God is so good. I’ve been thinking of your message on Sunday and meditated on it in prayer time every morning so far. The Fear of the Lord is a huge topic and we will in our life time not be able to comprehend it. The vastness of God is a consuming fire! One thing I’ve experienced in my short life so far is that the more I learn of God the more I realise how little I know. The fear of the Lord By Pastor John Shipman This is my understanding of a few scriptures in regards to the fear of the Lord. One of the most famous verses always quoted about the fear of the Lord is Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. This is a repeat of Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. . The same Hebrew word for wisdom is used in these verses. “Chocmai” has three English meanings, to be skilful, have wisdom, to apply wisely and have wit. Allow me to expand on these words. Skilful is to have a special ability or special technique developed over a period of time to do something. Wisdom is the ability to make sensible decisions and judgements based on personal knowledge and experience. Wisely is to achieve a certain goal and wit is to have common sense. These verses however cannot stand on their own. This will only give us a peek into what the Old Testament writers penned down. Wisdom is knowing how to apply knowledge! This brings us to an interesting verse. Proverbs 1:7 The fear (yirath ) of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Here it is stated that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. The Hebrew for knowledge is “da’ath” this means to know something through experience. This includes through all senses via observation, care, recognition and acknowledgements. This is my experience about this knowledge. People in the world use God’s name in vain. We get upset about it, why? I believe through prayer and observation the Lord started to show me why. We know God. We’ve experienced Him when we were saved. Thus started a life where we wanted to know Him more and more. I started to read the Bible and found in the Old Testament that the fear of the Lord formed the foundation of knowing Him. This is the story from Genesis. It showed me how sinful man can approach a Holy God. We learned more about our Heavenly Father, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Our understanding of Him is that He loves us but hates sin. The New Testament is the fulfilment of the Old Testament. The substance of the shadow! Our understanding – howbeit small – of the creation gave us that reverence of this powerful God we serve. It truly made me ask in the words of the Holy Scriptures “What is man?” A reverence of His power! To understand that he use gentleness and kindness in such a way that surpass my understanding. I asked the Lord once to make me understand why the world doesn’t fear him in the way we do. The answer came to me; “Because they don’t know Him the way we do” 1 Corinthians 1:9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy[d] Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Allow me to use this illustration. Say it would be possible that there is a person on the face of the earth who’s never seen nor heard about lions. He doesn’t know what a lion can do. We take a lion and place him in the same room as the person. Remember the person has no knowledge about this animal at all. Will he have fear? Yes, but not because he knows what the lion can do. His fear will be a fear for the unknown. What will his response be If we take him out of the room at this point? He will describe the lion and will explain his fear of not knowing what this animal can do. We put him back and he walks over to the animal and tries to touch it. The lion opens his mouth and bite the man on the arm. He uses his power to throw the man over the floor and charge again. He jumps on top of the man pinning him down to the ground. The lion then started licking him gently in the face. We take the man out of the room and ask him about the lion. This is now a totally different description. This man has now experienced the power and kindness of the lion. He will now describe a different fear. This fear is no longer for the unknown but rather a fear for the lion. I meet many people in the world and church who still has a fear for the unknown God same as the people in Acts 17:23. It is a fear for the supernatural world. We don’t share the same fear. Our fear is different for God is no longer unknown to us. This fear we have for God comes through knowledge of him and getting His wisdom. Let me explain through scripture. Look at what Paul wrote: Ephesians 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: Paul writes about wisdom (Sophia) and knowledge (epignosis) here. He says the revelation in the knowledge of Him. Revelation (apokalupsis) means to lift a curtain so something can be revealed. Knowledge and wisdom is two different thing and work together. Look at James 1:5 James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that give to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. We are implored to ask for wisdom. Paul said it is a “spirit of wisdom” in Eph 1:17. The Greek word he uses for spirit is “pneuma” the same that is used for the Holy Spirit. This is interesting as we make the connections. I would like to take a detour right here as it triggered another thought. Come with me to Revelation. Revelation 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. John writes about seven “Spirits of God” and uses the same Greek word for Spirits – pneuma. One asks the question “seven Spirits” what does he mean here? We need to go back to the Old Testament to understand this part. Let’s go to Isaiah. I’ve come across and interesting fact and numbered them below. Isaiah 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 (1)And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, (2) the spirit of wisdom and (3) understanding, the (4)spirit of counsel and (5)might, the (6)spirit of knowledge and of (7)the fear of the LORD; 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: I count seven characteristics of one Spirit. It is (1) the spirit of the Lord, (2) the spirit of wisdom, (3) the spirit of understanding, (4) the spirit of counsel, (5) the spirit of might, (6) the spirit of knowledge, (7) the spirit of fear of the Lord. Look at verse 1. This describes Jesus Christ. And was fulfilled the day when He was baptised. Prophesied in Isaiah 61 and proclaimed by Jesus himself in Luke 4. The amazing thing is Jesus promised us that He will pray the Father and send us this same Spirit – pneuma – to come and live in us. John 14:16, which means His characteristics is now forming our lives. We don’t have to guess what will form our lives and where this knowledge and wisdom comes from. This brings me back to my illustration about the lion and knowledge of him. Look at verse 3” And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD” the NKJ puts it this way. His delight is in the fear of the LORD. Let’s use this knowledge now and again look at 1 Corinthians 1:9 and understand what the Holy Spirit through Paul said. 1 Corinthians 1:9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. We haven’t seen or heard the things which God prepared for us. These things, Paul says, has been revealed to us through His Spirit – pneuma. We will not know God without the Spirit. This included the fear of the Lord, number 7 in Isaiah 11. The fear of the Lord is the foundation to many things which God through His spirit teach us. So what does the fear of the Lord teach us? I would like to start in: Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. The writer uses two different words here. (Knowledge – da’ath and wisdom – chocmai). This is now clearer after we understand the meaning of chocmai. The fool does not have the ability to understand the knowledge of God for he despises it. He ignore the Holy Spirit and will not be able to gain this wisdom and continue in his ways. Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endures for ever. The fear of the Lord is now the beginning of wisdom which we receive once the Spirit of the Lord comes and stay within us. This gives us a good understanding of His commandments which in turn generate praise to God. It is amazing how true I’ve found this to be even in church. There are those who you always need to motivate to praise God and there are the one who needs no motivation. Why? I want to suggest they understand the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. We find the writer again here referring to knowledge and wisdom as two different thing. Now look at a great scripture with me. Isaiah 33:6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure. I love this verse! It says that knowledge and wisdom gives us stability. The Hebrew here is ĕmûnâh which means to have firmness and security. Fantastic! This is what people are looking for. I ministered to a lot of people over time and come to a conclusion that in all things they are looking for security. Isaiah says it comes through wisdom and knowledge which will give us an understanding of the fear of the Lord. Not only is this giving us security but also strength. English again is not giving us a good understanding here. The word used in Hebrew for strength here is “chôsen” and is pointing towards wealth and treasure. It is again something people are pursuing. If only they would understand that wealth comes through this means. Jesus said; Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you, referring to necessities of life. Oh, how I love the Word of God! It is so direct and clear! Let me put this in context. The verse says strength of salvation, which means God did not point only to monetary wealth but much more. Paul explains this in Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Proverbs 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. This again refers to knowledge of God that comes through the fear of the Lord. Question is when will one understand this? The answer for verse 5 is in verses 1-4 in the previous verses: Proverbs 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou cries after knowledge, and lifts up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures; It is clear to me that this knowledge comes through the Word. There is more that comes though the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth, do I hate. Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. This forms part of being born again. Paul says that we are a new creation which means the old nature and things it did is done away with. The fear of the LORD in our heart will make us hate even the smallest sin that is in us. Hate is a strong word used in the English language and so it should be. Let’s look at the next verse: Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. What confidence is he talking about here? It is a confidence that the fear of the LORD is giving. I believe all words in the Bible is there for a purpose. Look at the beginning of the verse. It starts with the word “in” which means we find something in the fear of the LORD and this is confidence. Let me go to the Hebrew again. Confidence here is mibṭâch which means to have assurance, hope and trust. This again comes after we are saved by the Blood of the Lam. This is faith, assurance that we have a place of shelter in the arms of God. So it naturally flow into the next verse Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD tended to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. Pastor, allow me finally to apply all of this to your text on Sunday. Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea 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. They were walking in the “fear – phobos – of the lord”. Walking is an action. They took action! Understanding through the edification and guidance of the Holy Spirit how to live. There are as I said much more that can be said on the fear of the Lord. We need more knowledge and wisdom in this regard. Help us, Lord! Sakkie
Posted on: Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:12:49 +0000
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