Love • Deuteronomy 6:1-9, 20-25
By Ralph Henson
The first passage in our lesson directs Israel to observe all the statutes and judgments in the land. Moses added, …that thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged (Deuteronomy 6:2 KJV).
Fear of the Lord
Let’s look into what it means to fear the Lord. The word fear brings to mind an emotional and anxious response to a source of conflict. Webster’s Dictionary defines it as an unpleasant emotion due to an awareness of danger. But the Bible qualifies the fear of the Lord as a good thing.
In our passage we see the promise of benefits from the fear of the Lord. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name (Deuteronomy 6:13 KJV). Moses here equates fearing the Lord with serving the Lord, and even taking oaths in God’s name.
Instead of an anxious response to danger, blessings follow those who fear the Lord. Consider O taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the Lord, ye his saints: For there is no want to them that fear him…. Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord (Psalm 34:8,9,11 KJV).
So not only does God bless those who fear Him, He also teaches them. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7 KJV). The opposite of fear of the Lord is foolish ignorance. Here we see the theme of the entire book of Proverbs, that the Fear of the Lord leads to wisdom, while fools ignore God’s truths and suffer for it, leading to fear of the world.
The Lord shows grace to those who fear Him. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, And his righteousness unto children’s children (Psalm 103:17 KJV).
We also see the fear of the Lord in the New Testament. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God (Ephesians 5:20–21 KJV). When believers submit in the Fear of the Lord, they benefit. Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied (Acts 9:31KJV).
Fear in the World
Contrast the fear of the Lord with an ungodly fear. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness (Isaiah 41:10 KJV). Fear leads to dismay and weakness.
But when God shines His light of salvation on us, we fear no person. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid (Psalm 27:1 KJV)? Fear in the flesh must change to our trusting in God. What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me (Psalm 56:3–4 KJV).
Fear in the world can come from a spiritual issue. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV). This is not the Holy Spirit, but a worldly spirit that brings fear, which leads to anxiety and depression. Instead, what God gives leads to love (Deuteronomy 6:5). Fear of the Lord leads to freedom, while worldly fear leads to bondage. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father (Romans 8:15 KJV).
Jesus promised peace that overcomes a troubled and fearful heart. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27 KJV).
Finally, we see an understanding of fear that gives us the remedy. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:18 KJV).
When we experience God’s love and acceptance, we can release fear from our lives, and put our trust in God.
Moses told Israel what will happen when they learn to fear the Lord. And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day (Deuteronomy 6: 24 KJV). The promise of preservation comes as a result of Godly fear, which will lead to our preservation today as well as proper instruction and godliness of our children and their children.
Henson is pastor of Mt. View Church, Meridian.
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