yehovah is pure, enduring for ever…
Psalm 111:10 The fear of Yehovah is the beginning of wisdom. All they who do [His commandments] have a good understanding. His praise is to Hider.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of Yehovah is the beginning of knowledge. But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 8:13 The fear of Yehovah is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogancy and the evil way and the perverted mouth.
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of Yehovah is the beginning of Wisdom. And the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.
Proverbs 15:33 The fear of Yehovah is the instruction of Wisdom. And before honour is humility.
Psalm 34:11 Walk-ye, children! Hearken-ye to me, fearers of Yehovah! I will ‘learn’ you! 13Who is the man delighting lives, lover of days to see good? 14Watch-guard thy tongue from bad and thy lips from speaking deceit! 15Eschew from bad, and do good! Seek peace, and chase him!
Biblical Scriptures plainly teach that all must Fear Him. From the beginning of the Torah to the descriptions of the End Times, only those who Fear Him are in right standing with Him. The others will be destroyed. Texts give details of what a fearer of Yehovah daily practices, what Yehovah will do, and what some who refuse to fear Him will do and not do. The following texts include the Hebrew expression, “fear from thy God.” That is no lessening of fear, but is rather an intensifier:
Leviticus 19:14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf or put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear from thy God.
Leviticus 19:32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head and honour the face of the old man, and fear from thy God. I am Yehovah.
Leviticus 25:17 Ye shall not therefore oppress one another. But thou shalt fear from thy God! For I am Yehovah your God.
Leviticus 25:36 Take thou no interest (of thy brother who has become poor, even if he is a stranger or a traveller), or increase, but fear from thy God that thy brother may live with thee.
Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes. Fear Yehovah and depart from evil.
Leviticus 25:43 Thou shalt not rule over [thy hired servant] with rigour, but shalt fear from thy God.
Proverbs 24:21 My son, fear thou Yehovah and the king…
Ecclesiastes 5:6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin. And say thou not before The Angel that it was an error. Why should God be angry at thy voice and destroy the work of thine hands? For vanities are also in the multitude of dreams and many words! But fear thou God!
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and guard His commandments! For this is the whole of man.
Joshua 24:14 And now, fear Yehovah and serve Him with perfection and with Truth! And put away the gods that your fathers served on the other side of the river and in Egypt. And serve ye Yehovah.
1 Samuel 12:24 But-rather, fear ye Yehovah and serve Him in Truth with all your heart! For, see what He ‘biggened’ with you!
Psalm 34:9 Fear Yehovah, ye His saints! For there is no lack to them who fear Him.
Deuteronomy 6:2 …that thou [Israel] shalt fear Yehovah thy God to guard all His statutes and His commandments that I command thee—thou and thy son and thy son’s son all the days of thy life, and that thy days will be prolonged.
Deuteronomy 6:13 Thou [Israel] shalt fear Yehovah thy God and serve Him, and shalt swear by His Name.
Deuteronomy 10:20 Thou shalt fear Yehovah thy God! Thou shalt serve Him! And thou shalt cleave to Him and swear by His Name. This is thy praise! And He is thy God…
Leviticus 19:3 Ye shall fear every man his mother and his father, and guard my Sabbaths. I am Yehovah your God.
II Kings 17:39 But ye [Israelis] shall fear Yehovah your God. And He shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
I Samuel 12:14 If ye [Israelis] will fear Yehovah and serve Him and obey His voice and not rebel against the commandment of Yehovah, then both ye and also the king who reigns over you shall continue following Yehovah your God. And if ye will not hearken into the voice of Yehovah, and ye will rebel against the commandment of Yehovah, and the hand of Yehovah shall be into you and into your fathers!
Psalm 2:11 Serve ye Yehovah via fear! And circle-dance ye with trembling! 12Kiss-ye [the] Son lest He will be infuriated, and ye have damned a way! For His nose will burn as a little!” Happy are all refugees in Him!
Psalm 90:11 Who knows the strength of Thy nose? And as Thy fear, Thine overflowing is to number our day!
Isaiah 2:10 Enter into the rock! And hide thee in the dust for trepidation of Yehovah and for the glory of His majesty!
Humanity’s vast majority will not fear Yehovah. The majority of those who claim to be followers of the true and living God are not His fearers. If they were, they would know the promises made to His fearers, and they would walk in that fear. This claiming majority instead practice Replacement Theology, putting themselves in Israel’s place and perverting the Word of Truth so that they will feel included. They religiously walk in religious traditions of ‘Church Fathers’ who spurned the fear of God with their teachings.
The following passages show how Yehovah judged those who set fear aside or never feared Him, and how some turned to fear Him when He judged. Other passages declare what He will do.
2 Kings 17:25 And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there. They didn’t fear Yehovah. Yehovah therefore sent lions among them that slew of them… (Read to verse 33).
Malachi 3:5 “And I will come near to you to judgment. And I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in wages, the widow and the fatherless, and that turn-aside the stranger, and don’t fear me,” says Yehovah of hosts.
Deuteronomy 28:58 If thou (Israel) wilt not observe to do all the words of this Teaching that are written in this book that thou wilt fear this glorious and fearful Name: Yehovah Thy God, then Yehovah will make thy plagues incredible…
II Samuel 6:9 And David feared Yehovah that day. And he said, “How shall the ark of Yehovah come to me?”
Ecclesiastes 3:14 I knew that all the Elohim will do, he, he will be to Hider. There is nothing to add concerning him, and there is nothing to diminish from him. And the Elohim did, that they will fear from His faces!
Jonah 1:9 And [Jonah] said unto them, “I am a Hebrew. And I fear Yehovah the Gods of the heavens Who made the sea and the dry.” … [v.16] And the men feared Yehovah a big fear. And they sacrificed a sacrifice to Yehovah. And they vowed vows.
A time is coming when all on earth shall fear Yehovah:
Psalm 33:8 They shall fear from Yehovah, all the land! All inhabitants of the planet shall sojourn from Him!
Psalm 67:8 (7, kjv) God shall bless us [Israel]! And all the ends of the land shall fear Him.
Psalm 102:16 (15, kjv) So the nations shall fear the Name Yehovah, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear the Name Yehovah from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun.
Micah 7:17 [The races—non‑Israelis] shall lick dust as a serpent! They shall tremble as earth‑creepers from their strongholds (in surrender) unto Yehovah our God. They shall be afraid and shall fear Thee!
Hosea 3:5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek Yehovah their God and David their king. And they shall tremble unto Yehovah and His Goodness in the latter days.
The following together form a practical test to establish who is and who is not a fearer of God. Obedience will be key. These Biblical examples teach the principles of fearing Yehovah and how their acts demonstrate that fear.
I Kings 18:12 (Obadiah) …but I thy servant fear Yehovah from my youth.
Nehemiah 7:2 …that I (Nehemiah) gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the ruler of the palace charge over Jerusalem. For he is a man of Truth, and feared God above many.
Exodus 1:17 & 21 But the midwives feared God and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them. And they saved the men children alive. … And it was because the midwives feared the Gods. And He made houses for them.
Jonah 1:9 And [Jonah] said unto them, “I am a Hebrew. And I fear Yehovah the Gods of the heavens Who made the sea and the dry.” … [v.16] And the men feared Yehovah a big fear. And they sacrificed a sacrifice to Yehovah. And they vowed vows.
I Kings 18:3 Now Obadiah greatly feared Yehovah. For it was, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of Yehovah, that Obadiah took one hundred prophets. And he hid them by fifty in a cave. And he fed them with bread and water.
Exodus 9:20 He that feared the Word of Yehovah among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses. And he that regarded not the Word of Yehovah left his servants and his cattle in the field.
Genesis 22:12 And [the Angel Yehovah] said [to Abraham], Lay not thine hand upon the lad [Isaac]! And do not do thou anything unto him. For now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son—thine only from me.
Proverbs 14:2 He who walks in his uprightness fears Yehovah. And the perverse in his ways despiseth him!
Exodus 18:21 And thou, thou shalt choose men of an army from all the people, fearers of Elohim, men of Truth, haters of cuts. And thou shalt put over them princes of thousands, princes of hundreds, princes of fifties and princes of tens.
Psalm 119:38 Cause-to-stand Thy saying to Thy servant {masc.} what is to Thy fearer {fem.}.
(We asked the following question and proposed its answer in a Bible study: “What is being communicated by this verse? Mount Zion is asking Yehovah to fulfill the same promise made to Mount Zion to the House of Israel!”)
Psalm 119:161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause. And my heart trembles from Thy Word.
Psalm 36:2 (1, kjv) He declared a transgression to a culpable-one in the midst of my heart! There is no terror of gods straight-in-front-of his eyes!
Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and eschewed evil.
Psalm 119:63 I am a companion of all that fear Thee and of them that guard Thy visitations.
How can one learn to fear Yehovah? Believing His word and believing whomever He (truly) sends helps, but that may be ‘putting the cart before the horse’. One way the fear of God comes is from the following: first merely hearing His Word, then considering it, then hearkening to it, then believing it. No person can learn to fear Him without literally believing (believing literally) what He has said.
Deuteronomy 31:12 Congregate the people—the men and the women and the little-one, and thy sojourner who is in thy gates in order that they will hearken and in order that they will learn. And they have feared Yehovah your Gods. And they will guard to do all the speeches of this Teaching.
Joshua 4:24 …in order for all the people of the land to know the hand of Yehovah. For she is gripping in order that ye shall fear Yehovah your Gods all the days.
Deuteronomy 4:10 …the day that thou stood to the faces of Yehovah thy Gods in Horeb in Yehovah’s saying unto me, “Congregate the people unto me. And I have-announced-to-them my speeches that they will learn to fear me all the days that they are alive upon the soil. And their children shall learn!”
Deuteronomy 14:23 And thou shalt eat the tithe of thy grain, of thy wine and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks before Yehovah thy God in the place that He shall choose to place His Name there so-that thou wilt learn to always fear Yehovah thy God.
Tithing is a food and drink party designed to teach the Israelis to always fear Yehovah!
Deuteronomy 17:18 And it shall be, when he sits upon the throne of his kingdom, that he (a king) shall write him a copy of this Teaching in a book from that which is before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him. And he shall read in him all the days of his lives in order that he will learn to fear Yehovah his God, to guard all the speeches of this Teaching and these statutes, to do them so that his heart will not be elevated above his brethren, and so that he will not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or the left so that he will lengthen days upon his kingdom—he and his children in the midst of Israel.
Psalm 86:11 Teach me, Yehovah, Thy way. I will walk via Thy Truth. Unite my heart to fear Thy Name.
Jeremiah 32:39 And I will give to them one heart and one Way to fear me all the days to benefit to them and to their children after them. And I will cut to them a covenant of Hider that I will not return away from them, to do them good. And I will give my fear into their hearts so-that they shall not depart from me.
Deuteronomy 8:6 Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of Yehovah thy God to walk in His ways and to fear Him.
Psalm 34:11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me! I will teach you the fear of Yehovah.
Proverbs 2:1 My son, if thou wilt take my words, and thou wilt hide my commandments with thee 2to prick-up thine ear to Wisdom, thou wilt bend thine heart to Understanding, 3but-rather, thou wilt call to Understanding, thou wilt give thy voice to Prudence, 4if thou wilt seek her as silver and search for her as hid-treasures, 5then shalt thou understand the fear of Yehovah! And thou wilt find the knowledge of God.
The Word of God gives certain promises to those who fear Him and who fear His Name:
Malachi 3:16 Then fearers of Yehovah were spoken, a man unto his neighbour. And Yehovah pricked-up. And He hearkened. And He wrote a scroll of remembrance to His faces for fearers of Yehovah and for thinkers of His Name. 17 “And they will be to me,” said Yehovah of Hosts, “for the day that I am doing segregation! And I will have-compassion upon them just as a man will have-compassion upon his son who is serving him. 18And ye shall return. And ye shall see between a righteous-one to a culpable-one, between a slave of Elohim to who is not His slave. 19(4:1)For behold, the day came burning as an oven! And all presumptuous-ones and every doer of culpability shall be stubble. And the coming day shall burn them,” said Yehovah of Hosts, “that will not forsake them root and branch!” 20 (4:2)And a sun of righteousness shall sunrise to you, fearers of my Name! And healing is in her wings. And ye shall exit. And ye shall spread as calves of a stall. 21 (4:3)And ye shall trample culpable-ones. For they shall be ash under palms of your feet in the day that I am doing,” said Yehovah of Hosts.
Deuteronomy 5:26 (5:29, kjv) Who will give? And this their heart will be to them to fear me and to guard all my commandments all the days so-that he-will-good-do to them and to their children to Hider!
Deuteronomy 6:24 And Yehovah commanded us to do all these statutes to fear Yehovah our God for our good always so-that He will preserve us alive as at this day. And righteousness shall be ours if we observe to do all these commandments before Yehovah our God, as He hath commanded us.
Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, what does Yehovah thy God require of thee but to fear Yehovah thy God, to walk in all his ways and to love Him, and to serve Yehovah thy God with all thy heart and with all thy being to keep the commandments of Yehovah and His statutes, that I command thee this day for thy good!
Malachi 2:5 “My Covenant was with him, the lives and the peace. And I gave them to him, a fear. And he feared me. And he is a terror from the faces of my Name! 6Teaching of Truth was in his mouth. And iniquity was not found in his lips. He walked with me in peace and in straightness. And he turned many from iniquity.
Haggai 1:12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Joshua the son of Josedech the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of Yehovah their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, as Yehovah their God had sent him. And the people did fear before Yehovah.
Psalm 25:12 Who is this—the man feared Yehovah! He will teach him via the way he will choose! 13His being shall lodge via Good. And his seed shall inherit a land! 14Secret of Yehovah and His Covenant are to His fearers to make them known!
Psalm 128:1 My happiness is every fearer of Yehovah walking in His ways!
Proverbs 13:13 A despiser to the word will be bound to him! And a fearer of a commandment—he will be-peaced [be recompensed].
Psalm 61:6 (5, kjv) For Thou, Elohim, Thou hearkened to my vows. Thou gave possession of fearers of Thy Name.
Psalm 135:20b …ye that fear Yehovah, bless Yehovah.
Ecclesiastes 8:12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them who fear God—who fear before Him. But it shall not be well with the wicked. And he shall not prolong days—as a shadow. For he doesn’t fear before Elohim.
Psalm 119:74 They who fear Thee will see me and will rejoice. For I hoped in Thy speech.
Psalm 31:19 How great is Thy good that Thou laid up for them who fear thee. Thou did for them who trust in Thee before the sons of men!
Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of Yehovah is upon them who fear Him, upon them who hope in His Grace.
Psalm 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so has His Grace overpowered them who fear Him!
Psalm 103:13 As a father wombs concerning children, Yehovah wombs His fearers.
Psalm 103:17 But the Grace of Yehovah is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
Psalm 145:18 Yehovah is nigh unto all them that call upon him: to all that call upon him in Truth. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
Psalm 147:11 Yehovah taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his Grace.
Psalm 25:14 The secret of Yehovah is with them that fear him; and he will show them his Covenant.
Psalm 34:8 (7, kjv) The Angel Yehovah encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
Psalm 85:9 & Psalm 119:155, in contrast: Surely his Salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land (of Israel)…Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.
Proverbs 31:30 Gracefulness is deceitful, and beauty is vain: a woman that feareth Yehovah, she shall be praised.
Proverbs 10:27 The fear of Yehovah prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked ones shall be shortened.
Proverbs 14:27 The fear of Yehovah is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Proverbs 19:23 The fear of Yehovah is to life: and he shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
Proverbs 22:4 By humility: the fear of Yehovah are riches, and honour, and life.
Proverbs 16:6 By Grace and Truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of Yehovah men depart from evil.
Jeremiah 32:40 And I will make an everlasting Covenant with [Israel], that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
Psalm 5:7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy Grace; in thy fear will I worship toward the Temple of Thy Holy One.
Exodus 20:20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
Proverbs 28:14 Happy is the man that trembleth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
The goodness of Yehovah leads men to repentance. Repentance is a dead issue without the fear of Yehovah. There is no price that a man can bring that will pay for sin. The establishment of a good relationship with the Creator is only through the sacrifice provided by Yehovah. The following demonstrate the goodness of Yehovah that brought or will bring fear to those who respond:
1 Kings 8:41 Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy Name’s sake; (for they shall hear of thy great Name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house; hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all peoples of the earth may know thy Name, to fear thee, as thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I (Solomon) have builded, is called by thy Name.
Nehemiah 1:11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.
Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth, that they should fear before him.
1 Kings 8:38 What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the PLAGUE of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; that they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.
Exodus 14:31 And Israel saw that great work which Yehovah did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared Yehovah, and believed Yehovah, and his servant Moses.
Psalm 130:4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
The final section consists of commands for those who already fear God, so that they will patiently wait for Him, knowing that He will respond to their need:
Isaiah 50:10 Who is among you that feareth Yehovah that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the Name Yehovah and stay upon his God.
Psalm 22:23 Ye that fear Yehovah, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
Psalm 115:11,13 Ye that fear Yehovah: trust in Yehovah; He is their help and their shield…He will bless them that fear Yehovah, small and great.
Psalm 118:4 Let them now that fear Yehovah say, that His Grace is eternal!
Psalm 135:20b …ye that fear Yehovah, bless Yehovah.
Anyone without His fear is not one of His. If you, the reader, falls into this category, determine to fear Him. That fear will be given to anyone who desires it.
The appropriate fear of Yehovah never makes an ulcer; it makes for joy and peace. The fear of God is required for Salvation from sin to righteousness.
Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Luke 18:8b Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because narrow is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it [compare with Psalm 33:11‑ ].
Luke 11:52 Woe unto you, lawyers, for ye have taken away the KEY OF KNOWLEDGE: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye do hindered [compare Proverbs 1:7].
II Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether good or bad. Knowing therefore the TERROR of Yehovah, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God…
The New Testament leaves no doubt that one must fear Yehovah. A popular modern belief directs folks to the love of God in such a way that eliminates fear of Him. He is described much like a mighty Santa Claus. Yehovah is love. He is also wrath. He is Jealous. He is literally a consuming fire. He is a hater of sin and those who propagate sin (causing guilt: workers of iniquity). God so loved the world; He will burn it with fire because of sin’s pollution. God is a Man of War. God is the Avenger. God will not pardon. He made a way of escape by being the sacrifice for sin Himself. How much will He destroy those who lightly esteem His sacrifice by lightly treating sin? God is love. That love is only directed to some: to His Saints, to His land, to His People (literal) Israel. Yet, He remarkably attacks Israel for ignoring and violating the Torah.
Fear God and live. Refrain from fearing Him and be destroyed.
Part of the definition of the Everlasting Gospel includes the Fear of Yehovah. No everlasting Salvation is possible without the fear of Him.
One man in Yeshua’s day understood the second part of the Everlasting Gospel by giving glory to Him, by confessing Him:
Luke 17:17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
The following are examples of commands are warnings to fear:
2 Corthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:21 …submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work our your own salvation with fear and trembling.
1 Peter 2:18 Servants, be subject to masters with all fear: not only to the good and gentle, but also to the perverted.
1 Peter 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the Word, they also may without the Word be won by the lifestyle of the wives: while they behold your chaste lifestyle [coupled] with fear.
Luke 12:4 & Matthew 10:28 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, FEAR HIM!…And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
I Peter 2:17 Honour all. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the EVERLASTING GOSPEL to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him: for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Hebrews 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we, if we turn away from him that is from heaven: whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we, receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have Grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire.
Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest (after Saul became a believer in the Messiah Yeshua) throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of Yehovah, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, were multiplied.
Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Luke 23:39: And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on [Yeshua], saying, If thou be Messiah, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we received the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Yeshua, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Acts 10:1, 22: There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that Feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway…And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
Acts 13:16,26 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience … Men: brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the Word of this Salvation sent.
Luke 1:50 [And Miriam, Yeshua’s mother said:] …and His Grace is on them that fear Him from generation to generation…
16. Acts 10:34: Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.
Revelation 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy Name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
The conclusion of the whole matter is this:
Fear Yehovah.