Fear the Lord?

"Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield." Psalm 115:11

My mind struggles at the sound of someone claiming not to fear God. Not the statement of boasting made by the prideful heathen, rather the utterings that imply, "God is love so there is nothing to fear," made ignorantly by professing saints. My unrest is not in, "God is love," for that is undeniable truth not fully expressed in words. No, I grieve at the thought of no fear toward Almighty God.

Consider the statement, "I do not fear God." To say as much is equal to the worm faced in defiance against the lion and pressing to battle. (Are we not worms in sin set at nought against the Lion of the tribe of Judah before salvation?) Now, one might dismiss that statement as erroneous, but search the scriptures. Count the times a man defied and was swiftly punished. Are we to discount the instant death of Uzzah who only tried to keep the Ark of the Covenant from falling off the cart? (II Samuel 6) Are we to overlook the miserable end of King Saul, who defied the commands of God and for such lost his kingdom, sanity, and life? Does the doctrine of love require that these be forgotten? Nay! it is by these that we begin to understand the perfect love of the Father. Far too often our words have been, "God loves you," towards the vilest of sinners. Who am I to give God's love to those who do what he hates? It is not mine to give, for it is only he that can give. I give the account of his gracious Salvation, planting and watering the seeds. It is God who gives mercy to whom he will.

It is imperative to understand that God's love does not cancel his wrath and anger. Oh, how God loved Israel and would have gathered her together as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings. Yet time after time his anger was kindled against them and he punished them. Why did such occur? Because Israel did not fear God. You will not read far into the Old Testament without seeing this. Indeed God is love, and indeed there is something to fear.

Consider the children. If you rebuke not the youngster he continues in his folly, sinning rampantly, shaming his parents. Yet, amazingly, if loving reproof is applied love grows the more. They obey when fear of reproof is present. There is a fear of failing and displeasing the parent in their disobedience. Require the child to complete a chore and if the rod has been applied he will straightly comply. I speak not of abuse for here is the difference. When rebuke is given in love, wisdom goes forth. The child learns of the mistake and the consequences thereof. If the rod goes forth in abuse, nothing is gained and the child learns further to hate and disobey.

Many associate the fear of God with a terrible trembling, and rightfully so, however the reverencing fear as toward a father or king is absent and forgotten.

The fear of God is the love of God. The two cannot be separated. If I love God, I fear him and follow his commandments. Faithfully, I fear the Lord and in turn he is my help and shield.

Be not afraid to fear the Lord, for the Lord himself calls for it. To the heirs of salvation he is a loving father, and righteous king. To the unrepentant sinner, you are his enemy.