Do we really fear God? What does it mean to fear God? The words of Psalm 147:10-11 tells us:
“His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.”
God commands us to fear Him and says that he takes pleasure in us when we fear Him. Why? Does He enjoy us being afraid of him? Parents don’t want their children to be afraid of them. They want them to love them and enjoy being with them, not to be afraid of them.
Jesus tells us not to fear. There are 365 verses in the bible where we are told to “fear not.” We fear the unknown and the type of fear that causes stress and anxiety. Do we wonder where that type of fear comes from?
That type of fear is not from God.
We must have a humbling fear of God
In what sense are we to fear God? The “fear” that brings God pleasure is not our being afraid of Him, but our having a high and exalted, reverence attitude of Him.
To “fear Him” means to stand in awe of Him: “Let all the earth FEAR the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world STAND IN AWE OF HIM!” (Psalms 33:8).
To fear the Lord is to stand in awe of His majesty, power, wisdom, justice and mercy, especially in Christ, in His life, death and resurrection. That’s having an exalted attitude of God. To see God in all His glory and then respond to Him appropriately, humble ourselves before Him. To adore Him.
We tend to be in awe of worldly power, talent, intelligence, and beauty. But these things don’t impress God because “His delight is not in the strength of the horse (mighty armies, worldly power) or His pleasure in the legs of a man (human strength).”
But God delights in those who fear Him – those who stand in awe of Him instead of trusting in their own human abilities or resources.
Now the wicked do not fear God
A wicked person doesn’t fear God – they don’t stand in awe of God. The wicked has a low view of God:
Transgression speaks to the wicked
deep in their heart;
there is no fear of God
before their eyes.
For they flatters themselves in their own eyes
that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
The words of their mouth are trouble and deceit;
they have ceased to act wisely and do good.
They plot trouble while in their bed;
they set themselves in a way that is not good;
they do not reject evil.” Psalms 36:1-4
The wicked person has such a low view of God and such a lack of awe for God that he doesn’t think God can find out his sin or hate it. They don’t act wisely or do good because he doesn’t view God as holy and just and serious about punishing sin. They trust in their own wits and strength. Obviously, the Lord doesn’t find any pleasure in the wicked.
The wicked refuses to fear God, so let us fear God: standing in awe of Him, taking refuge in Him, and hope in His steadfast love. It brings the Lord pleasure when we trust in Him for strength and help, not our own wits and resources.
WHOSOEVER WILL WORSHIP MINISTRIES
www.wwwmjesus.net
Assistant: Pastor Wesley Fulton
429 Bayou Rd, La Marque, Tx.77568
Need prayer Ch. Ph: 409/933-9878
