064. Chapter 59: The Fear of God
------------ CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE ------------ The Fear of God
Love toward God (which we have discussed), engenders the fear of God -- which we shall now consider. Love and fear are conjoined in Deuteronomy 10:12 : "And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him." The Word Fear Defined
Fear is either expressive of reverence or terror. Fear as terror is generally expressed by the Hebrew words magor, and pachadh, and by the Greek word phobos. Fear as being reverence is denominated in Hebrew as yirah, and in Greek as eulabeia. However, these words are occasionally also used without this distinction. [Note: The sentence which follows here in the Dutch version is only applicable to the Dutch language and has therefore not been translated. This Dutch sentence reads as follows: Wij noemen vrezen ook vruchten, afkomstig van het Hoogduitsch; op zich zelf wordt het nu zelden gebruikt, maar wel in samenvoeging in het woord godvruchtig, ’t welk hetzelfde is als godvreezend.]
Fear issues forth from love -- either for ourselves or for God. Self-love engenders fear when something occurs which could deprive us of something good or whereby some evil could befall us. We fear deprivation, or the evil itself, and whatever or whoever would deprive us of that which is good or whereby evil could be inflicted upon us. God has created self-love in man and wills that we make use of it. The law requires that we love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). It is therefore not sinful to fear deprivation and evil. This fear was inherent in Adam‘s nature prior to the fall, even though there was no occasion for this fear to arise in him. The Lord Jesus also had such fear (cf. Matthew 26:37; Hebrews 5:7). One may indeed be fearful of death and other discomforts, and thus also of wild animals and evil men. This fear becomes evil, however, if it begets the use of evil means -- either to preserve or acquire that which is good, or to avoid evil. This is true if we fear man more than God and, in neglecting both the fear of God and obedience toward His commandments, we seek to get man on our side in sinful ways. We then give no heed as to whether we displease God; as long as we can please men in order that they will do us no evil, but good. "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" (Matthew 10:28).
Since we must have love for ourselves, and fear issues forth therefrom, we must have more fear for evil which relates to the soul than to the body. Since, the soul‘s well or woe is dependent upon God, we must be fearful out of love for our own salvation, and must fear God‘s wrath and judgments. "My flesh trembleth for fear of Thee; and I am afraid of Thy judgments" (Psalms 119:120). An unconverted person must also, by fear for the eternal wrath of God, be persuaded to believe (2 Corinthians 5:11). A converted person must, for fear of spiritual harm, stir himself up to be earnest. "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it" (Hebrews 4:1).
Two Kinds of Fear: Slavish and Filial Fear
Relative to this fear, a distinction is made between slavish and filial fear. Slavish fear causes a slave to do the will of his master for fear of being struck. Such slavish fear of God is better than a stubborn and insensitive despising of God and His judgments. It is useful if someone is brought to repentance by this (cf. Matthew 3:7; Amos 4:12). Someone who is presently converted need not be concerned whether or not his conversion is genuine, because he was driven to Christ out of fear for damnation rather than love to God, for we have shown that we must cherish our well-being and fear that which is evil for us -- this compelling us to repentance. Slavish fear is evil, however, if it is nothing more than terror causing us to flee from God. We repeat: Man, out of love for his salvation and out of fear for his damnation, must fear God and thereby be compelled to repentance and obedience. Self-love is, however, not the basis for filial fear. To be fearful of provoking God to anger because He has power to punish; to be obedient so that He would not withdraw His favor from us, but manifest more of it to us -- this is not the nature of filial fear, even though the matter itself is good and characteristic of God‘s people. The motivation for the filial fear of God is not self-love, but love to God because He is God and with view to His majesty -- even if this were to result neither in good nor evil on our behalf. The Definition and Nature of Filial Fear
Filial fear is a holy inclination of the heart, generated by God in the hearts of His children, whereby they, out of reverence for God, take careful pains not to displease God, and earnestly endeavor to please Him in all things.
It is a motion of the heart. The noble soul is gifted with emotions, and dependent upon what the objects are, is moved to either joy or sorrow, love or hatred, fear or fearlessness. As far as the fear of God is concerned, man is insensitive, hard, and without emotion. "There is no fear of God before their eyes" (Romans 3:18). In regeneration, however, the heart of stone is removed and a heart of flesh is received which is soft and pliable, and is very readily moved upon beholding God, dependent upon the measure in which God reveals Himself to the soul. If God is perceived as being majestic, a motion immediately arises within their soul -- a motion which is becoming to the creature in respect to God.
It is a holy motion. Since an unconverted person is in essence nothing but sin, also all that proceeds from him is distorted. The ability to fear is directed toward an erroneous object and is exercised in a disorderly fashion. Believers, however, having been sanctified in principle, are also sanctified as far as their inner motions are concerned. Their fear has a proper object and consequently functions in a holy manner, that is, in faith and love. They are devout and fear God (Acts 10:2).
God generates this holy motion. By nature man is totally unfit for any good work. He finds no delight in God and has no desire to fear the Lord. He may be terrified of God, but he cannot fear Him rightly. However, God enables His own to fear Him. "... but I will put My fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me" (Jeremiah 32:40). The Holy Spirit is therefore called "the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord" (Isaiah 11:2). This filial fear is found in the hearts of God’s children. The heart is the seat of all motions -- evil as well as good.
God has enclosed this precious gift in the hearts of His children, and all the motions relative to fear proceed from the heart. Their fear neither consists in talk, refraining from evil and doing good, nor in the appearance of fear, but rather in truth. The heart, intellect, will, and affections are involved here and the heart brings forth various deeds which manifest the fear of God. Only God‘s children fear the Lord, and therefore those who have this virtue are called God-fearing people. "... the same man was just and devout" (Luke 2:25); "... devout men" (Acts 2:5); "And devout men carried Stephen to his burial" (Acts 8:2). [Note: Wherever the word "devout" is used in the KJV, the Statenvertaling uses either the word "godvrezend" or "godvruchtig." Both words would be translated as "god-fearing."]
Filial fear is engendered by reverence for God. God is the object of this fear. "O fear the Lord, ye His saints" (Psalms 34:9). God is eminent, glorious, and majestic within Himself -- also if there were no creatures. "Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty" (1 Chronicles 29:11). Hereby God is aweinspiring in and of Himself. With the advent of intelligent creatures which observe the brilliance of His glory, it cannot but be that they have reverence for Him who is both infinite and majestic. A natural man does not know God. Therefore he may be fearful of His judgments, for calamities, and sometimes may acknowledge God to be terrible (although he generally does not progress this far), but he cannot have reverence for Him. That is the privilege and blessedness of believers. A sinful person cannot tolerate God‘s majesty. He would flee in terror from God, for He is to him a consuming fire. However, in Christ God is a reconciled Father to His children, and therefore they simultaneously love and revere Him. "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling" (Psalms 2:11).
Reverence requires, first of all, a knowledge of and beholding of God‘s majesty. "For we ... were eyewitnesses of His majesty" (2 Peter 1:16).
Secondly, there must be a delightful acknowledgement and a wholehearted approbation that God is so majestic. "Who would not fear Thee, O King of nations? for to Thee doth it appertain" (Jeremiah 10:7).
Thirdly, there must be a reverent bowing before the Lord and a worshiping of Him. "... in Thy fear will I worship toward Thy holy temple" (Psalms 5:7); "O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker" (Psalms 95:6).
Fourthly, there must be a covering of the countenance, not daring to behold the brilliance of His glory. Thus the angels covered their faces (Isaiah 6:2), and of Moses it is written, "Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God" (Exodus 3:6).
Fifthly, there must be a trembling as a result of not being able to endure the Lord‘s majesty. "Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at My presence" (Jeremiah 5:22); "And when He had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling" (Daniel 10:11).
Sixthly, reverence for God engenders in God‘s children a careful guarding against displeasing God by disobedience and the commission of sins, and a being active to please Him in all things. Solomon frequently presents these manifestations of the fear of God in his proverbs. "Fear the Lord, and depart from evil" (Proverbs 3:7); "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil" (Proverbs 8:13); "By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil" (Proverbs 16:6). We also read this in Jeremiah 32:40, "I will put My fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me." We read furthermore, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7); "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death" (Proverbs 14:27). This is the nature of the fear of God.
Exhortation with the Intent to Convict Those Who Do Not Fear God
What does it avail us if we understand the nature of a virtue and do not practice it? No one is acquainted with the beauty of virtue, except the one who practices it. God requires this from all men and enjoins His children to do so. Let the voice of God enter into your hearts. "Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God" (Deuteronomy 6:13); "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13). He who loves God and His honor will cry out with David, "Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him" (Psalms 33:8). Even if the world does not fear God, the church and God‘s children must indeed do so. "Fear Him, all ye the seed of Israel" (Psalms 22:23); "O fear the Lord, ye His saints" (Psalms 34:9). They are therefore denominated as God-fearing persons.
If we now observe the world, it is evident that the fear of God is absent in the heart of man. One must think of the world as Abraham did of Gerar. "And Abraham said. ... Surely the fear of God is not in this place" (Genesis 20:11). If we consider the church, then most members declare that the fear of God is neither before their eyes nor in their hearts. And what about you? Examine yourself. What will you answer upon the question, "Do you fear God?" Is your focus in your walk of life upon the Lord? Does reverence for His majesty arise within when you think about Him, speak of Him, or hear mention made of Him? Do you reverently bow before Him, and do you tremble if you are about to address Him in prayer? If a sinful thought or motion arises within you, does the fear of God motivate you to suppress it? Does the fear of God prevent you from all sinful association with men, fornication, unrighteousness, lies, backbiting, cursing, wrath, and other sins? Does reverence for God motivate and urge you to the practice of religion and to do whatever the Lord has enjoined you to do as being pleasing unto Him? Or do you love the things of this world? Are all your concerns related to the acquisition and preservation of these things? Do you look to people as if they were able to give or withhold them from you? Do you seek to please them even if it displeases God, and are they the measure of your fear? Reflect for a moment upon your former life and give attention to the current disposition governing your deeds. If you are inwardly convinced that, until now, you have not served God in truth, then take your wretched condition -- both current and future -- into consideration, and it possibly could be a means whereby the terror of the Lord would persuade you to believe. Give ear for a moment -- you who neither fear the Lord, nor give heed to Him but who despise the Lord, His Name (Malachi 1:6), and His holy things (Ezekiel 22:8). Give ear, you who arrogantly and proudly oppose the Lord. David says concerning you, "Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from Thy commandments" (Psalms 119:21). The Serious Consequences of Being Void of the Fear of God
(1) Be assured that God will give you a fearful and trembling heart as long as you do not fear Him, so that you will find neither rest nor safety anywhere -- rather, your own heart and conscience will be continually tormented. The wish of David will come upon you. "Put them in fear, O Lord" (Psalms 9:20). Be assured that the curse which the Lord threatens will come upon you. "The Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: and thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life: in the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear" (Deuteronomy 28:65-67); "I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth" (Leviticus 26:36); "And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth" (Isaiah 2:19).
(2) Be assured that if you continue on without fear for the Lord -- even though you may peacefully approach your end -- the terror of the Lord will at last come upon you. When you will be forsaken by everything, the Lord will be a terror to you and strike terror into you. Oh, how many are there who breathe their last breath with consternation and full of terror! Remember Belshazzar, and consider that you will also experience this. "Then the king‘s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another" (Daniel 5:6). In that condition he departed from life.
(3) And even if no terror were to come upon you in this life and at death, you will nevertheless be overcome with fear on every side after your death. Then wrath and anger, oppression and consternation will eternally be upon you. Then you will know what it is to fall into the hands of God. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31). Give heed to what is expressed in Psalms 76:7 : "Thou, even Thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in Thy sight when once Thou art angry?" It is in this manner that the prophet presents this terror: "The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us will dwell with the devouring fire? who among us will dwell with everlasting burnings" (Isaiah 33:14). Oh, that you would quietly reflect upon, and apply all this to yourself -- and that you would believe it! The Fear of God in Believers
We shall now turn to you, believers. You will indeed observe your deficiency in this, but you will also be able to perceive that the Lord has put the principle of His fear within you.
(1) Do you not desire that disposition of the fear of God as we have described it in the foregoing? You do not only acquiesce in this, judging it to be good and becoming, but you grieve that you have so little of it and are desirous for a greater measure of it. This is an indication that you are already a partaker of it, for the servants of God are described as such. "...Thy servants, who desire to fear Thy name" (Nehemiah 1:11).
(2) Do you not perceive heartfelt intentions and initiatives to walk in the fear of the Lord? Can you find any delight in having subdued a sin and in having done some good, unless this has been done in the fear of God? And perceiving your deficiency and impotence toward that which you love, is it not frequently your earnest prayer to God that He would fulfil His promise to you in giving His fear in your heart? Behold, there you have evidence that you have the nature of those that fear God. This was David‘s prayer: "Unite my heart to fear Thy name" (Psalms 86:11).
(3) Is your desire for the fear of God entirely impotent and your prayer entirely fruitless, or do you perceive the principles of it in your actions? Does not God reveal Himself to you in His majesty? Does not your heart say that the Lord is indeed worthy to be served? Are not reverential motions stirred up within you toward God? Do you not at times bow in reverence before Him? Has it not been your experience that, due to a sense of His majesty, you have cast your eyes downward, closed your eyes, and covered your face with your hands? Did not a holy trembling come upon you at times, and was it not your delight if these motions became more sensitive -- yes, did it not cause you to rejoice when thinking upon this afterwards, wishing it to recur and that it would always be thus? Would you not have committed many sins, and neglected many good things if the fear of the Lord had not prevented you? Does not the fear of God nip many sins in the bud, and does not this motivate you to perform your duty? If these things are within you, you must be convinced of the truth, even though the measure is yet small. You will observe your disposition in Job: "For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of His highness I could not endure" (Job 31:23). Such was also true for Nehemiah: "... but so did not I, because of the fear of God" (Nehemiah 5:15). Acknowledge therefore this received grace, and it will render you capable to read the following rebuke and exhortation with fruit.
Believers Rebuked The more clearly you will be convinced of the principles of the fear of God within you, the more you must grieve over your deficiency in, as well as your sinning against the fear of God. These manifest themselves in the disposition of the heart, the penetration of sinful thoughts, words, and deeds contrary to the revelation of God‘s presence, and in the fear of man whereby the fear of God must consequently yield.
First, we are to be severely reprimanded, if, knowing that God is majestic, having experienced how good it is to humbly walk with the Majestic One, and knowing how invigorating it is to walk in the way of uprightness, we nevertheless neglect to thus focus upon the Lord and fear Him continually. This makes us vulnerable to all manner of sin. When the doorkeeper sleeps with the door wide open, every lust can then enter and exit without any impediment -- and even if we are aware of this, there is nevertheless no strength to oppose it and we are overcome before realizing it. If then, with Samson, we wish to offer resistance, we shall have lost our strength.
Secondly, this is followed by a disposition which is yet more evil, namely, when we even proceed to satisfy this lust, doing so not only when our conscience points out its evil and counsels us not to begin; and upon having begun, counseled us to desist from and subdue the lust, to be silent in the midst of an evil discourse, and to refrain from the sin which we are currently committing; but also when our conscience causes us to reflect upon God and His majesty. Indeed, this is especially true (which is most abominable) when God manifests Himself to the soul, sensibly discourages the soul, and, so to speak, shakes the finger and says, "I am here, and I certainly see what you are doing. Cease, or else I shall cause you to feel My displeasure." It is a setting aside of the fear of God, a grieving of the Holy Spirit, and the inflicting of a deadly wound upon the soul when, due to the agitation of sin, we are driven onward and seek to hide ourselves from the presence of God in order to be able to proceed, and then actually prevail in carrying out the sin which is at hand. If God were not infinitely longsuffering and immutable, He would cast away such impertinent souls. The third sin committed against the fear of God is to fear man -- a sin to which the godly are still vulnerable. If we have not yet fully denied ourselves in regard to honor, love, advantage, and pleasure, nor are much inclined to acknowledge the insignificance of man (that is, that man can neither stir nor move, can do neither good nor evil to us), and we have not accustomed ourselves to see the hand of the Lord in all things, thus perceiving that God alone does everything, and that all men are but instruments in His hand, being used either to do good or evil unto us -- this will engender a looking unto man. In time of war we consider the multitude and courage of the soldiers and we stand upon our sword (Ezekiel 33:26). "Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations" (Jeremiah 21:13). If, however, we perceive that the might of the enemy supersedes ours, we are fearful and the heart is moved "as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind" (Isaiah 7:2). We fear man when in sickness, legal cases, business transactions, in the plying of our trade, in pursuing our desire which must be attained to by the instrumentality of men, etc.; we look to men and, in our thoughts end in them -- as if it had to come from them. We vehemently seek to have them on our side, and we are fearful of losing their favor. In our association with men we fear the one for his wisdom (which is no match for ours), the other for his status and imposing personality, the third for his wickedness, and the fourth for his benevolence which we would not like to lose. Now if such a person has no desire for godliness and would become angry if you were to manifest the image of God and perform your duty, and if, out of fear for him, you were to hold back and accommodate him in the commission of sin, behold, then the fear of God is rendered inferior and must yield. There God is on the one side, and man on the other side. There the fear of God is on the one hand and the fear of man on the other hand. If, however, the fear of man motivates us to do something which is contrary to the fear of God, then we reject the fear of God because of the fear of man. This is a dreadful sin, for first of all God has forbidden it. "Fear not them which kill the body" (Matthew 10:28); "Who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die" (Isaiah 51:12). Secondly, it is the greatest act of contempt toward God if He must yield to man for you. It is idolatry and a sin of the heathen. "Who ... worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator" (Romans 1:25). Thirdly, it is a denial of the providence of God -- as if God did not reign; as if the creature could function independently. Fourthly, it affects and troubles you continually. Fifthly, it causes you to fall from one sin into the next, and you ought therefore to be ashamed of your previous fear of man. Be warned and give heed to the exhortation of the Lord: "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of" (Isaiah 2:22). Follow David in his noble courage. "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me" (Psalms 118:6).
Incentives for the Fear of God
It is not sufficient to be on guard against the sins which are contrary to the fear of God; rather, it is our great duty to conquer them all by the fear of God. The livelier the fear of God is, the less sin will have any effect. Therefore in the future commit yourself fully to tenderly fear the Lord your God in order that the fear of God may guard you and direct your thoughts, words, and deeds. Oh, if only I could make you more lively in this! Give careful attention to the following incentives; may you be tender and pliable.
First, does not God have all the perfections within Himself which are able to engender reverence? He is majestic, glorious, omnipotent, holy, good, and awe-inspiring; that is His nature. How can anyone therefore be in the presence of God without fear and reverence? Consider what has been expressed in the Word of God: "Who is like unto Thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders" (Exodus 15:11); "That thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE Lord THY GOD" (Deuteronomy 28:58); "For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: He also is to be feared above all gods" (1 Chronicles 16:25); "O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God" (Nehemiah 1:5). His wrath upon the sinner is dreadful. "Who knoweth the power of Thine anger? even according to Thy fear, so is Thy wrath" (Psalms 90:11). His goodness begets reverence in order that He may thus be feared in love. "But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared" (Psalms 130:4). Is it not proper, becoming, and requisite that you, having been created by God and having received grace from God, fear this majestic God and tremble before Him?
Secondly, the root of the matter is indeed in you. You desire it and you cannot hear the fear of God mentioned, or your heart is inclined to it and your desires are stirred up. Why would you subdue this desire? All that has a principle of life is desirous for growth and perfection -- which is thus also true for you in this respect. It is indeed natural if a servant fears his master and a child his father. You have chosen the Lord to be your Lord, and has not He given you the Spirit of the adoption of children and set you among the children? Have you not entered into covenant with Him that He would be a God unto you and that you would be the recipient of His favor? This must stir you up to fear your Lord and your Father. "If then I be a Father, where is Mine honour? and if I be a Master, where is My fear" (Malachi 1:6). Acknowledge this relationship and it will beget filial fear in you.
Thirdly, the fear of God is the fountain of all the holiness which delights you. Sinful lusts will lose their potency, corruptions which surface will readily be subdued, you will be stopped in the middle of sinning, and you will find yourself inclined toward the practice of all manner of virtues. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10); "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom" (Proverbs 15:33); "The fear of the Lord is clean" (Psalms 19:9); "The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: " (Proverbs 19:23); "... perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1).
Fourthly, the Lord has pleasure in those that fear Him. It ought to be a very precious matter to us that God is pleased with us. It ought to be our great desire and earnest endeavor to be pleasing to the Lord. God is, however, pleased with the fear of God, for therein the acknowledgement and the glorification of His perfections coalesce. "The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him" (Psalms 147:11). How lovely it is when man delights himself in God and when God finds pleasure in man!
Blessings Promised to Those Who Fear God
Fifthly, although love for our own well-being is not the basis for the fear of God, we nevertheless may and must be stirred up by it. It is noteworthy that so many blessings are expressed and so many benefits are promised to the godly. Consider the temporal benefits.
(1) There is satisfaction: "Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure" (Proverbs 15:16).
(2) There is sufficient daily supply: "There is no want to them that fear Him" (Psalms 34:9); "Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Him, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine" (Psalms 33:18-19); "He hath given meat unto them that fear Him" (Psalms 111:5).
(3) There is sacred protection: "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him" (Psalms 34:7).
(4) There is abundance: "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life" (Proverbs 22:4).
(5) There is all salvation: "Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him" (Psalms 85:9).
Consider the promises relative to the soul.
(1) There is the revelation of heavenly mysteries: "What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant" (Psalms 25:12
(2) There is divine compassion: "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him" (Psalms 103:13
(3) There is the answering of prayers: "He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them" (Psalms 145:19).
(4) Let me thus bring it all to a conclusion: "Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord" (Psalms 112:1); "Surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God" (Ecclesiastes 8:12); "Oh how great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee!" (Psalms 31:19). If it pleases the Lord to stir you up by so many benefits and promises, it ought to please you to be stirred up by them. Being desirous for the promises, you must seek their fulfillment in the way whereby the Lord wishes to do so, for the fear of the Lord is so desirable in and of itself. Be therefore resolved to do so and make it your great endeavor; you will learn from being thus engaged. And since we are too corrupt, turn therefore to the Lord, praying, "Unite my heart to fear Thy name" (Psalms 86:11). Make yourself familiar with the Word of God; it is a means whereby you may fear the Lord. "He shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God" (Deuteronomy 17:19). May the Lord bless these words. "Fear God, and give glory to Him" (Revelation 14:7). Amen.
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1 The sentence which follows here in the Dutch version is only applicable to the Dutch language and has therefore not been translated. This Dutch sentence reads as follows: Wij noemen vrezen ook vruchten, afkomstig van het Hoogduitsch; op zich zelf wordt het nu zelden gebruikt, maar wel in samenvoeging in het woord godvruchtig, ’t welk hetzelfde is als godvreezend.
2 Wherever the word "devout" is used in the KJV, the Statenvertaling uses either the word "godvrezend" or "godvruchtig." Both words would be translated as "god-fearing."