Proverbs Pt. 36 Defining the Fear of the LORD

Proverbs 9:9-12  Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 10) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 11) For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. 12) If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it. 

In our last post we looked at the fear of the LORD (Jehovah). There is an aspect of terror in the normal sense that we might use this word. Scripture makes it clear that there is an overwhelming fear of being a mere creature standing in the presence of God our Creator, knowing that if He let go for one instant, all creation will be undone (Hebrews 1:3). 

Moses had a healthy fear of the LORD.

Exodus 19:16-18  And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. 17) And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. 18)  And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 

In this text, God came down upon Mount Sinai to give Moses His law. The Divine Presence was evidenced by a thick cloud covering Mount Sinai accompanied by thundering, lightning and an extremely loud trumpet sounding forth from heaven. The hills and mountains tremble in His presence.

As the Hebrews saw God's presence and heard all these things, they trembled. The Lord came down in a fiery presence and the mountain smoked as the glory of God came upon it. It shook and quaked in the presence of God's glory.

Hebrews 12:21  And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake

All of the sensory input from the sight and sounds of lightning, thunder, and the loud trumpet from heaven sounding in the presence of God, was overwhelming to all the people. Every man, woman and child trembled. Seeing the mountain quake in the presence of God filled them with a healthy fear.

Moses, the great lawgiver with whom God always spoke to face to face, said that he was filled with so much fear that it caused him to shake. God's presence imparted a heightened  sense of awe mingled with dread. It literally has the idea of being frightened out of your senses. 

It is not a bad thing to experience this type of fear with highest regard for our Creator. It helps us remain humble and avoid being self conceited.  

Moses stood before Holy God on Mount Sinai when the law was given. The infinite glory, holiness and righteousness of God will not allow sin in His presence. In Him is light and no darkness at all. Sin must be judged and the condemnation of God rests upon all sinners (John 3:15-21).

It is in this sense that we understand why Moses feared and quaked in the presence of God. Jehovah is holy and we are unholy. He is sinless and we are sinful. He is righteous and we are unrighteous. He is pure and we are impure. He is perfect and we are an imperfect, flawed people. 

Isaiah was undone before Jehovah.

Isaiah 6:1-5  In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2)  Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3) And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4) And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5) Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 

The prophet Isaiah saw a vision of the Lord on His throne in heaven. He was overwhelmed by all of the glory. Seraphim's were leading worship and the cry of Holy, Holy, Holy filled the halls of heaven. The supporting posts of the Temple in heaven moved during the exaltation given to God. 

Then, the reality of Isaiah's sin nature set in. He realized his own sinfulness in the sight of Holy God. He confessed that he was a man of unclean lips and that the nation Israel were also unclean and unworthy to stand in the Divine Presence. 

Ezekiel fell upon his face.

Ezekiel 1:26-28  And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. 27) And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. 28) As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

Most of the Old Testament prophets were given a message of impending judgment from God along with an invitation and a plea for the people to turn from their wicked ways and come to Jehovah for cleansing. God gave them a glimpse of His glory to help strengthen the prophets for the hard task that He gave them. He knew that most of the people would not respond to His gracious and tender pleading but a few would respond with faith. 

Ezekiel had a similarly difficult task so Jehovah let him see His glory. The glory of Jehovah was so powerful and overwhelming that Ezekiel fell right down upon his face. He was unable to stand in the holy presence of God. 

Daniel fell to the ground.

Daniel 8:15-18  And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. 16) And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. 17) So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. 18) Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright. 

Daniel was one of the prophets who was taken in captivity to Babylon. He ministered to several different Babylonian and Persian rulers. He saw the Lord Jesus Christ in His pre-incarnate glory. In a later text he called Him the Ancient of Days. When he saw the glory of God and heard Him speak he fell upon his face on the ground until Gabriel came to revive the prophet. 

Peter, James and John fell on their faces before the Father. 

Matthew 17:1-6  And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2) And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3) And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4) Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5) While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6) And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 

This account is called the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. Peter, James and John saw Jesus appear in His glory. His face shone as bright as the sun, His raiment was the brightest and purest white. However, when the Father spoke from heaven it was too much for them and all three disciples fell on their faces. 

Paul fell on his face when Christ appeared to Him. 

Acts 9:3-4  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4) And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 

Acts 9 contains the account of Saul's conversion to Jesus Christ. Saul was on his way to continue his relentless attack upon the church by traveling to Damascus. A stunningly bright light from heaven stopped Saul in his tracks and he fell to the earth and heard the voice of Christ speaking to him. Saul had no hesitation-he called him Lord and asked what he must do.

John saw Jesus Christ in His glory and fell to the ground. 

Revelation 1:17-20  17) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. 19) Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; 20) The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches,

John gave us the powerful overwhelming and beautiful description of Christ in His glory (Revelation 1:12-16). What happened when John saw Jesus? He fell to the ground at the feet of Jesus. 

The 24 Elders fall down while worshiping Jehovah.

Revelation 4:10-11 10) The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. 

Later in the book of Revelation, John described an incredible scene of worship in heaven and when the four beasts (probably Seraphim) cried out "Holy, Holy, Holy" the 24 elders fell down before God and cast their crowns at His feet (See also Revelation 5:8-14; 19:4-5). 

Thoughts to Ponder...

There is a distinct lack of the fear of the Lord in the church today. One large survey of Pastors listed what they found most frustrating about ministry. First on the list was apathy among church goers. Apathy was followed by concern about the lack of spiritual growth among professing Christians. 

Let me just state that a person who reads the Bible earnestly and fears the LORD, will never be apathetic toward God!

How do we have a proper fear of the LORD?

By obeying His commands.

By remembering that we will stand before Christ and given an account for our decisions. 

By honoring Him with our thoughts, words, actions.

By representing God rightly to those around us.

By taking His calling on our lives seriously.

By hating sin because God hates it.

By loving God first and then loving our neighbor.

This is not an exhaustive list but each item is supported by many scriptures. I encourage you to study these things out. 

May the LORD impart His fear into our hearts that we might know Him better and grow in our faith and service. 

Bob