Blessings of Fearing God
10 March 2013 AM – Psalm 128:1-6 – Scott Childs
Introduction: The word “fear” often causes us to think of shivering in terror before something awful. While that is one aspect of the word, it can also be a very positive word.
Peter A. Steveson: The phrase “fear of the Lord” describes a reverential attitude of submission to the Lord, not an intense feeling of terror. (A Commentary on Proverbs, p. 8)
The “fear of the Lord” does however have two sides.
Warren Wiersbe: If we truly “fear the Lord,” we acknowledge from our hearts that He’s the Creator, we’re the creatures; He’s the Father, we’re His children; He’s the Master, we’re the servants. It means to respect God for who He is, to listen carefully to what He says, and to obey His Word, knowing that our disobedience displeases Him, breaks our fellowship with Him, and invites His chastening. It’s not the servile fear of the slave before his master but the reverential and respectful fear of the child before the parent.
While the “fear of the Lord” is a submissive respectful attitude towards the Lord, because of who He is, we ought to dread His displeasure.
Steven Kendrick: God is love, but He is also to be feared. The fear of the Lord is a holy, reverent respect for God that causes us to take Him very, very seriously, realizing He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and completely holds our lives, our universe, our judgment, and our eternal destiny in His hands. (The Resolution for Men, p.117)
The human race did not evolve over billions of years from slime on a pond. God created man about 6,000 years ago. He wonderfully designed every one of the approximately 50 trillion cells in your body. God created man in His own image so we could fellowship with Him. God loves us very much, but because He is holy, we must be holy to fellowship with Him. If we will learn to fear the Lord now, we will have no fear of Him on judgment day.
Transition: Our text this morning says, blessed or happy is every one that fears the Lord. Though addressed to Israel, the principles in this chapter are universal. Learning to fear the Lord is a great blessing. This morning I want you to see several blessings of fearing the Lord.
I. Physical Blessings of Fearing the Lord
A. It will bless your life (Ps 128:2)
1. God meets the physical needs of those who fear him.
2. Those who fear God know His goodness. This does not mean that those who fear the Lord never have problems. It means that God is near them during the problems.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the book of Daniel, feared God and God was with them when the king cast them into the feiry furnace. (Dan 3:23-25)
3. Fearing God is staying close to him. Being close to God is the place of blessing.
Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
B. It will bless your family
As you learn to fear the Lord and yield to him in every area of your life, it will greatly bless your family.
1. Your spouse will be fruitful, (Ps 128:3). If you fear the Lord, your relationship with your spouse will improve.
2. Your children will be a blessing. As you fear God, you will lead your children God’s way and they will be a blessing rather than a burden to you.
3. It will lengthen your life with your family, (Ps 128:6). Sinful vices often shorten life. Those who fear the Lord will live out their full days.
Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
II. Spiritual Blessings of Fearing the Lord
A. It will give you knowledge
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
1. The word “knowledge” in this verse is not just learning, it is discerning and perception. It is closely related to wisdom.
2. You must fear the Lord before you can have this kind of knowledge.
3. Studying what God says in the Bible about right and wrong and learning to submit to God because you highly respect Him, will give you this kind of knowledge.
B. It will give you wisdom
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
1. The word “wisdom” in this verse refers to skill, prudence, or shrewdness. Wisdom is the God-given ability to make right choices.
2. You cannot have this wisdom until you fear the Lord.
3. But when you fear the Lord with reverent respect, humbly yielding to His Lordship, He will give you wisdom.
a) Fearing God will highlight your need for wisdom.
b) Fearing God will motivate you to diligently study the Bible seeking truth.
c) Fearing God will humble you to submit to the principles you find in the Bible.
d) Fearing God will cause you to continually pray for His wisdom for daily choices
C. It will keep you right with God
Proverbs 14:2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
1. Fearing the Lord and keeping right with Him go hand in hand. If you have one, you will have the other.
2. If there is an area of your life that you know is not right with God, you do not really fear the Lord. If you respectfully fear Him, you will do right. Soberly remember you will answer to Him.
III. Social Blessings of Fearing the Lord
A. Fearing the Lord will help you do right
Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
1. If you have a submissive respectful attiude toward your holy Creator you will hate what he hates and love what he loves. You will flee evil.
2. The blessing of this is that you will do right and God blesses those who do right.
Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
B. Fearing the Lord will help you choose friends
Proverbs 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
1. If you fear the Lord, you will not want to be like sinners. Ungodly music, immoral movies, cursing, swearing, nightclub environments, and godless friends will not appeal to you.
2. Enving sinners and fearing God are opposites.
IV. Emotional Blessings of Fearing the Lord
A. Fearing the Lord calms other fears
Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
1. Fearing the Lord gives you a strong confidence or place of refuge.
2. You can run to God anytime you are afraid.
Psalm 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
B. You can claim God’s promised blessings
1. Psalm 128:4
2. There is no sweeter blessing than being right with God.
Conclusion: “Fearing the Lord transforms our thinking. It is a blessing and a protection to us.” Kendrick, 117 If you do not fear God as you should, decide to change that beginning today. Fearing God is the key to many blessings and the bypass around many heartaches. Psalm 34:11 says you can learn to fear the Lord, but you must have a humble desire to learn. Study the Bible daily. Study the attributes, character, and qualities of God. Spend quality time with God in prayer every day.
One of the first things the fear of the Lord does is to convict of sin. We cannot fearfully respect the holy God of the universe without seeing our own sinfulness. If you are not positive your sins are forgiven, fearing God will point you to your need of new life in Christ. Humbly admit your guilt to God and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to save you today. He died and rose again to give you new life, but you must receive it.
Song: Lord, I’m Coming Home – 253