Monday: To Fear God
Moses told the children of Israel to love God with all that they had. That was a command. However, a few verses earlier Moses gave them another command: “That you may fear the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 6:2).
Read Deuteronomy 10:12. What does it say in this text about love and fear, and how do we understand it?
Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com
In one verse they are told to fear God, in another to love Him, and in this verse they are told to both fear and love Him at the same time. In the common understanding of the word “fear” this might seem like a contradiction, but it’s not. Instead, the fear of God — in the sense of awe and respect for who He is, His authority and power and justice and righteousness, especially in contrast to our sinfulness, weakness, and complete dependence on Him — should be a natural reaction. We are fallen beings, beings who have violated God’s law and who, but for His grace, deserve condemnation and eternal death.
Read Ephesians 2:1-10. How should these verses help us understand how we can both fear and love God at the same time?
Despite the fact that we were “children of wrath” (which is why we should fear Him), Christ died for us and thus gave us a new life in Him, which includes freedom from the sin and condemnation of the past (which is why we should love Him).
And just as this is true for us today, this same principle applied to ancient Israel: they were captives in Egypt, condemned to slavery and oppression, and it was only God’s love for them and graciousness toward them that led to their great redemption. “Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there” (Deuteronomy 5:15). No wonder, then, that they both love and fear God at the same time. And if they were to do that, how much more should we, having the great truth of Jesus’ dying on the cross for us?
| Read Revelation 14.6-7. How are we to understand why the command to “fear God” should be the first command of the Lord’s last-day message to the world? Given what we know about what is coming on the world, why does that command make so much sense? |
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Mount Wellington is a mountain behind the city of Hobart in Tasmania, Australia. The view from the top is magnificent. You get to see the whole of Hobart laid out on the banks of the Derwent River. In the other direction, you see the series of mountains stretching into the southwest of the island. And for bird watchers you have a chance of encountering the Forest Raven; the crow with the heaviest beak in Australia. The problem is, that do get there you have to follow a steep winding road that ascends the mountain, cutting across the cliff face the comprises the northern aspect of the mountain. There is no other way to the top. I drove up there is our big heavy Troopy (4-wheeled drive camper) and I have to say that the drive up wasn't too bad, you were on the lane that was closest to the mountain. Coming down, was the hard bit. To make it worse, Carmel was sitting on the left side of the Troopy where she could look almost straight down.
It was a fearful experience and required a lot of trust. You had to trust the road engineers who had put the road there in the first place, the geologists who surveyed the route and who understood the nature of the rock on which they were building the road, the car engineers who put the brakes and steering together in the Troopy to ensure that it went in the right direction and stopped when it should. I had to trust my doctor who had said that I was fit and responsive enough to hold a driver's licence.
Fear, was not just a case of being frightened, but of understanding the risks and ensuring proper preparation; of putting trust in that synergy of people and things that make such adventures possible. And the reward of that trust is a magnificent panoramic view.
Spiritual trust doesn't just come from reading about it, but from experiencing it. I could have read about the magnificent view from the summit of Mount Wellington, but that is not the same as experiencing it. To do that, I had to respect (fear) and trust and act on my understanding.
I am afraid I do not agree with today's lesson when it proposes that we should fear God because we were "children of wrath". The kind of fear the lesson is referring to is the fear we should have of sin - not of God. For it is sin that is going to destroy us, not God.
Because God's ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8,9), the words we use to describe God's ways are only a starting - or entry - point into a very different reality compared to the one we are used to associating with those words. From a functional perspective, when we fear something enough we give it our full attention. If you think about it, in the moment when strong fear is activated, absolutely nothing else matters to you. This should be sounding familiar to what we looked at yesterday regarding loving the Lord with all our heart, soul and strength: giving God first place in every aspect of our life and living so that nothing else matters in a way that would otherwise distract from full devotion to God (as per Matthew 10:37 principle).
And why do we do this? To satisfy God's 'ego'? Not at all. We do this for the very reason that is repeated so many times across the book of Deuteronomy: "that it may go/be well with you" or words to that effect (eg, Deuteronomy 5:33; 6:2,3,18,24). What does this mean? And is it referring to a self-centered motivation?
Ultimately, we (need to) give God our undivided focus because that is the only way life actually works - when we, the created, are fully surrendered to and therefore 'linked' with the Creator who alone is able to supply all our needs. He is our Creator God - we are His created people (this is the broadest and original Covenant). That is just how life works - and it is the only way life can work. Just as there is no other God, there is no other way of life apart from the one that God shares with us.
I also do not agree with the lessons suggestion that we should* love God because He has given us "freedom from the sin and condemnation of the past". With regard to why we love God, I would propose that we love God first and foremost because of who He is - not just because of what He has done for us. Don't get me wrong - I am eternally grateful beyond words for the salvation that Jesus has made available for me and for you. But that is not the foundation of why I love Him. If you think about it, as a parent would you want your children to love you because of what you have done for them - or would you desire that they just love you?
What do you think?
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* Approaching something from the position of 'should' is problematic. This is because if you are doing something because you 'should' and not because you freely and authentically 'choose to', you are doing it under coercion or sense of obligation. This is not at all healthy and consequently not how I believe God operates (eg see 2 Corinthians 9:7 principle). Use of 'need to' is better, though use of 'choose to' is best. If you find yourself doing something because you feel you should, you will do better by instead considering whether you choose to do it or not - and why. Be authentic in your choice - including accepting of the consequences of that choice.
Phil - Yes, faith, trust and love of God are a peculiar thing when man engages them. Could one not liken all of God's conversations with man to an 'information/instruction manual' - matter of fact, somewhat detached, but essential in that the Life-giver's information is vital for the success of the life-recipient's existence?
Is therefore not trust and faith in the Giver of all information pertaining to life not imperative before we can get started applying His information? If we do not trust, because we do not 'know' - like Abraham or Moses -, what could help us to 'know'? I think the only 'aspect' with the inherent power to do that is Faith! I think Faith and Love are twins born of the Father in Heaven and essential when applying life's information manual.
As you said so aptly: "we (need to) give God our undivided focus because that is the only way life actually works - when we, the created, are fully surrendered to and therefore 'linked' with the Creator who alone is able to supply all our needs."
You are correct Brigitte that faith/trust is absolutely vital and essential. How was it that Eve started to contemplate the suggestions of The Serpent in Genesis 3? She started to doubt that God was perhaps as trustworthy as she had intrinsically believed Him to be up until that point.
For me, healing of mistrust was a long and slow journey that God undertook with me. I am so glad he did. Now Proverbs 3:5,6 is my daily (or even more frequent) prayer - and I can personally relate to the 'sentiment' of Job 13:15a.
Phil - I appreciate your frankness! You make an interesting point stating that Eve, by her willingness to contemplate other options, already expressed her doubt; it was not after she listened and contemplated the serpent's suggestions, that she found cause to doubt the Word of God.
Therefore, one could consider even the slightest presence of 'doubt' to be 'faith's' greatest challenger after one's confession of faith in God.
Following this conclusion to its logical end, one can say that she 'stopped loving Him with all her heart' at that point; doubt had entered her heart.
I resisted the Holy Spirit to open my heart and mind for a good while, but I always considered myself to love God. I finally understood that the integrity of the Creator of heaven and Earth and His Son is unassailable, that only They deserve love, devotion and worship.
It is my great joy to follow my curious, devoted heart to seek still deeper understanding of the God which I love and think this to be your joy as well. Looked at spiritually and intellectually, the, in the process of sanctification immersed heart is actually motivated to know His Maker better; love begets love, understanding begets understanding, devotion begets devotion in this exchange of experiences.
This openness is not considered doubting; it is essential for being teachable by the Holy Spirit to receive all the Truth and Light our Creator has given us capacity for to know.
I am very happy that your love of God lead you to 'dig deeper' in His Word to support your love for Him and not to find reasons to doubt Him. Your dedication has become a blessing to me and others on the blog who read your comments.
The devoted seeker of God's revealed Truth and Light always finds himself blessed by His Love and eminent Wisdom!
Hi Brigitte
By way of clarification, I was not implying that Eve doubted prior to The Serpent's suggestions, but rather that she started contemplating those suggestions as they were being made in a way that awakened doubt within her. And the more she indulged and lingered with that form of contemplation, the more her doubt grew.
I agree with the rest of what you wrote - including that openness to seeking greater truth is not doubting but essential to being teachable. And God has promised that the more we seek Him, the more we find Him when we search with all our heart (Jeremiah 29:13). This process ongoingly grows us so that we continue desiring to seek more and find more and grow more ... and so on.
And thank you for your affirmation - I praise God from whom all blessing/s flow.
Phil - I appreciate your clarification, though would like for you to consider Paul's advise recorded in Phil.4:8-9. Does it not highlight how important it is to *proactively* guard our heart and mind, directing us to focus our mind on certain, life-supporting thoughts or behavior?
We know through hindsight the consequences of missing the mark; we cannot afford to stay ignorant about the importance to know 'for sure/inwardly' what is pleasing to God; inward 'knowing' is life-saving 'knowing'! By not taking 'uprightness/integrity' seriously enough, we are lead into the same snare that caught Eve.
Rom.12:1 - do we exclude the heart and mind from the body, do we only include the senses to guide our limbs, or do we need to consecrate the heart and mind first?
Did not Eve's willingness to retain an open mind set her up to invite doubt into her heart? Did this intellectually guided willingness not separate her heart and mind from the influence of the spirit of God?
Is it not revealing that the new nature God forms in us is less and less prone to be influenced/directed by impure desires, which lead to 'impure/contrary/self-directed thoughts', leading to impure actions? Can we now better understand why God placed 'consecrated, pure Love of Him' at the place of greatest importance; and why this fulfills all the law and the prophets?
I see today's Christian's greatest weakness exposed in its lukewarm commitment to consecrate him/herself spiritually, to know and so live the true Will of God: - 'allow your whole being to express your love for me and lean not on your own understanding'; love me not only by your will's obedience, but, from your humble, contrite heart seek forgiveness and uprightness through loving Me - Rev.2:4KJV.
Our heavenly Father answers our prayer, our hearts desire and forms by/through the spirit of His Love our new, born-again nature - 'naturally'!
Thank you Phil for your comment.
Can we genuinely and volitionally love someone we're afraid of?
I believe I know your answer but I'm curious what others think...
Phil, you wrote: "The kind of fear the lesson is referring to is the fear we should have of sin - not of God. For it is sin that is going to destroy us, not God."
I believe that if this were the case, wouldn't the Bible tell us in plain language? Yet again and again we are called to "fear God, and give glory to Him...". I have not yet found the passage that tells me to fear sin, or that "sin" will destroy me. Sin is "the transgression of the law", which is MY willful action. Sin is not an entity unto itself, and holds no power over any. We are either obedient to the will of God or sinners(soul that sins by transgressing the law/will of God).
So if what you propose is true about sin destroying us, then we destroy us by being sinners, since sin does not exist outside of souls who transgress the law of God. Yet none can destroy the soul but God who alone creates the living soul. Not even Satan has that power to exercise. Every soul that has died in this life, including suicide, will live again to receive their "reward", and Revelation 22:12 informs me that Jesus brings the reward "to give every man", not sin. The soul dies in the 2nd death, including the devil and his angels. The "fire" comes "down from God out of heaven"(Rev 20:9) which destroys all sinners(and thus, "sin") forever. God alone can end the soul He has made. No other possesses the authority. Yet, it is my sinful choice/action that leaves God no choice but to end the existence of my rebellious soul by the means He appoints if I don't "repent and believe" before probation closes(Eze 18:4). This is the sole responsibility of our Sovereign God/Creator, who's ways are "just and true".
I hope this makes sense as it is the best I can explain it at this time. And if I have misunderstood your meaning, help me to understand.
Hi Robert
I get what you are saying and the basis upon which you believe what you believe. And, no, you have not misunderstood my meaning.
"So if what you propose is true about sin destroying us, then we destroy us by being sinners, since sin does not exist outside of souls who transgress the law of God."
This is precisely what I believe. I see this view as in harmony with, for example, Romans 6:23 as a reflection of Galatians 6:7,8 and Romans 8:2. In both of these latter references, the Spirit is the causative source of life and something other than, outside of, apart from, alien to the Spirit is the causative source of death. Then too there are the depictions of God as the source of life while reference to Him as the source of death is absent (eg, John 1:4; 10:10; 14:6; James 1:17). God is metaphorically linked with light and light and life are linked (eg John 1:4; 8:12). This is in contrast with the metaphor of darkness - the absence of light/life - that characterises the Kingdom of Darkness. This is why I believe we are advised to fear God and give Him glory - because only in unison with Him is there life. If we are apart from that, we are no longer connected with life and therefore life is non-existent.
I agree with you that sin is not an entity - but it is a functional principle. While lawfulness promotes life, lawlessness promotes preclusion of life because life can only viably exist and continue where there is order that is produced by constants/law.
I find consistently that something can only exist when - and only when/while - the preconditions for its existence are fulfilled. When those preconditions are violated, existence is absent/precluded. Thus, I submit that God does not need to (and therefore does not) take life away, because life is (self-)precluded when the preconditions necessary for life are not fulfilled. Genesis 1:2 is an example of this in terms of its description of the pre-life state of earth: tohu and bohu (desolate, void of life).
In summary, I do not find/believe that God causatively ends a person's life - but that He gives people up/over to the inherent, consequences of lawlessness (this is how I understand Luke 12:5*). Apart from and outside of living in connection with God and His law/s that constitute order and therefore life, there is only tohu and bohu.
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* The word translated "to cast" in Luke 12:5 is derived from the root words em and ballo. Ballo encompasses throwing through to releasing. I do not find wider reference to God throwing people away within scripture, but I do find consistent reference to God releasing via giving people up to or over to (eg, Hosea 11:8; Romans 1:24,26,28 compared with Matthew 23:37).
Just as a living soul exists only by a deliberate act of God, a soul will not perish without a deliberate act from the One who created that soul. I believe the word of God is very clear on this. My choices decide what will happen to my soul, leaving God no option if I persist in sinning against His Sovereignty, His government, and purposes. As the righteous and just Sovereign, He must act to protect those who remain "blameless and harmless".
If God must "give people up/over", then God is acting isn't He? Are you aware of those laws that essentially blame a health professional for the death of someone they refuse/decline to help? If God brings a soul into existence, then stops sustaining it, for any reason, is that any different than "fire coming down from God out of heaven", as the bible plainly teaches?
Let me ask how you would interpret Num 16:23-35? Also, if sinning will destroy my soul, why would we have Gen 3:22-24 and Rev 20:7-9, 12-15?
This is correct. But what is that deliberate act? Sin/lawlessness inherently precludes life (as per Galatians 6:7,8). Consequently, God has been restraining (to various degrees at various times in various situations) those inherent consequences in order to make Salvation available to as many as possible whilst also allowing the manifestation of the nature and character of sin and the lawless one to be revealed so that the Great Controversy can be forever resolved beyond any shadow of doubt (2 Thessalonians 2:6-8). Thus, God's deliberate act is the varying of restraint or release of the inherent consequences of lawlessness. So from what I understand, yes, God is acting as you have said, but not in the specific manner you have said - as I discuss below.
This is not an equivalent analogy. God is not refusing or declining helping someone. He has been offering help - hence the restraining of inherent consequences He has been enacting so that there is space for the Spirit to strive with each person to non-coercively draw them to repentance (Romans 2:4). But, as you know, people are fundamentally free to refuse or decline God's offer of help. And when that is their genuine (heart's) choice, God respects their choice and their freedom to make that choice and therefore (reluctantly but definitively) releases them to that choice (as per the verses I listed in my previous comment).
I would interpret the verses you listed through this framework.
You are correct Phil, the analogy was not equivalent, as we are no way equivalent to God, Who is far greater than any creature could be, and thus, His obligation that much greater as the Author/Sustainer of all Life, yet the illustration is very appropriate isn't it? If man is to account for his responsibility to society, how much greater God's accountability who actually gives life to every soul?
So according to your "framework", how does the incident in Numbers 16:23-35 play out? God stops keeping the earth from opening up swallowing people? Does this mean the earth is a death-trap that God restrains until there is no hope for the wicked? So if this is true, WHO made the earth in this manner? Who gives the life, then stops sustaining/protecting it? It all comes back to God doesn't it? So if all knowing, why create the sinner in the first place?
Well He doesn't. God is Love and Life, and creates Life that He calls "good" according to His perfect standard. He is also Sovereign, which in a sinful,rebellious environment makes Him also sheriff, Judge, and executioner. I wouldn't trust anyone else, including me! The sinner, while created "perfect"(Eze 28:15) creates their own guilt and thus decides/determines their own eternal fate which God alone can accommodate(since even suicide does not destroy the soul). Would anyone want it any other way? The One who must destroy sin is the One who first did everything possible to save sinners, for which I am eternally grateful.
Even by your framework(if I understand it correctly), God remains Sovereign over every outcome, and those who know Him best will sing "just and true are thy ways" after all things are revealed.
I thought R.G. summed it up rather well, especially when stating "God's wrath is all Love".
In reply to Robert:
Robert, I do not believe that God has to do any "deliberate act" for a soul to perish, because, according to John 3:16, that is humanity's natural end. God, in Christ, intervened that we might *not* perish by accepting His gift of eternal life through the Gift of His Son.
However, since God chooses to be transparent in His dealings with sin and sinners, He has arranged for a judgment in which the condition of all hearts will be revealed, demonstrating that those who are allowed to perish would not be happy with eternal life in the presence of a holy God.
But on to your cited example of Numbers 16:23-35: This incident is one example in which God intervened in human history to excise an evil that threatened to spoil God's plans for this planet by putting the perpetrators to sleep until the judgment. And His method of doing so left no doubt in anyone's mind that it was God who did it, not a natural occurrence. (See particularly verses 29,30.) This incident and others like it do not contradict the fact that the destruction of sinners is not an arbitrary act of God but the natural result of their choice to separate themselves from the only Source of life.
What we call the "second death" is the final end of sinners that they have themselves chosen - eternal separation from God, which is eternal annihilation.
Inge, perhaps you could explain the meaning of "perish" used in John 3:16 as you would define it, since what I believe exactly fulfills what Jesus taught Nicodemus and others(see Mark 9:42-48, Matt 10:28; 25:41). We also find this taught through prophets and apostles, in perfect agreement with John 3:16. The wicked indeed will perish, and God has given us many views of that final day and His part in it as The Holy, Just and Good Sovereign, and not arbitrary at all. All creation will agree.
If unbelievers simply perish on their own, why did God intervene on many occasions and why does He describe a final punishment for all the wicked who ever lived including the devil and his angels(Rev 20, Matt 25, Dan 12, etc)? I also recommend the closing chapter of "The Great Controversy(1911)" (particularly pp 672,673)where there is a vivid description of what the Bible reveals, with many of those passages being quoted/cited.
Great Controversy pg 672-3
I realize the views long held on this are changing among us for reasons that I have yet to understand. God is love. His cleansing the universe from sin will happen, and He alone has the Sovereign power authority and love to do it justly. I have yet to learn of a convincing explanation of how "sin" does this apart from and without God. If sin has this power, where did sin get this power if God has made all things and Christ has been given "all power"? The ablest descriptions/explanations so far have failed to change the Word of God on this matter, and I find it strange that this conversation even has a life among us.
Sinning will eventually destroy your soul, indirectly, by hardening it beyond the capacity for true repentance (i.e. ruining it for all eternity), thus leaving God no option but to mercifully put you out of your misery.
Besides this, Robert, there is the little matter of making right everything that is wrong in this life. The universe cannot be made eternally secure unless this is done, and done with perfect thoroughness. Some of the lost will have to suffer more than others, under retributive justice. Those who, like Hitler, seek by taking their own lives to escape being brought to justice, will generally find that they have only made their case worse. Unlike human wrath, God's wrath is all love, but the vengeance left to Him is real nonetheless. If we downplay God's wrath, we inadvertently downplay the cross of Christ, where our Sin-bearer saw what justice meant.
Whom does Jesus say we should fear?
Berean Literal Bible Matt 10:28
And you should not be afraid of those killing the body but not being able to kill the soul. Indeed rather you should fear the One being able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
What does this mean to me? I believe it is asking what is more important to me - this physical, temporary life or eternal life with the LORD?
Also it is saying - Only the LORD gives or denies eternal life.
Jesus also said:
John 3:36. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not have eternal life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”
2Thess 1:9; John 17:2; Acts 17:31
Interesting responses for todays lesson. I agree specially with what Phil posted. But in the end what does it mean to show awe and respect? Awe and respect because He is God? That to me brings to my mind again the wrong kind of fear. How about we let Scripture tell us what it means to fear God and how it is the beginning of wisdom?
“11 ¶ Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 What man [is he that] desireth life, [and] loveth [many] days, that he may see good? 13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.” (Psalms 34:11-13 AV)
“The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” (Proverbs 8:13 AV)
“Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (Revelation 14:7 AV)
I do believe those verses clearly tells us that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom because we start to LOVE that which HE loves, hate that which He hates which of course is sin. That is how we give glory to Him! Acknowledging that His ways, His thoughts for sure are higher than ours.
I appreciated the thought you express in your last paragraph Daniel. It reflects the principle of 'by beholding we become changed - becoming like that which we behold' (2 Corinthians 3:18).
It would be interesting to know how the people of that age viewed the text. They couldn't just pull out their new testament and have a better understanding. I think it meant what it said respect My power, but I LOVE YOU! I have affection for you so you don't have to be afraid of that power. There just had to be more of an explanation from Moses that we aren't seeing.
How might I be feeling as a young child, with my parents standing with me, at the foot of a huge mountain and the top covered in clouds of lightning and hearing thunder and trumpeting? Then I hear The VOICE never heard before speaking to all of us assembled? I think all of us at that time would be in awe and fearful. Wasn't that the experience Moses was reviewing for these children about to enter the Promised Land? Their parents gone now due to their stubborn hard hearts.
Ephesians 2
The Message
He Tore Down the Wall
2 1-6 It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.
7-10 Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
tauheed - what an interesting, poignant translation! Will you please share by what name it is referred to? Thank you!
Tauheed has already given the source, “The Message”. It was written by Eugene H Peterson and is regarded as an idiomatic translation or paraphrase. It is not considered an exact or accurate translation but having said that, it is very readable because of its use of modern (North American) idiom. It is a very personal paraphrase by a church pastor. I like it for its readability , but I understand it’s limitations.
Maurice - Thank you for clarifying!
Sorry the Message paraphrase
What does it mean to fear God? The word fear in the Bible is played around with almost as much as the word work, obey, or command. I believe their are two, maybe three fears in the Bible.
1. To love without fear, He who is without fear has been made perfect in love. 1John 4:18. To be made perfect in love, is further explained in. Romans 13:8-10. I like to emphasize 'to be made', because we don't make ourselves perfect, we actually consent or choose, we let Christ righteousness, fused with the help of the Holy Spirit, take us into perfection. "Be ye perfect as your Father in heaven is also perfect". Matthew 5:28.
2. To fear God is to reverence God, worship God, love God, respect God, you get the drift. In this type of fear do I 'fear' my wife? Absolutly!
3? Now there is someone in the crowd who will say, what about, "with fear and trembling"? Philippians 2:12. Most likely the fear of #3 is the same as #2.
Now there is nothing wrong with fear of distruction turning us to God. As was pointed out earlier fear will turn to love for God if we choose to let Him work in our lives. Remember the Jonah story of last quarters lesson.
Jonah 3:4-5.
Yes I believe as you Shirley, the one to fear, the type fear of #1, is the evil one, the deceiver, Satan.
There is hope though, listen to what our lady, this Christian lady if you prefer says, mind you with Bible texts.
"By His humanity, Christ touched humanity; by His divinity, He lays hold upon the throne of God. As the Son of man, He gave us an example of obedience; as the Son of God, He gives us power to obey. It was Christ who from the bush on Mount Horeb spoke to Moses saying, "I AM THAT I AM.... Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." Exodus 3:14. This was the pledge of Israel's deliverance. So when He came "in the likeness of men," He declared Himself the I AM. The Child of Bethlehem, the meek and lowly Saviour, is God "manifest in the flesh." 1 Timothy 3:16. And to us He says: "I AM the Good Shepherd." "I AM the living Bread." "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life." "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." John 10:11; 6:51; 14:6; Matthew 28:18. I AM the assurance of every promise. I AM; be not afraid. "God with us" is the surety of our deliverance from sin, the assurance of our power to obey the law of heaven." Desire of Ages page 24.3.
Desire of Ages
What does the power to obey mean? I do believe it means the power to over come the fear of the evil one.
In closing, I desire, I choose, I willing have been made to love, and willingly follow the Good Shepard, yes with fear.
Matthew 5:48. Be ye perfect.
Hi Brother Phil,
The lesson is right for
"we should fear God because we were "children of wrath".We are sinners and sin doesn't go with God for He is holy. Imagine a sinner like you approaching before God as"child of wrath".There got to be fear. And that is why we must adore and serve Him.
2) "that we should love God because He has given us "freedom". Again that's correct for we have freedom to go to Holy God to intercede for ourselves and for others, freedom to know that because of Jesus death we can be sure He will answer etc. Don't take the word freedom out of its context in this special circumstance.we are no more in slavery but in freedom.
Peace!
Ernst -
As it regards Eph.2:2-6 with focus on 'children of wrath' - would you please explain why "we should fear God because we were "children of wrath", to help me understand your statement better?
Thank you!
Hi Ernst
I can appreciate and respect if that is your experience of approaching God. And if that works for you, then I would not take that away from you.
For me, I do not fear approaching God - even with Him seeing absolutely all my faults and failings. Why do I no longer fear God in this way? 1 John 4:18 has become a reality to me with respect to how I now see God.
With regard to what I was saying about loving God, it is absolutely true that God/Jesus has given me freedom from slavery. But my basis for loving God is because of who He is, not just what He has done for me. I do things for my (adult) children - but I do not want them to love me because I do those things for them. Love is the mutual bond I would desire to share in with them - but only if they too likewise desire to share in that with me.
The Question, “What is Love” or the essence of Love, has been asked many times this week. I think Dennis Prager does an excellent job of defining God’s Love in his Commentary on Exodus. In Ex 33-34 Moses says that God knows my (Moses) name (character) but I do not know you. It may be helpful to review the full exchange to reflect on the context:
Moses and the Glory of the Lord
12 Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”
14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”
18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”
The New Stone Tablets
34 The Lord said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. 2 Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai. Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. 3 No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain; not even the flocks and herds may graze in front of the mountain.”
4 So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. 5 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
8 Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped.
Prager commentary on Ex 33:19, “As beautiful as love can be, it is, in fact amoral. Love is moral depending on what or whom one loves, and how one expresses it. Vast numbers of people have loved bad individuals- think of the millions who have loved Hitler, Stalin, and other murderous tyrants……
On the other hand, while many who feel loving do bad things, good people, by definition, do good—whether or not they happen to have loving feelings.
That God chooses to define Himself as good constitutes one of the most important statements in the Bible. God does not say, “ I will make my love pass before you. “ In fact, the expression, “ God is Love “, is not found in the Hebrew Bible.
While love can ( and should ) mean loving action, it is usually understood to mean a feeling. Goodness on the other hand, is always associated with action. And the Torah is first and foremost concerned with how humans act, not how we feel. Whether or not we love others, what matters most is whether or not we do good for them.”
God is Good.
'When you say you love God, see to it that you love Him with all your heart'! Can we say we love someone if we only love him/her a little or 'be devoted' only sometimes?
I see myself as a swimmer with the capacities of a 'fish'. Instead of needing to swim on the surface of the waters, I am now fully immersed in the waters of faith and love - everything has changed. How about inviting everyone to share this existence/environment of faith and love with you?
I see what is being expressed in Deut.10:12 as the need for integrity! If we surrender only part of ourselves, if our senses, motives, and aspirations are not in line with a loving disposition toward God, can we still say that we love God?
I see - 'trust God, love Him with all your heart' - to mean: Love Him unreservedly - with integrity - holding nothing back, setting nothing aside or exclude for a later surrender to the influence of the Holy Spirit, but rather be willing to give all to be changed into the reflection of the Image of the One we say that we love!
Rev.3:15-17KJV - "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth."
Is this explicit enough to let the faithful know how important it is to fully immerse themselves into the Faith of Christ, to trust Him explicitly, to love Him with all their being - wholeheartedly?
James1:6-8 - "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." v.8: "A double minded man [having a divided heart] is unstable in all his ways.
Does this not show how important it is to exercise full faith, to fully trust/love God as we walk with Him on the Way He designed for us to follow?
Mom and I went to a human body exhibit . These were cadavers who went through a process that replaces the body’s water and fat with reactive plastics. So these human body specimens , stripped of flesh and in real life positions like playing tennis or doing back bends , look real! So fascinating! I was awestruck right away by all the elastic tendons and ligaments stretching everywhere to give a body movement. By the length of the intestines stretched out! By the intricacy of the hand.
As I walked around I started to feel lightheaded. I left the exhibit to get some water and returned. Within moments I needed to sit and put my head between my legs to avoid fainting. I noticed one other teen boy in there reacting as I was . My brain was saying “these are dead specimens, no one is hurt, continue on” but my subconscious was reacting to all the “open” bodies around me. To know all that was going on in my own body at that very moment was “fearful” in an awestruck way! (Plus it was hot in there with all the halogen lights.)
This makes me think of the psalm “I will praise God for I’m fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalms 139:14) And also “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). Wisdom and fear seem to be closely connected. As I gained wisdom and knowledge about the reality of my human body, I felt dumbstruck. When I remember what I learned in that exhibit , I care for my body more. Just so, the more I know Jesus through His Word, the more I visualize the Jesus of the gospels, with all my mind heart soul strength, the more I feel an awe much like fear and the more I care.
To fear is to reverence, to love is to prefer above self. These two terms fear and love go together when it comes to recognizing Authority, Sovereignty, and judgment.
I realize that to some this sounds stark and perhaps void of feelings and affection. However, God is asking sinners to fear and love Him, not those who already do. There is a different understanding at the opposite ends of the spectrum of experience isn't there? If you have ever visited a large city with tall buildings, you may have noticed that the view from the lobby level is very different than the view from the observation deck of the city's tallest building.
For another example, two people meet at a restaurant, one having never been there or tried that particular cuisine. One excitedly recommends a specific menu item which the other agrees to with curiosity and even hesitance. Perhaps you have experienced this yourself from either or both perspectives. Until you taste what you've never tasted, you can't get excited over it like the one who has tasted.
So it is with fear and love towards God. Realize that someone with a different experience will also have a different opinion on today's topic.