Discover The Will Of God For You ( 28)
Some Basic Characteristics Of God’s Will ( Cont)
INhis conclusion, Solomon presents his antidotes for the two main ailments presented in this book. Those who lack purpose and direction in life should fear God and keep his commandments. Those who think life is unfair should remember that God will review every person’s life to determine how he or she has responded to him, and will bring every deed into judgment. Have you committed your life to God, both present and future? Does your life measure up to his standards?
The Fear Of The Lord: An Overview
“Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess. 2: That you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged,” ( Deut. 6: 1- 2).
In the Old Testament, the fear of the Lord was something good and wholesome, the fountainhead of true wisdom ( Prov. 9: 10). In the Bible there are four general categories of fear: ( a) slavish or demonic fear ( 1 John 4: 18); ( b) the “fear of man” ( Prov 29: 25); ( c) normal fear of danger in the physical realm; and ( d) holy fear in the spiritual realm. The fear of the Lord is the latter.
The Old Testament presents the fear of the Lord as both a choice ( Ps 34: 9; Prov 1: 29) and a gift of God imparted by His Spirit ( Is 11: 1- 3a). The fear of God is a choice in that it involves the decision of our will to respond to the gracious invitation of God’s Word and Spirit. Only as we truly fear the Lord will we be delivered from slavery to all abnormal and demonic fears.
The Meaning Of The Fear of the Lord
To fear the Lord encompasses different aspects of the believer’s relationship with God. ( 1) Essential to fearing
God is knowledge of His holiness, justice and righteousness as a counterpart of His love and mercy, knowing Him and understanding fully who He is ( cf. Prov 2: 5). Godly fear is based on the conviction that God is a holy God whose very nature leads him to judge sin.
( 2) The fear of the Lord requires a knowledge of the Holy One ( Prov 9: 10) that regards Him with holy awe and reverence, and honours God as God because of His great glory, holiness, majesty and power ( Phil 2: 12). For example, the Israelites ( see Ex 19: 16; 20: 18- 19; Deut5: 22- 27). Also, the Psalmist, in his reflection on God as Creator, states explicitly: “Let all the world stand in awe of him. For he spake and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast,” ( Ps 33: 8- 9).
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Let all the world stand in awe of him. For he spake and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast,” ( Ps 33: 8- 9)