Part II

By Milburn Cockrell

MATERIAL BLESSINGS

            First, those who fear God shall not want any good thing: “O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing” (Ps. 34:9-10). The Lord may not grant our every wish, but He will supply our necessities (Ps. 37:25; Isa. 33:16; 41:17-18; 43:19-20).

            Second, godly fear makes us content with a little portion of this world: “Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith” (Prov. 15:16). If a Christian has little of this world, it is not because of a lack of God’s love and care, but because God knows more would be a temptation and a snare to our soul (Luke 12:15). “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right” (Prov. 16:8; cf. Ps. 37:16).

            Third, wealth and riches are promised to them who fear God: “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honour, and life” (Prov. 22:4). Uprightness is often the road to success. A man who fears God will not be drawn aside by the deceitfulness of riches. “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD” (Ps. 128:1-4).

            Fourth, the God-fearer enjoys angelic protection: “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them” (Ps. 34:7). The angels of Heaven encompass a saint as with army tents and many soldiers (Gen. 32:1-2; Luke 2:13). Oh, to have the armies of Heaven at our disposal. We owe many deliverances to these unseen friends (Heb. 1:14). Twelve legions of angels are ready to come to our aid.

            Fifth, godly fear extends the length of a man’s days on earth: “The fear of the LORD prolongeth days. . .” (Prov. 10:27). Some people would give all the money in their hands to a doctor who could write a prescription to lengthen their days when at the gates of death. But here is a proven prescription from the great Physician without money for long life. An excess of sin shortens a man’s days. “. . .bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee” (Ps. 55:23).

            Sixth, the Bible tells us it shall be well with them that fear God: “. . .surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him” (Eccl. 8:12). Those who reverence God and respect His authority are under the conduct of Divine Providence. This is true even in adversity (Isa. 43:2; Rom. 8:28). The son of the Shunamite woman was at the gate of death. When asked by the Prophet Elisha about her husband and son she replied: “It is well” (II Kings 4:26). The God-fearer can say of Jesus Christ: “He hath done all things well” (Mark 7:37).

SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS PROMISED

            First, God has a special delight in the person who fears His name: “The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy” (Ps. 147:11). God highly approves of the fear which is of Himself. It is one of the marvels of divine grace that God takes pleasure in insignificant houses of clay whose foundation is in the dust. But we know from this Scripture He values them who fear Him above all the men of the world. They are so valuable to Him that He chose them, Christ purchased them with His blood, and the Holy Spirit effectually called them. They are His Hepzibah in whom He greatly delights. “For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people” (Ps. 149:4).

            Second, they have been received by God: “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Acts 10:34-35). The fear of God and the working of righteousness are not the ground of their acceptance, but these are descriptive of the persons accepted by God in Christ. By these fruits and evidences such persons may be assured they have had an experience of grace. This verse does not prove the knowledge of the gospel is not necessary to the salvation of the heathen as some teach. No man is saved by his righteous works (Tit. 3:5). He can only be saved by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.

            Third, those who fear God enjoy the pity of God: “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD piteth them that fear him” (Ps. 103:13). An earthly father pities his children who are weak in knowledge, and he instructs them in truth. When they fall he lifts them up. He forgives them when they do wrong and repent of it. So does God the Father. “I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD” (Jer. 31:18-20).

            Oh, the parental heart and affections of God! Isaiah 63:9 declares: “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.” Our Lord taught: “If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:11-13). God graciously gives and forgives because He is our “Father who art in heaven” (Matt. 6:9; cf. Mal. 3:17; Luke 15:20). James tells us: “. . .the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy” (Jas. 5:11).

            Fourth, if a man has a holy dread of God, his prayers will be heard by God: “He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them” (Ps. 145:19). The Lord will grant the petitions of those who respect His name and will. He grants a willing audience to those who approach His throne in humble prayer. He hears those who cry day and night unto Him, and He delivers them out of all their troubles, tribulations, temptations, and trials. At His second coming He will deliver us from this body of death.

Fifth, they have the secrets of the heart of God revealed to them: “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant” (Ps. 25:14). The great secret of all truth is hidden in God (Deut. 29:29). But He is pleased to disclose some of these to men who fear Him as did Daniel and John. God reveals to all His elect the secrets of His everlasting love and gracious design toward them. He causes them to make their calling and election sure, and He brings them to see they have an interest in His covenant of grace.

Sixth, God has those who respect His law and Word in everlasting remembrance: “Then they that fear the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name” (Mal. 3:16). “. . .the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance” (Ps. 112:6). God does not need a book to remind Him of things as we do. The expression in Malachi 3:16 indicates His affection and promises are kept in remembrance as if they were written in a book. He remembers we are but sinful dust and ashes, and then He remembers His mercy toward us. He remembers our services, and He will reward us on the great day.

Seventh, they are objects of everlasting mercy: “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him. . .” (Ps. 103:17). “And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation” (Luke 1:50). The God-fearer is a vessel of mercy afore prepared unto glory. They are objects of everlasting mercy from predestination in eternity past to glorification at the coming of Christ. The mercy of God is perpetually the same to His true worshippers.

Eight, great goodness is laid up for those who have a filial fear of God: “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!” (Ps. 31:19). A father does not give his sons their portion when they are too young to enjoy it. Even so it is with God. There are many good things which God has laid up in the covenant we are not able to bear in our present state of spiritual growth. When we have grown to maturity and know how to appreciate these finer things laid up, the celestial treasures will be bestowed upon us.

NATURAL MAN HAS NO FEAR OF GOD

            No man is born with the son-like fear of God in his heart. Man’s depraved nature is destitute of it. Romans 3:18 says: “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” The natural man has not that reverential fear of God that is the beginning of wisdom, which is connected with departing from evil and obeying the Holy One. They have no regard for His authority, His majesty,  His threat, nor His wrath.

            Though God sends trouble a plenty upon these graceless men, it does not convert them.  “Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God” (Ps. 55:19; cf. Rev. 9:20-21). Though trouble and trials come, they experience no moral change or reformation. They go on in their wicked course. Nothing seems to awaken any dread of the judgment of God. They cannot have the fear of God in their hearts until God gives them a new heart and a new spirit (Ezek. 36:26-27).

            The Bible describes a number of people who have no fear of God before their eyes. First, the proud man is void of this grace: “Be not high minded, but fear” (Rom. 11:20). High mindedness and the fear of God do not mix, for where the fear of God exists a man has a low opinion of himself. “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (Jas. 4:6; I Pet. 5:5).

            Second, the covetous person is without the fear of God. The Holy Writ sets covetousness and the fear of God in opposition. Exodus 18:21 says: “Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.” Those who believe there is a God believe they are accountable to Him, and they stand in awe of Him. A covetous man’s eye is not on God, but on earthly things (Ezek. 33:31; Eph. 5:5).

            Third, the glutton has no fear of God, for Jude describes them as “without fear” (Jude 12). A glutton feeds himself, not others. He feeds his body, not his soul. He has no fear of God’s presence or judgment (Ex. 18:12; Num. 11:32-33). Proverbs 23:2 says: “And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.”

          Fourth, a liar has no dread of the God of truth: “And of whom has thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?” (Isa. 57:11). The fear of God and a lying tongue cannot abide in the same breast. There may be many different kinds of liars, but none of them fear the God who cannot lie.

            Fifth, there is no fear of God in those people who call upon God only when they get into trouble. Moses told Pharoah: “As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD’s. But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God” (Ex. 9:29-30). Like the King of Egypt, many ask God for help only when they get into trouble. Then when they are delivered, they return to their former rebellion. Many cry to God in sickness, but when He restores their health, they return to the service of Satan. Such things prove there is no fear of God in the heart.

            Sixth, there is no dread of the wrath of God in those who persecute God’s people: “Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God” (Deut. 25:17-18). Amalek’s attack upon Israel was unprovoked and cowardly, for it was upon the feeble and faint. It was a defiance against the God of Israel of whom the Amalekites had heard. The fear of God alone can restrain from cruel persecution. When this is cast off, there is no regard for man.

            Seventh, there is no fear of the Lord when God’s punishment of sinners is witnessed and men take no warning: “And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also” (Jer. 3:8; cf. 2:19). Judah saw how sin brought about the ruin of Israel. Instead of avoiding the sin of apostasy, Judah did the same. If Judah had feared God, she would have trembled at the judgment of her sister; she would not have gone a whoring from God.

            Eighth, men are void of the fear of God in the heart when they can see a nation wallowing in sin and not be humbled at the sight of it. “Have ye forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wicknedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they have committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem? They are not humbled even unto this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers” (Jer. 44:9-10). Those who do not walk in the law of God show by their actions they are destitute of the fear of God.

            Ninth, sorcerers, adulterers, false swearers, and employee oppressors have no fear of God: “And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts” (Mal. 3:5). No reverence for God is the source of all kinds of sins. Those who “fear not God” have no regard for man (Luke 18:4). Atheists are not, as a rule, humanitarians.

            Tenth, there is no fear of God in those who offer lip-service instead of heart-worship: “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men” (Isa. 29:13). These people had not abandoned public worship, nor had they relinquished religious ordinances; they observed them. Their worship was formal and full of hypocrisy. They merely followed human direction. There was no spontaneous uprising of a heart inspired with the fear and love of God (Ezek. 33:31; Matt. 15:9-10). Such worship is unacceptable and unsuccessful.

JUDGMENT ON THOSE VOID OF FILIAL FEAR

            First, the man who is without the fear of God has less sense than brute beasts. The beasts of the field have enough sense to fear man: “And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered” (Gen. 9:2). All creatures fear man, but man has no fear of God. A dumb dog or a muddy hog has more sense than a man who has no dread of God. Animals observe the law of creation better than they.

            Second, those empty of the fear of God have many things to fear (Eccl. 12:5). It is written in Isaiah 66:4: “I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not” (Isa. 66:4). God will turn them over to their enemies. He will  make their sin their punishment. Their worst fears shall come upon them.

            Third, the Lord will laugh when their worse fears come upon them: “I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD” (Prov. 1:26-29).

            These are fearful words indeed. Those who do not choose the fear of the Lord shall experience the fears of an ever-burning Hell. God will forsake you in your worse fears, and He will exercise sovereign justice without mercy upon you. Oh, the misery of a deserted soul! “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). The Lord says: “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste” (Deut. 32:35). Jesus Christ said: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28).

CONCLUSION

            1. It is our solemn duty to “pass the time of” our “sojourning here in fear” of God (I Pet. 1:17; cf. 3:2, 15). “And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great” (Rev. 19:5). It is written in Proverbs 23:17: “Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.” There is no time a believer is not to fear God. This holy fear will banish from our minds being envious of sinners.

            2. There is no greater blessing than to have God put His fear into your heart. This is a covenant blessing: “. . .but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me” (Jer. 32:40). This grace will keep from total and final apostasy.

            3. Hypocrites take warning! A pretended religion is no religion at all. “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness has surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” (Isa. 33:14). A man devoid of the fear of God is going to be left to the wiles of the Devil and the damnation of Hell. “They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee” (Micah 7:17).