My last essay was on being still, which is very hard for
most of us. Moreover, not fearing is even harder. I once heard a very popular
pastor say that he fears nothing. I believe that’s dangerous. There is plenty
to fear in this crazy world, yet I think the pastor’s point might have been
that with the fear and faith in God we should not fear anything else. So why
does the Bible say, “fear not” some 365 times in the New Testament alone?
Fear is a primal instinct that I believe God put in all of
us to be able to know when to run from saber tooth tigers and terrorists. You will remember the fight or flight
syndrome. Wikipedia says the following:
The fight-or-flight
response (also called the fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response
[in PTSD], hyperarousal, or the acute stress response) is a physiological
reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or
threat to survival. It was first described by Walter Bradford Cannon.
We
are wired for this. Yet Scripture is telling us to “fear not.” Starting in
Deuteronomy 6:13 “Fear the Lord your God, serve Him only and take your oaths in His
name.” The Lord asks us to “fear
the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your
God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s
commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good” (Deuteronomy
10:12).
Joshua
4:24 tells us that after the Lord dried up the Jordan so the Israelites could
cross know “the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your
God.” By the end of this book Joshua told the people, ‘Now
fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness…as for me and my house, we
will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:14,15).
This fear is one of awesome respect and worship. This fear is repeated
often in Scripture. Job knew of it bringing Satan to say, “Does Job fear God for nothing” (Job
1:9).
The
Psalms are full of expressions of fear starting with Psalm 2:11 "Serve
the Lord with fear.”” And “The fear of the Lord is pure.” (Psalm
19:9) and Psalm 111:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom.” David gained his strength through his faith and fear of God.
Perhaps my favorite is Psalm 27:1 saying The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom
shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?”
In
the New Testament Jesus Christ replaces our fear with a living faith. “But
perfect love drives (castes) out fear” (1 John 4:18). That perfect love
is Christ Himself in us. Revelation 14:7 ends the Bible with Jesus telling us
not to fear any of the trials and tribulations but instead saying “Fear
God and give Him glory.” I think
we easily get afraid before we seek God and His provision. We like control and
when we fear, we feel out of control. God says, give your control to me.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts.