Matt's Messages - Fear God?

"Fear God?"
May 29, 2005
Exodus 20:18-21

Exodus chapters 19 and 20 tell the story of the giving of the Law–the giving of the Ten Commandments. As we’ve seen, in chapter 19, the LORD (YHWH) descended upon Mount Sinai in the sight of the people of Israel who were camped at the base of the mountain. And He descended in burning holiness!

"[T]here was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him." (Exodus 16-19)

And what the voice of God said was the Ten Commandments. Chapter 20, verses 1 through 17 are the Ten Commandments, or the Ten Words of God. Verse 1 says, "And God spoke all these words..." And what follows are the Ten Commandments that we have studied together over the last two weeks.

And then what happened? Do you know? Most of the time, we think of this as the end of the story. Moses in the Bullrushes, Burning Bush, Ten Plagues, Passover, Red Sea Rescue, Manna and Quail, Water from the Rock, and the Giving of the Law. End of the story, at least until Exodus chapter 32 and the "golden calf" rebellion. But it’s not the end of the story. What happened immediately after the giving the Ten Commandments? How did the people of Israel respond?

Exodus chapter 20, verses 18 through 21. Today’s verses (18, 19, 20, and 21) tell the story of how the people of Israel responded to the voice of God thundering His words to them from the Mountain on Fire. And it can be summed up in one word–FEAR.

The people of Israel feared God.

And here’s our question for today: Was that fear [of God] a good thing or a bad thing?

Let’s read the Bible and see. Exodus chapter 20, verses 18 through 21.

"When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.’ Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.’ The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was." (NIV)

The appearance and speaking of God was too much for the people of Israel. V.1

"When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear."

They were quaking in their boots. This was like nothing else.

Remember, these people had seen miracles. They had seen the waters of the Nile turned to blood. They had seen plague after plague hit Egypt. Hail-bombing that decimated everything. A darkness that you could feel. They had seen God’s creational warfare at work. They had see a pillar of fire at nighttime. They had seen walls of water stand up like a heap. They had seen an entire army of Egyptians wiped out by a divine tsunami.

And none of that had prepared them for this.

On Thursday night, Heather, her brother and sister-in-law and I went out to eat and went to see the last Star Wars movie. I was pretty impressed, especially with how they tied these last three movies into the originals. And the special effects were pretty amazing. It was pretty gory, though. I could see why it had been given a PG13 rating this time around. I won’t be watching it again any time soon.

At the very end, there is a planet that is almost completely made of burning lava. And sitting in your seat in the theater, you can almost feel how hot it is, and how scarey.

But it’s all pretend. When the credits begin to roll, and John Williams’ familiar theme song comes on again, the lights come up in the theater, and you walk out into the fresh air.

But Exodus chapter 20 really happened. The mountain was on fire! There was an unexplained trumpet sound blaring through the darkness. There was a storm raging away at the top of the mountain, thunder and lightning–literally: flashes or fireballs. And an earthquake. The mountain trembled violently.

And so did the people of Israel. V.18 says "[T]hey trembled with fear."

It was too much for them. Nothing they had seen had prepared them for this. And they were afraid.

They were so afraid that they begged for a mediator. V.18 again.

"They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.’"

It was the voice of God that scared them the most.

"Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or [it seems like] we will die."

The people of Israel had a fear of God. Was that a good thing or a bad thing?

What do you think the answer is?

Yes, it’s a trick question. The answer, found in verse 20, is both. It is both a good thing and bad thing to fear God.

There is a wrong way to fear God and right way to fear God. And they are both found in verse 20.

"Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.’"

Do not be afraid. God has come...so that the fear of God will be with you.
Do Not Fear God. And Fear God.

Point #1. DO NOT FEAR GOD.

Moses says, "Do not be afraid." And he means it.

"Do not be afraid." Do not fear God.

Why?

Let me put it this way. Perfect Love Is Here.

Don’t be afraid because perfect love is here.

The God Who is so scarey, Who is so holy that the mountain burns with His presence, this God, has come out of love for His people.

Moses reassures the people of Israel. He tells them to not be terrorized by God’s presence because God is here for their good.

God has "shown up" out of love for His people.

Perfect love has come onto the scene.

God has not come in wrath against His enemies. God has come to bless His people.

Yes, He is scarey. No, He is not tame. But He is good. And He is loving. And He is here for His people.

Moses says, "Do not be afraid. God has come [...for you, for your benefit, for your good, out of love." Perfect love is here.

The apostle John writes in 1 John 4:18, "[P]erfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment."

God is here. But He is not here to punish. He is here to love. Perfect love is here. And this kind of "terrorized fear" must go.

And more than that: Your Mediator Is Here.

They ask for mediator. And they get one in Moses. He will go up again (v.21) into the "thick darkness where God was."

Moses will mediate between Israel and YHWH.

Perfect love is here. And your mediator is here.

Do not be afraid.

And if that was true for Israel, how much more is it true for the New Covenant people of God?!

If Israel was to not be afraid in this way, how much more should we not fear God ourselves?!

Because perfect love and our mediator are the same person!

God the Son is our mediator. And He is here. Do not be afraid.

If you belong to Jesus Christ by faith in Him, you need have no terrorizing fear of God.

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
There is no coming wrath for those who trust to the Savior.
God is not against you, if you are in Christ.

God is for you. He is here for you as perfect love.

There is now one mediator between God and man–the man Christ Jesus.

Do not fear God!

Though you and I are a great sinners and deserve the unbridled wrath of God for our rebellion against His holy name, we need not fear His justice.

His just wrath has fallen on Christ.

Do not fear God!

If you do not belong to Jesus Christ right now, He is inviting you to trust Him today. You need not fear the wrath of God. Perfect love is here. And He can drive out all fear.

Trust in Jesus Christ as your Rescuer and your King today. And you need not fear God.

There is a kind of fear of God that we who are God’s people should not feel. Even in the face of the utter holiness of God, we need not fear.

"‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved."

Don’t be afraid.

Application? Don’t run from God.

There is a kind of fear of God that is unnecessary for those who belong to Jesus. In fact, it is wrong for us to have. It’s the kind of fear that causes us to run from God. To treat Him as if He has not rescued us and does not have our best interests in mind. To run from God like He is some kind of an ogre, a beast, a monster–out to get us. To be scared of Him with a servile, untrusting, terrorized, tormented, scared fear.

We all do it sometimes. Maybe you are doing it today even as you sit in church. Maybe right now you feel like God is against you, just waiting to pounce on you, just wanting to drive you into the ground. You don’t believe that He is for you in Christ. So, you are running. We all know someone who is running from God in fear.

But we who belong to God through Jesus Christ don’t need to run away. We don’t need to even keep our distance. We don’t need to fear God in this way.

Don’t be afraid. Don’t run away.

But, Point #2. FEAR GOD.

There is a wrong kind of fear for God’s people. But there is a right kind of fear, as well.

The Proverbs say, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." (1:7, 9:10)

There is a good kind of fear of God that we need to feel. And it’s also in verse 20.

"Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.’"

God has come to test them so that they would have "the fear of God" in them. [Same exact word in Hebrew.]

It is desirable for the fear of God to be with you, in you, characterize you.

God wants "God-fearing people!" It’s His aim.

Fear God.

Why is this kind of fear of God good?

Here are three reasons:

First, this Kind of "Fear of God" Will Keep You from Rebellion. V.20 again.

"Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.’"

If you have this good kind of fear in you, it keeps you from sinning. It keeps you from rebelling. It keeps you on the right path.

That’s why the fear of the YHWH is the beginning of wisdom. When you fear God in this way, you want to know and do what is right.

When you have a great and grand vision of God in your heart, you want to know and do what is right. You want to live your life to please Him. When you are awed with God, sin doesn’t hold the attractive lure that it once did.

That’s one reason why God had come down onto the mountain. Moses says, "God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.’"

That doesn’t mean to give you a test. It means to prove you, to show something to you, to give you a taste, an experience that will shape you. The New Living Translation paraphrases it like this. Exodus 20:20, "‘Don't be afraid,’ Moses said, ‘for God has come in this way to show you his awesome power. From now on, let your fear of him keep you from sinning!’"

This Kind of "Fear of God" Will Keep You from Rebellion.

Second, this Kind of Fear of God Is Right and Appropriate!

Turn with me to the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 5. Pew Bible Page #177. Deuteronomy chapter 5. This is the retelling of this same story at the end of the Wilderness Wanderings.

Moses is telling the story to the children of those who were there at Mount Sinai.

Look down at verse 23. Deuteronomy 5:23:

"When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with fire, all the leading men of your tribes and your elders came to me. And you said, ‘The LORD our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a man can live even if God speaks with him. But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us, and we will die if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer. For what mortal man has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived? Go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says. Then tell us whatever the LORD our God tells you. We will listen and obey.’ [Please be our mediator! V.28] The LORD heard you when you spoke to me and the LORD said to me, ‘I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good[!]. It is good, and right, and appropriate to fear God this way. V.29] Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever! ‘Go, tell them to return to their tents. But you stay here with me so that I may give you all the commands, decrees and laws you are to teach them to follow in the land I am giving them to possess.’ So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess."

The LORD proclaimed that "Everything [Israel] said was good[!]" It is good and right and appropriate to fear God this way.

Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear God always!

God is worthy of our fear! God is worthy of our awe. God is worthy of our reverence. God is worthy of our service. God is worthy of our obedience. God is worthy of our trembling in His presence.

He is the God whose theophany–that’s a big word that means appearance of God whose theophany–scorches the mountain with incendiary holiness!

It is good and right and appropriate to fear this God.

And Third, this Kind of "Fear of God" Brings Good to Those Who Practice It.

Listen to this proverb: "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death." That’s Proverbs 14:27. "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death."

A fountain of life. Doesn’t that sound good?

Listen to Psalm 31, verse 19. "How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you."

Stored up goodness for those who fear Him.

Are you still with me at Deuteronomy chapter 5? Keep your Bibles open to Deuteronomy 5. Look at verse 29 again.

"Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!"

The right kind of fear of God brings good to those who practice it.

So, yes, fear God.

What does the right kind of fearing God look like?

I have defined the fear of God before as "a healthy heart before a holy God."
It’s having the right kind of response to the awesome holiness of God. It’s an awe-filled reverence for Who God is and a healthy caution in dealing to o flippantly with Him.

A healthy heart before a holy God.

It is respecting God as the God Who He really is.

It is treating God as God.

It means at least three things.

Application: First, Worship Your God.

Remember Hebrews chapter 12? We keep coming back to it because it is the best passage on the comparison between Mount Sinai and the Old Covenant and the Mount Zion and the New Covenant.

"We have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: ‘If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.’ The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, ‘I am trembling with fear.’ But [we] have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. [We] have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. [We] have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." (Hebrews 12:18-24)

And then it ends by saying, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:28)

The King James says, "worship God...with reverence and holy fear."

We are not to take God lightly! We are to worship Him with reverence and holy fear.
When you come to church on Sunday, are you coming in the fear of God?

Do you come to meet with the holy God in worship?

Or do you just come to put in your time and make your appearance?

Do you want to worship God in such a way that you are kept from sinful rebellion the rest of the week? Do you want to worship God in such a way that is fitting and proper and in accordance with His awesome power and holiness and glory? Do you want to worship God in such a way that you experience the "fountain of life" and the "storehouse of good" that He has prepared for those who fear Him?

Or do you just go through the motions?

Fear God! Worship Your God.

Secondly, Wash Your Heart.

Listen to 2 Corinthians chapter 7, verse 1.

"Since we have these promises, dear friends, [He’s talking about God’s promise to be our God; Since we have these promises, dear friends,] let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence [literally fear] for God."

Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of the fear of God.

Fearing God means searching our hearts and rooting out all known sin. It means perfecting holiness. It means cooperating with God’s perfection process in us. It means "working out [our] salvation with fear and trembling."

Are you hiding something?

Are you harboring something?

Are you holding something back?

Exodus 20:20, "Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."

Do you want to keep from sinning?

Or are you holding on to some known sin?

Fearing God means rooting out all known sin. Confessing it. Repenting of it. Killing it. No matter how many times it rears its ugly head.

Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of the fear of God.

Fear God! Wash Your Heart.

And thirdly (and last), Walk In His Ways.

Still open at Deuteronomy chapter 5? Look again at v.29.

"Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever! ‘Go, tell them to return to their tents. But you stay here with me so that I may give you all the commands, decrees and laws you are to teach them to follow in the land I am giving them to possess.’ So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess."

Walk In His Ways.

Fearing God means knowing what God wants and acting on it. It is the beginning of wisdom.

1 Peter 1:17 says, "live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear."

Live your lives in reverent fear. Walk in God’s ways.

Live your life before God as if God was God!

I remember once a lady who came to the church looking for some financial assistance.

She had a flea-infested mattress and was wondering if we could help her to get a new clean one. I think we did help her, if I remember right.

But while I was talking with her, she was from out near West Decatur somewhere, I asked her if she belonged to a church.

Her answer betrayed the absence of the fear of God. She said to me, "Oh, I worship God in my own way. I read the Bible at home and pray every day. I worship God in my own way."

And I remember saying to her, "Don’t you think that God wants to be worshiped in His own way?"

Don’t we do that, too?

God says to do such and so forth. But we have better ideas, namely our own?

The fear of God leads us to walk in His ways.

What are the ways of God that He is calling you to walk in right now?

Often the way of God is painful but good.

I have a friend right now that is going through a painful ordeal. And the ways of God for him right now mean doing some painful, risk-taking loving things. And it really does hurt.

But I know that God has a storehouse of goodness for him because he is fearing God and walking in God’s way.

I know that there is fountain of life that is gushing goodness for my friend even though it doesn’t feel like it right now.

I know that God is glorified because my friend is walking in God’s ways. He is being a God-fearing man. And I’m proud of him.

Are you walking in God’s ways? Or have you come up with a better idea?

Fear God. Worship Your God. Wash Your Heart. And Walk in His Ways.

No, Do Not Fear God as if He wasn’t for you through Christ.

But Yes, Fear God because it is right and good for you and will keep you from sinful rebellion, and glorify His holy name.

Fear God.

NOTE TO READERS: One of the best books I've read (and re-read) on the subject of the "fear of God" is Jerry Bridge's The Joy of Fearing God. It really makes the concept clear and understandable while also applying it to life with helpful illustrations.