"Now this is the command; the statutes and the judgments (precepts) which the Lord your God has commanded me to teach you, so that you might do (follow, obey) them in the land which you are crossing over [the Jordan] to possess, so that you and your son and your grandson may fear and worship the Lord your God [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect], to keep [and actively do] all His statutes and His commandments which I am commanding you, all the days of your life, so that your days may be prolonged."
Deuteronomy 6:1-2 AMP
We often compare the ways of the world with the ways of His Word. When we look at LOVE and FEAR, for example, they have opposite meanings when defined by the world or by the Word. He sees life, where the world sees death. He sees potential, where the world sees brokenness. He sees a child, where the world sees an orphan. He calls something fruitful, where the world calls it barren. He does things differently, He redefines everything.
Praise God that Jesus is on the throne and not us.
So, on the topic of opposites, fear of man makes us want to run away, but to have the fear of the Lord, makes us want to run towards Him, to take refuge in Him.
“How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men!”- Psalm 31:19
To have the fear of the Lord means that we are in total awe and wonder of His glory and His name, and out of that comes respect and longing to know more of Him and to never depart from His presence because we know that without it we would be lost (Deuteronomy 6:1-2). When we fear God, we do not follow the law or rules because we have to, but because we know that if it is important for Him, it is important for us, and therefore we want to. We move from a place of “having” to do something, to a place of “wanting” to do it. We don't look down on people, because we know that they are part of His creation and we could've easily been in the position that they are currently in. And so we don't love our neighbors because we have to, but because it brings joy to our Father’s heart when we value and love His children and so we want to respect Him by doing so.
We can almost see this as a concept of Discipline vs Legalism.
In life, we come to stand in front of choices and the way we decide what is “right or wrong”, is based on a decision out of discipline or legalism. Legalism is doing something out of the fear of man or doing something to please others and avoid punishment. Discipline is pursuing God, being passionate about Him, and valuing what He values. Can you see the difference? In other words when we read God’s word, when we make time for Him, when we worship Him, we’re doing it out of discipline, not because we fear that we might get punished, but rather because we know He values quality time and if it is important for Him, it has to be important for us as well.
Discipline is dying to one's desires and flesh and allowing the Holy Spirit to flow and work through you, being His vessel on earth.
What we need to understand is in the same way that God shows grace and love towards us, He is also just. Jesus is our friend, but also the mighty and powerful King. There shouldn't be second thoughts as to why we have to fear the Lord. If He is the King of your heart, then His ruling should be present in your life.
There are a few things that will happen in our lives when we fear Him. I'd like to share a few with you:
He will be with you through every season of life:
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His loving kindness, To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Psalm 33:18
He will be your protection:
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and rescues them
Psalm 34:7
He will satisfy your heart’s desire:
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them
Psalm 145:19
He will show favor to you:
The Lord favors those who fear Him, those who wait for His loving kindness
Psalm 147:11
He will be your guide:
Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way he should choose
Psalm 25:12
He will be the treasure of your heart:
And He will be the stability of your times, a wealth of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is his treasure.
Isaiah 33:6
He will be your healer:
"But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall."
Malachi 4:2
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding - indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:1-5 NIV
Awesome dankie Ansche!