Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
Today we live in a desperate time. Man’s institutions are failing everywhere and yet he tries to hold onto power by cowing the people into fear through police state tactics. On the other hand self-proclaimed prophets pronounce doom at every turn and infer that if we do not listen to them then we will not be considered among God’s elect. Balderdash!
Jesus makes things simple for those who will approach him as a child, forsaking their jealous conceits for their own fame and their multitude of hypocrisies. The Pharisees could not accept him because they were interested more in their selfish glory than in God’s truth. I submit to you that one precept, and one alone, will free us from the cacophony of voices which attempt to beguile us. Jesus said, “If you abide in my word you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)
That which I call “the grace heresy” within the church has, to almost a universal extent, prevented believers in Christ from both fearing him and from obeying him. They took the doctrine of grace and turned it into a license to sin while, at the same time, they began to call Jesus their best friend or their lover. I can tell you by abiding in Jesus’ word for 35 years that he is not the “best friend” of those who practice lawlessness, and he by no means counts himself the “lover” of those who do licentiousness.
The teacher in Ecclesiastes tells us that our first duty toward God is to fear him. Jesus told us the same thing. He said, “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 KJV) The men of this world can kill our bodies and they use this fear of death to corral us into their molds. Jesus warned us not to fear them; they cannot destroy our souls. Fear God instead. But, what is the fear of God? I can’t see him; can you? I can’t hear him; can you?
Wait, actually I can both see and hear God. When I look into the clear blue sky I see God’s lovely creation. When I smell the blossoming rose or the purple iris I breathe God’s creation. When I hear the wind blow through the leaves of the trees I hear God’s Spirit breathing upon the earth. When I go to the clear, flowing Current River and its tributary springs I see, hear, and smell God’s lovely works. When I abide in Christ’s word by reading the Bible I hear God’s voice. When I hear God’s voice I suddenly have faith that what he says is true and then I also know, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” (Psalms 111:10 KJV)
So again, what does it mean to fear God? I think Isaiah gives us a good idea in chapter 33 of his book.
Woe to you that plunder, and you were not plundered; and deal treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with you! when you shall cease to plunder, you shall be plundered; and when you shall make an end of dealing treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with you. O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for you: be their [our] arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble. At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of yourself the nations were scattered. And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpillar: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them. The LORD is exalted; for he dwells on high: he has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of your times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure. Behold, their valiant ones shall cry outside: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly. The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceases: he has broken the covenant, he has despised the cities, he regards no man. The earth mourns and languishes: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits. Now will I rise, says the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself. You shall conceive chaff, you shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you. And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire. Hear, you that are afar off, what I have done; and, you that are near, acknowledge my might. The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness has surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walks righteously, and speaks uprightly; he that despises the gain of oppressions, that keeps his hands from the holding of bribes, that stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the fortresses of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Your eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. Your heart shall meditate the terror. Where is the scribe? where is the one who weighs? where is he that counts the towers? You shall not see a fierce people, a people of a more obscure speech than you can perceive; of a stammering tongue, that you can not understand. Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: your eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of its stakes shall ever be removed, neither shall any of its cords be broken. But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; in which shall go no galley with oars, neither shall majestic ships pass by. For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us. Your tackle are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great plunder divided; the lame take the prey. And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell in it shall be forgiven their iniquity. (Isaiah 33:1-24 KJ2000)
This passage distinguishes between those who steal and act treacherously versus those who wait upon the LORD. Isaiah then defines the fear of the LORD by telling us that this fear is his treasure. This means that the fear of the LORD equals God’s treasure. What is God’s treasure? Just as men do, so does God fill his house with his treasure. In the above passage God calls his house Zion. The Book of Revelation calls it New Jerusalem. Hebrews tells us that we are his house. Isaiah tells us above in verse 5 that God fills his house with justice and righteousness. Solomon teaches that “the 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 KJV)
Thus to fear God is to love justice and righteousness. The terms justice and righteousness define all of God’s ways. When we love his ways, then we make those ways part of our lives; his ways become our treasures. When we treasure God’s ways, then we keep his commandments because those very precepts have become part of our nature. Therefore if you love justice and righteousness, then you do fear God. You will be one of those who help restore the foundations when God decrees the time, and that time is near. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man!
