Fear of the Lord Defined
(Psalm 34:11-14)
Dylan Stewart
If you study the Bible, there is no mistaking the repeated commands to “fear” God. For example, the wise man famously stated, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Ecclesiastes 12:13b). Similarly, Peter commanded, “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17). But what exactly does it mean to fear the Lord?
The Proverbs and Psalms provide a great amount of information in answering what it means to fear the Lord. Consider several definitions the Bible provides:
- “You who fear in the Lord, trust in the Lord” (Psalm 115:11a).
- “Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways” (Psalm 128:1).
- “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7a).
- “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil” (Proverbs 8:13a).
- “By the fear of the Lord one departs from evil” (Proverbs 16:6b).
In Psalm 34:11-14, the Psalmist provides a very clear picture of what it means to fear God. In fact, the Psalmist’s very intention is to teach people how to fear the Lord:
“11 Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
First, to fear God, the Psalmist says a person must keep his tongue from evil (v.13). Though the Psalms exist under the Law of Moses, which is a law that Christians are not under today (Galatians 5:1-4), the admonition to control our tongues is certainly still required under Jesus’s New Testament law. Jesus warned, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” (Matthew 12:36). Similarly, Paul taught, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29). The tongue is evil and poisonous (James 3:8). Therefore, the tongue must be bridled because “what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person” (Matthew 15:11). If we do not bridle our tongues, we do not truly fear God and our “religion is worthless” (James 1:26). Specifically, the Psalmist warns that we must guard against the temptation of speaking deceit (v.13), which Peter condemns in 1 Peter 3:10-11 while quoting this very Psalm. We must only allow truth to come out of our mouths (always spoken in love [Ephesians 4:15]) and avoid deception so we can escape calamity and eternal punishment (Revelation 21:8). Remember, “One with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity” (Proverbs 17:20).
Second, with verse 14, it is clear, just as the writer of Proverbs 16:6 taught, that a healthy fear of God includes turning away from sin. This eternal truth is perfectly exemplified in 2 Chronicles 7:14 where God explained, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Today, turning from sin (repentance) is required of every person in order to be saved (Luke 13:3,5; 2 Peter 3:9; Acts 17:30-31). However, the Psalmist shows that simply turning away from sin is not enough; a person must then “do good.” The law of Christ makes this exact same demand. For people who have repented and obtained salvation in Christ, they have a lofty requirement they must continually meet. Paul commanded, “As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone” (Galatians 6:10). Disciples of Christ are expected to abound in good works (Matthew 5:16). In fact, if we are not busy doing good works, then our faith is dead and useless (James 2:14-26), but if we “do good” and actively desire to “see good” (Psalm 34:14, 12), we thus exhibit a fear of God.
Finally, to fear God involves seeking peace (v.14). The Law of Christ makes the same demand. Paul wrote, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18). Christians must “strive for peace with everyone“ (Hebrews 12:14a). We all should desire peace since Christ said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). Ultimately, true peace is only found through Christ: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). We must let peace rule in our hearts (Colossians 3:15), not anxiety (Philippians 4:6), discontentment (Jude 16), anger (Galatians 5:19-21), or division (Romans 16:17). If we actively pursue and obtain peace, then we will be “godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:2b).
Conclusion
Paul told the Corinthians, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). We are commanded throughout God’s Word to fear Him. Our holiness is completed, or perfected, by our fear of God. Having understood the Psalmist’s explanation for what it means to fear the Lord in Psalm 34:11-14, let us not be like those described as having “no fear of God before their eyes” (Psalm 36:1; Romans 3:18). Instead, let us all fear God, for, truly, this is the whole duty of man.
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The Vick’s Salve Syndrome
Paul Stringer
I believe that the person who first said, “The customer is always right,” never worked in a retail sales position. A few years back, a lady who I had never seen before stormed into the pharmacy we owned at the time, made a bee-line to the cough and cold section, picked up a familiar blue bottle, and proclaimed, AI want Vick=s Salve. I don’t want this Vick’s Vapo-Rub; I want Vick’s SALVE — the kind you can take. I KNOW they still make it!”
I tried to explain to the lady that as long as I could remember, the product had been known as Vapo-Rub, but was familiarly called Vick’s salve and that actually it was never intended to be taken internally. But it soon became obvious that mine was not the first drugstore she had Ahit,@ and that this scenario and my explanation, had been played often before. So I thanked her for coming in and went about my business. This lady’s behavior may not be typical of all customers, but it is typical of many religious people — they have this “Vick’s Salve Syndrome.” They get a concept in their minds that is completely foreign to Biblical teaching and no amount of quoting of the Scriptures can convince them they could possibly be wrong. Their position is, AMy mind is made up, so don’t confuse me with the facts.@
How people arrive at mistaken ideas can take many forms. Some espouse certain positions because they have always thought it to be so, with no inkling as to why they think that way. Several years ago, I asked an elderly gentleman to cite a Scripture to back up his teaching on premillennialism. His answer: “I don=t know where it is, but I know its there because I once taught it in Sunday School.@ Peter says, A… always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you… (2 Pet 2:15).
Others accept doctrine because their preacher teaches it. Many rest on the concept that the church hires the preacher to advise them on Spiritual matters, so what he says must be right. It’s a dangerous thing to risk one=’s eternal destiny upon what some mortal man might teach. The noble Bereans searched the Scriptures daily to see if Paul’s teaching was true (Acts 17:11).
Some believe as they do because of ancestry, having the notion that Awhatever was good enough for Mom and Dad is good enough for me.” Isn’t it peculiar that only in religion do they adhere to this? Paul warned the Corinthians not to think of men beyond what is written (1 Cor 4:6-KJV). This includes ancestors.
What stirred my customer up about the Vick=s salve was that the company had started labeling the product that it should not be taken internally. They had never intended it to be used that way, but people thought such to be all right because it didn’t say not to. Many think their religious practices are all right because the Bible does not say not to do them. Because medical science recognized that camphor can be toxic when ingested, the company added the Anot to@ on the label. The Bible does say Anot to@CCnot to add to or take from what it authorizes (Rev 22:18-19). Most people in religious error do not have an appreciation for Bible authority. Their thought is AIt doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.” They don’t comprehend that God has always demanded obedience to His will. All who violate it will suffer the consequences. Why they hold false beliefs does not matter, because the Scriptures are complete (2 Tim 3:16-17).
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Show Me, Teach Me, Lead Me
(Psalm 25:4-5)
Mike Johnson
Palm 25 is a Psalm of repentance. The psalmist humbly expresses a desire for God’s forgiveness and wants direction from Him. In verses 4-5, he appeals to God by saying, “Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.” The psalmist, thought to be David, wants God to show him, teach him, and lead him in His ways, paths, and truth. These verses express the same basic concept in different ways and illustrate how David was always ready and willing to learn God’s will.
With these verses, it is also essential to recognize what David did not say. To God, he said, “Show me Your Ways.” He did not say, “Show me the ways of men” (Jn. 14:6, Acts 18:26). Next, he said, “teach me Your paths.” He did not say, “Show me the paths of sin,” as he wanted to be shown the paths of righteousness (Jn. 8:12, Eph. 5:8, I Jn. 1:7). Finally, he said, “Lead me in Your truth.” David did not want guidance in the ways of error (Is. 28:29; Ps. 31:3, 32:8). Sadly, many people say they want God to lead them, but, in reality, they only want to be “led” if the path is where they desire to go.
If we want God to show, teach, and lead us, it is essential to be humble (Mt. 18:3). In Psalm 25, verse 9 says, “The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way.” We must also hunger and thirst after righteousness (Mt. 5:6) and seek the kingdom of God first (Mt. 6:33).
Do you want God to show, teach, and lead you in His Way? People demonstrate this desire when they study the Scriptures regularly, attend services, carefully listen to any teaching, and follow the pattern found in God’s Word.
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How Men Act When They Repent
Steve Klein
In Matthew 12:41, Jesus said, “The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.” According to Jesus, the men of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah.
You remember the story, don’t you? God had commanded Jonah, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me” (Jonah 1:2). Now Nineveh was not only a city filled with wickedness, it was also the capital of the Assyrians, hated enemies of the Israelites. Jonah didn’t want to go. He fled from God’s presence. However, after being given some quality time in the belly of a fish to reflect and pray, Jonah decided to obey God. Jonah walked through the city proclaiming the judgment of the Lord upon these pagan people: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” (Jonah 3:4).
The people of Nineveh repented. They “proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them” (Jonah 3:5). When word came to the king of Nineveh, “he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes.” He decreed that “neither man nor beast, herd nor flock” were to eat or drink and that “every one” was to “turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hand” (Jonah 3:7-8).
The text says that, “God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them” (Jonah 3:10). God can read men’s hearts. He knows more about what is going on in our heads than we do ourselves. But He did not need to read the minds of the Ninevites to know that they had repented. He “saw their works, that they turned away from evil.” When the men of Nineveh repented, nobody was left to wonder whether or not their repentance was genuine. Nobody was left guessing about their intention to stop committing evil. Nobody would have doubted they had actually repented of their sins.
We really need to learn this lesson from the men of Nineveh. We need to learn how to act when we repent. Repentance isn’t just saying “excuse me,” “my bad,” or “forgive me,” and then going on with our lives as if nothing happened. Repentance should produce real change in our actions. We are to “bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Matthew 3:8). I am afraid that too many of us think that our repentance should go unnoticed. We are incognito repenters! And while God hardly asks us to don sackcloth and ashes today, He does ask us to “do works befitting repentance” (Acts 26:20).
Let’s resolve to turn away from sin in our lives, and make sure that we behave in such a way that folks can tell that’s what we’ve done!
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Beatitudes for Friends of the Aged
Blessed are they who understand
My faltering step and shaking hand.
Blessed who know my ears today
Must strain to hear the things they say.
Blessed are those who seem to know
My eyes are dim and my mind is slow.
Blessed are those who look away
When I spilled tea that weary day.
Blessed are they who with cheery smile
Stopped to chat for a little while.
Blessed are they who know the way
To bring back memories of yesterday.
Blessed are those who never say
“You’ve told that story twice today!”
Blessed are they who make it known
That I am loved, respected and not alone.
And blessed are they who will ease the days
Of my journey home in loving ways.
E.M. Walker (1958)
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A Village Believes
Jonathan Reeder
(9-15-24)
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Editor: Mike Johnson
www.seekingthingsabove.org