The Fear of the Lord

Paul, in speaking of the Jew of his day said, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” Rom. 10:1-3. Were Paul to presently evaluate the churches of this day, he might rightly repeat his charge. . .

The Fear of the Lord is. . . the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments” Psalm 111:10. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” Proverbs 1:7. “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” Heb.12:28.

Wisdom, understanding, faith, knowledge, grace, acceptable service, the doing of His commandments - all are directly associated with reverence and godly fear. Find that a bit strange? Consider this: Faith and Fear run parallel; their work is inseparable! What do I mean? Consider Noah. His obedience was in response to Faith and Fear!

“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 which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith” Heb. 11:7. What! Through Faith and Fear one becomes heir of righteousness?

Let us examine Faith and Fear separately; Faith first.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” Heb. 11:1. It should be evident: the substance of things hoped for is clear: one must wait upon the Lord that those things “hoped for” be brought to fruition. “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness byfaith” Gal. 5:5.

Faith is the substance. . .sub stans: standing under. Faith provides a firm standing-ground while I await the fulfilling of God’s promises. Faith furnishes my heart with a sure support. An Exposition of Hebrews, page 650 - A. W. Pink

We are exhorted to be “followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises” Heb. 6:12. “For when God made promise to Abraham, because could swear by no greater, he swear by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise” Heb. 6:13-15.

Exclaimed the Psalmist, “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he will strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” Psalm 27:13,14. The term “believed to see” is interesting. That is exactly what Hebrews 11:1 is saying! “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The Psalmist “believed to see” the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Whom Shall I Fear?

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1.

Fleshly fear is a parent of doubt [unbelief ]; it produces the fruit of cowardice; it robs one of strength; courage flees; one becomes faint-hearted; the knees knock together. Fear breeds impatience, intolerance, indecision. Fear is fed by yet more fear. The fearful are left in a state of utter despair. “They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end” Psalm 107:27.

Remember Belshazzar? He profaned the vessels that were taken from the temple at Jerusalem. Belshazzar saw the “handwriting on the wall.” “Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another” Dan. 5:6. The king was possessed by fear: it produced the fruit of cowardice, his strength failed; his courage fled; he became faint-hearted; his knees knocked together; he staggered like a drunken man, and was at his wit’s end. (Though I would suppose that Belshazzar suddenly became stone-cold sober!)

But all fear is not the same!

Remember the scriptures with which we began? “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments” Psalm 111:10. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” Pro. 1:7.

The fear of the Lord is foundational with faith; it takes root in the Truth producing enduring patience; it brings forth the fruit of obedience; it beholds the goodness of God and is strengthened. One who waits upon the Lord will “be of good courage.” “He shall strengthen thine heart.” Is not the heart the throne room where Faith finds lodging with Hope; the two confidently waiting on the Lord to fulfill His promises?

It is within the bounds of the fear of God that we find deliverance, love, joy, peace, hope, faith, communion, safety; that we live in the Light and not in darkness; that we are no longer bound but free. It is in the fear of the Lord that we walk with the Shepherd; that we are satisfied; that we are led in paths of righteousness; that we find goodness and mercy to be our constant traveling companions.

From the book of Esther we shall attempt to make a few observations and comparisons pertaining to our subject. (We shall begin at the corner of Hare and Bunny Trails!)

The villain of the story is a fellow named Haman. The king put him as head over all his princes. The king had commanded that all men bow before Haman in the king’s gate; but Mordecai, being a Jew would not bow down. (Sounds a bit like the three Hebrew children, doesn’t it?) In his rage, Haman determined to have, not only Mordecai, but all Jews throughout the kingdom, destroyed. Haman went before the king claiming that “certain peoples” throughout the kingdom had laws that were diverse from all people, neither obeyed the king’s laws. He convinced the king to sign a decree to have those “certain people” slain. He, Haman, would pay ten thousand talents unto the executioners. Mordecai went unto queen Esther: only she could appear before the king and expose the wrong-doing of wicked Haman, thus stopping his scheme to destroy not only the Jews, but Esther herself.

According To The Law.

“All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live. . .” Esther 4:11.

And what of the throne of God? “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre” Psalm 45:6. “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom” Heb. 1:8.

Not According To The Law.

“and so I will go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish” Esther 4:16. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments” Psalm 111:10. Esther feared the king - but she was not afraid of him! Likewise for the transgressor, it is not according to law that we would presume to approach a Holy God in our sin. But blessed be His name, Christ, (by means of His perfect work of redemption whereby He satisfied all the demands of Divine Righteousness by living a sinless life on our behalf; and having satisfied all the demands of Divine Justice by dying in our place) has secured for those who believe in Jesus Christ, the benefits of a perfect righteousness imputed to us by faith, having made us to stand Justified before the throne of God.

The Throne of Grace.

“Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre” Esther 5:1,2.

The application: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” Heb. 4:16.

My dear friend, let us put on the royal apparel; the robe of Righteousness: “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ” Rom. 13:13. Let us stand in the inner court of the King’s House: let us approach the Throne of Grace. “Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord” Proverbs 8:34,35. The Lord has held forth the golden sceptre to you - be not afraid to reach out and touch it!

“Boldly is not contrasted with reverently and tremblingly. It means literally ‘saying all,’ with that confidence which begets thorough honesty, frankness, full and open speech. ‘Pour out your heart before Him.’ Come as you are, say what you feel, ask what you need. Confess your sins, your fears, your wandering thoughts and affections. . .We need only understand that we are sinners, and that He is High Priest. The law was given that every mouth may be shut, for we are guilty. The High Priest is given that every mouth may be opened. . .We come in faith as sinners. Then shall we obtain mercy; and we always need mercy, to wash our feet: to restore to us the joy of salvation, to heal our backslidings, and bind up our wounds. . .“We should come therefore with boldness to the throne of grace” (Bagster). Then let us do so, in the full confidence of our acceptance before God in the person of His Beloved. . .Let us ‘come’ constantly, continually.

Exposition of Hebrews, A. W. Pink

Esther Obtained Mercy and Found Grace To Help In Time of Need.

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord. . .” Proverbs 21 :1.

“Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom” vs.3. “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will. and it shall be done unto you. . .that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” John 15:7,16b.

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” Eph. 3:20. A much quoted verse, I know: but apply it to Esther!

“And the king said again to Esther. . .What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom. Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: For we are sold, I and my people to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish” Esther 7:2,3,4a.

Esther Did Not Come Alone!

Though no one else be mentioned, Who, pray tell, gave Esther the boldness to stand before the king? Was it not He who caused Esther to find favour in the king’s sight; to hold forth his golden scepter to her; to receive her; to ask of her petition? I tell you, Esther came before the throne in the power of the Spirit! Shall we presume to come before the throne, alone? God forbid! Of what value, my prayer, if my parakletos (Comforter) is not along side me? Com fort, with strength. If one is to “come boldly” to the throne of grace, it is imperative that the Spirit of Christ be with him and in him!

Dear Believer, We Do Not Come Alone To the Throne of Grace!

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself. . .” John 16:13. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” Rom. 8:26.

Hear the testimony of the Apostle: “the Lord stood by him” Acts 23:10. “For there stood by me this night the angel of the Lord, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, fear not, Paul. . .” Acts 27:23. I believe that Paul understood and likewise should we: “fear not.” Fear not the flesh, nor despiteful men, nor the tempest wind of circumstances: but “fear the Lord.”

All Fear is Not the Same!

“Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and queen” vs.5,6. (Esther feared the king - but she was not afraid of him!) But Haman was afraid. We know the outcome: “So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.”

We shall not leave this mode of thought without at least making mention of the three Hebrew children. They, as Mordecai, would not bow down. “Nebuchadnezzar had said, If ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” The reply, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.”

These three Hebrew boys could give a hearty “amen” to the wisdom of the Apostle: “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” Gal. 1:10. The question is, whether to please men or to please God. “For without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” Heb. 11:6. Not to fear God is to be lacking in wisdom and understanding. Without wisdom and understanding there is doubt and not faith. Doubting is not believing, and is therefore sin: “for whatsoever is not of faith is sin” Rom. 14:23. The vast heap of “good works” that men may accumulate is no more than wood, hay and stubble if they are not fruit preceding from their fear of the Lord, being illuminated by the Spirit of Christ; from faith, from wisdom and from knowledge. Their “exceeding great reward” shall be to watch, as it were, an equally large bonfire as their works are burned up before their eyes. And what shall be the everlasting reward received at the hand of those men from whom they coveted approval, feared and chose to please rather than choosing to fear and to please God? One who fears men rather than God is found to be in a state of utter disobedience against God; he has multiplied his transgressions toward his Creator. (Such was the case of Saul, who blamed his constant disobedience on his “fear of the people.” Pilate turned Jesus over to the people: he feared them, the Pharisees and the Israeli Supreme Court.)

Compromise, an Option?

Of course! Just as soon as you are given proof that the Holy Trinity has sat down at the table of negotiation with Satan in order to effect a compromise that will be agreeable and beneficial to both parties - then you may opt to compromise!

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter [dabar]: fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty [matter, dabar] of man” Eccl. 12:13.