Fear, Godly.

From: The New Topical Textbook By: Reuben Archer Torrey

• 2 min. read • grade level: 14

God is the object of. Isa. 8:13¹³Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. (Isaiah 8:13).

God is the author of. Jer. 32:39, 40³⁹And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: ⁴⁰And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, 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. (Jeremiah 32:39‑40).

Searching the Scriptures gives the understanding of. Prov. 2:3-5³Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; ⁴If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; ⁵Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:3‑5).

DESCRIBED AS

Hatred of evil. Prov. 8:13¹³The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. (Proverbs 8:13).

Wisdom. Job 28:28²⁸And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. (Job 28:28). Psa. 111:10¹⁰The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. (Psalm 111:10).

A treasure to saints. Prov. 15:16¹⁶Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. (Proverbs 15:16). Isa. 33:6⁶And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure. (Isaiah 33:6).

A fountain of life. Prov. 14:27²⁷The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:27).

Sanctifying. Psa. 19:7-9⁷The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. ⁸The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. ⁹The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. (Psalm 19:7‑9).

Filial and reverential. Heb. 12:9⁹Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? (Hebrews 12:9). 28.

Commanded. Deut. 13:4⁴Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. (Deuteronomy 13:4). Psa. 22:23²³Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. (Psalm 22:23). Ecc. 12:13. 1. Pet. 2:17.

MOTIVES TO

The holiness of God. Rev. 15:4⁴Who 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. (Revelation 15:4).

The greatness of God. Deut. 10:12, 17¹²And 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, (Deuteronomy 10:12)
¹⁷For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: (Deuteronomy 10:17).

The goodness of God. 1 Sam. 12:24²⁴Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. (1 Samuel 12:24).

The forgiveness of God. Psa. 130:4⁴But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. (Psalm 130:4).

Wondrous works of God. Josh. 4:23, 24²³For the Lord your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: ²⁴That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever. (Joshua 4:23‑24).

Judgments of God. Rev. 14:7⁷Saying 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. (Revelation 14:7).

A characteristic of saints. Mal. 3:16¹⁶Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. (Malachi 3:16).

Should accompany the joy of saints. Psa. 2:11¹¹Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. (Psalm 2:11).

NECESSARY TO

The worship of God Psa. 5:7⁷But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. (Psalm 5:7)

The service of God Psa. 2:11¹¹Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. (Psalm 2:11). Heb. 12:28²⁸Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (Hebrews 12:28).

Avoiding of sin. Exo. 20:20²⁰And 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. (Exodus 20:20).

Righteous government. 2 Sam. 23:3³The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. (2 Samuel 23:3).

Perfecting holiness. 2 Cor. 7:1¹Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1).

THOSE WHO HAVE

Afford pleasure to God. Psa. 147:

Are pitied by God. Psa. 103:13¹³Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. (Psalm 103:13).

Are accepted of God. Acts 10:35³⁵But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. (Acts 10:35).

Receive mercy from God. Psa. 103:11, 17¹¹For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. (Psalm 103:11)
¹⁷But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; (Psalm 103:17). Luke 1:50⁵⁰And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. (Luke 1:50).

Are blessed. Psa. 112:1¹Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. (Psalm 112:1). Psa. 115:13¹³He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great. (Psalm 115:13).

Confide in God. Psa. 115:11¹¹Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. (Psalm 115:11). Prov. 14:26²⁶In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. (Proverbs 14:26).

Depart from evil. Prov. 16:6⁶By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil. (Proverbs 16:6).

Converse together of holy things. Mal. 3:16¹⁶Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. (Malachi 3:16).

Should not fear man. Isa. 8:12, 13¹²Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. ¹³Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. (Isaiah 8:12‑13). Matt. 10:28²⁸And 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. (Matthew 10:28).

Desires of, fulfilled by God. Psa. 145:19¹⁹He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. (Psalm 145:19).

Days of, prolonged. Prov. 10:27²⁷The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. (Proverbs 10:27).

SHOULD BE

Prayed for. Psa. 86:11¹¹Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. (Psalm 86:11).

Exhibited in our callings. Col. 3:

Exhibited in giving a reason for our hope. 1 Peter 3:15¹⁵But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15).

Constantly maintained. Deut. 14:23²³And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. (Deuteronomy 14:23). Josh. 4:24²⁴That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever. (Joshua 4:24). Prov. 23:17¹⁷Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. (Proverbs 23:17).

Taught to others. Psa. 34:11¹¹Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. (Psalm 34:11).

Advantages of. Pro. 15:16¹⁶Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. (Proverbs 15:16). Pro. 19:23²³The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. (Proverbs 19:23). Ecc. 8:12. 13.

The wicked destitute of. Psa. 36:1¹<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord.>> The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. (Psalm 36:1). Pro. 1:29²⁹For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: (Proverbs 1:29). Jer. 2:29²⁹Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 2:29). Rom. 3:18¹⁸There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Romans 3:18).

Exemplified. Abraham Gen. 22:12¹²And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. (Genesis 22:12). Joseph, Gen. 39:9⁹There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? (Genesis 39:9) Gen. 42:18¹⁸And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God: (Genesis 42:18). Obadiah, 1 Kin. 18:12. Nehemiah, Neh. 5:15¹⁵But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God. (Nehemiah 5:15). Job, Job 1:1¹There 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. (Job 1:1). 8. Primitive Christians, Acts 9:31³¹Then 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. (Acts 9:31). Cornelius, Acts 10:2²A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. (Acts 10:2). Noah, Heb. 11:7⁷By 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. (Hebrews 11:7).

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