“And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and He liveth.” (Deuteronomy 5:24)
Moses delivered the Ten Commandments to the children of Israel and reminded them of what the elders had said to him when they heard God’s voice come from the fire on the mountain. They told Moses to speak to God and tell them what He said. They were afraid, but God knew that still, even though they were afraid, they did not have the fear of God that would keep them in obedience to His commandments. “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” (Deuteronomy 5:29) In the original He literally said, “Who will give that there may be such a heart in them? They refuse to receive such a heart from me, who then can supply it?” (Deuteronomy 5:1-29)
The fear of God is not about being afraid of God. It’s difficult to explain because it’s a heart condition from God that reverences God to the point that we want to please Him and love Him so much, so we don’t want to not sin or disobey. It’s a recognition that He is Creator and in control of all, though we see a mess here on earth. And it’s acknowledging that God is patient with our weaknesses and faults, a Rewarder of goodness. I’m sure one can think of many more things the fear of God is, but we will limit ourselves to these. This study is extensive and exhaustive so we will only touch the surface and yet get a little more understanding.
The fear of God is a gift. It’s a heart condition. No one can change a heart. We cannot even change our own heart. Only the Lord can. And God offers us this heart that has the fear of God, but it can be refused as the Israelites did. What is the heart? In the Old Testament, the word is “labe” in Hebrew and means literally your soul (mind, will, emotions). God is the only one who can change your heart. It happened to Saul when Samuel anointed him king. “And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.” (1Samuel 10:9) God did an immediate change in his heart. He was no longer the humble young man who thought nothing of himself.
Ezekiel prophesied about how God would give the people of God one heart and a new spirit. Here we see that the heart and the human spirit are two different things. God would change their heart, meaning soul (mind, will, emotions) to unite them and give them a new spirit which is talking about a born-again spirit, born of God. Ezekiel was prophesying about Israel being saved. “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” (Ezekiel 11:19-20) It is the heart that decides to obey and keep God’s commandments. That is why Paul writes for us to renew our minds. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2) When we read the Word of God it transforms our mind which influences our emotions and will to act in accordance to God’s Will. The spirit man is already holy, pure and good because it’s born of God. What the spirit of man does is to influence our soul and communicate to our soul what God says and wants because it’s in constant communication with the Spirit of God indwelling Who is One with the Father and Jesus.
I try to keep the lessons less than a thousand words. With this study it is impossible, we are just beginning. But the Holy Spirit gave us enough to contemplate and meditate on for now. But very, very briefly let’s study the other two points. The fear of God is knowing God is in control even though all we see is a mess here on earth. Yes! It’s knowing that God could change everything in a split second. But sometimes we need to go through the consequences of our sin (and I mean the world’s sin) to turn to the Only One Who is able to change things. And the fear of God is acknowledging that God is patient with our weaknesses and faults. He is and has been patient with us. A cold sweat sweeps over me knowing how close I came to be condemned forever. The Lord was so gracious to save “a wretch like me.” And He is still patient with His child He took out of “the mirey clay.” I am so grateful. And that is part of the fear of God.
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