What does it mean to fear the Lord?
What does it mean to fear the Lord, and why is it so needed when seeking true wisdom?
In the Old Testament, the fear of the Lord is a good thing and something which is needed in order to achieves true wisdom. This fear is a different fear from the normal fear of danger in the physical world that we exist in. It is different because it involves a commitment to respond to God in a positive way, and be aware of his ultimate holiness and righteousness. Its because of God’s nature and his purity, that he has to convict and judge sin.
We see this fear expressed many times throughout the Old Testament, such as when God speaks to the Israelites on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16) and the Israelites tremble in fear. But a better understanding of this fear is to see it as a fear which causes a believer to place all their faith and trust in him alone. It is because of this fear that believers can begin to truly trust in the Lord as their help and shield (Psalms 115:11), and this means to fully hope and trust in him alone. In the modern day, most people forget that this fear also involves recognising the serious consequences of our sins and what it means to God.
It must be understood that God has the full power to punish those who break his laws and this is evident through what happened when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. As soon as they sinned, they were afraid of God and tried to hide from him. God is the ultimate creator of everything that exists and just the realisation of this awesome power should be sufficient cause for any mortal being to fear him. Furthermore, we need to understand that there will be a universal judgement for all people and this should also be enough to fear the almighty judge, as every person has to give an account to God for his or her actions in this life.
Additionally God promises to bless those who truly fear him (Proverbs 22:4), and it’s this fear that may cause us to obey God even in the most difficult of times. The Psalms frequently mention that this fear is in fact equivalent to delighting in his commands, and in the wisdom literature of Ecclesiastes, the whole book is summarised as “Fear God, and keep his commandments.” In the author’s view, these two imperatives are what truly bring meaning and purpose to life, even though at times life seems meaningless and empty. We also learn from Proverbs 1:7 that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” and it’s this fear that moves us to depart from sin and moves us away from evil.
Source: Life in the Spirit Study Bible, Zondervan
Is God involved in the world he has made?
Many people over the years have asked the question of where God is and how he maintains his relationship with everything that he has created. In order to gain a better understanding of this fundamental truth in both Christianity and Judaism, it is important to understand what is meant by the term providence. The providence of God is God’s continual care for his creation which includes all the people that he has created. However, someone could object and say that we don’t really see God ruling over us like we would see a king or a president for example.
While it is true that we can not see God ruling like a mighty ruler, that does not mean his presence is not there, and it is wise to know where to look. Furthermore, God is not like a master clockmaker who fashioned the world, wound it up and is now just watching it unwind on its own. God preserves the world that he has created and the Bible confirms that even the mundane things are orchestrated by God. As Jesus himself says in Matthew 5:45, “He (God) causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
God doesn’t just preserve the world, he is also very involved in providing for the creatures that he has created. In the very first book of the Bible, it mentions how God created the seasons (Genesis 1:14), and how he gave food for humans and animals (Genesis 1:29-30). Furthermore in the book of Job, God himself reveals his creative power and how he sustains order in the world. An aspect of God’s providence is seen through his participation in human affairs, and there are many examples throughout the Bible which illustrate this. One such example is seen in the story of Joseph and how his brothers sell him as a slave (Genesis 37:28), however Joseph would later go on to tell them how God’s providential hand was involved. Essentially, what Joseph’s brothers meant for evil, God eventually used for good.
Therefore we learn that God is able to direct even the most catastrophic things to bring about the maximum good. Additionally, God manifests a special love and care for his people, and we must always remember that he is still sovereign. All the events that happen in history are all done through his permissive will and he does at times intervene in order to redeem those that are lost. Someone could object to this and simply point to all the evil that can be currently seen in the world. However, we have to remember that God allows humans to experience the consequences of their sin as he respects our free will. Lastly, much of the world is not now submissive to God’s ruling power, but is in fact rebelling against him.
Source: bibles.net, Life in the Spirit Study Bible, Zondervan