We are coming to the end of our brief introduction to this perspective of
the Fear of the Lord. It is, admittedly, a bit different than that which is
normally considered on this topic. Yet, I hope that I have been able to satisfy
you, the reader, which it is scripturally based, and adds to our understanding
of the spiritual warfare that is being waged around us in our society and in our
lives. It is on the forefront of the ultimate conflict for the soul of
humankind.
It has also underscored that our only effective protection from evil are
the Scriptures and Jesus Himself. Paul tells us to wear the whole armor of God
so as not to succumb to the devil’s deceit.
"Put on the full armor of God so that
you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil
in the heavenly realms.” (Eph. 6:11-12)
Jesus Embodies the Fear of the Lord
One
vital indication of how central these four ethical principles are to God’s
plan, is how often we observe them in the life and ministry of Jesus. Either
the Scriptures tell us, or He has expressed it in His own words: “I am the Way, the Truth and the
Life;”[1]
“I am gentle and humble in heart;”[2]
“my shalom I give to you;”[3]
and Luke tells us that Jesus, ‘went about
doing good.’[4]
Satan is the Antithesis of the Fear of the Lord
On the other side we have His antithesis, as embodied in the person of
Satan. The Scriptures describe him in the following manner: “he is called, liar and the father of lies”;[5]
The
great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan,
who leads the whole world astray.[6]
He is also
brought into strong connection with the promotion of evil and pride.
John, the Apostle, expresses the antithesis most
starkly, “The
one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning
from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the
devil’s work.” (1 John 3:8)
Through His life, death, and particularly His resurrection, Christ is already
victorious over the forces of Satan. By so doing, He has provided the power for
those who believe and fear Him to live lives of truth, peace, humility and
goodness. Christ, and his creative activity, is the arch-type of
the Kingdom of God, and embodies the Fear of the Lord in His person.
In the Upper Room, Jesus told His Disciples, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may
have peace. In this world
you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). Because
He has overcome everything Satan could throw at Him, we can overcome as well.
Some Final Thoughts
In this last installment, let me add a few thoughts on what the
realization of these concepts in the Christian life might look like in real
life.
The society in which we live needs to experience living examples of the
benefits of people who live lives of goodness, peace, truth, and humility. Each
of these attributes can only be demonstrated fully in community. God’s ordained
place for that to happen is in local congregations, in the Church, and in the
broadest sense, society itself. However, it can be argued that our dominant
culture has sold out to individuality and freedom of expression. Because the
people of the Church live in this society, they have tended to lose touch with
the need for and the power of community.
Nevertheless,
as we live out the Fear of the Lord, in community, our commitment to truth,
goodness, humility, and shalom we are doing the work of Christ. Society is no
longer interested in hearing about do’s and don’ts. It will be intrigued by
seeing the people of God, living out the Fear of the Lord in a positive, life
changing fashion. In the process, God will be working to form us more and more
into the likeness of Christ. We are told that it will not always be easy, but
when we accept Him into our lives, He empowers us to live out these principles.
As
pastors and Christian leaders, we will be able to influence people in ways that
make God’s heart glad. That knowledge brings us closer to an understanding of
why the Fear of the Lord had such prominence in the Scriptures, particularly
the Wisdom Literature.
If
understood as we have portrayed them, the four attitudes of the fear of the
Lord seem to be directly connected to the Ten Commandments (Eccl. 2:13). It is
possible to see how living out these four attitudes can shape our minds and
actions into a lifestyle that renders us willing and ready to keep the Ten
Commandments.
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