Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight! … Because they have rejected the law of YHVH (the LORD) of hosts, And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore the anger of YHVH is aroused against His people. (Isa 5:20-25)

In our world currently there is, for all practical purposes, no fear of God; it has been changed to “reverence” or even “love.” To even promote and idea that there should be mortal fear, dread and great trembling before the Creator and Judge of the whole earth is ‘politically incorrect’ even  among many who say that they are YHVH’s people.

In Romans 2 Paul explaining the reason why there is no one that does righteousness; quoting Psalms 36:1 he says:

There is no fear of YHVH before their eyes. (Rom 3:18)

The children of Israel “trembled“as they heard YHVH speak to them from Mt. Sinai, and they were His chosen people who He just brought out of Egypt. Because of their fear they did not want to even hear YHVH’s voice; they said they would hear (“shama” – hear and obey) His words from Moses instead. Do we?

Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” (Exo 20:18-20)

Fearing YHVH and walking in His ways, comes before we learn to love and serve Him. We become obedient because He is YHVH, then love comes when we realize that His ways really are for our good.

“And now, Israel, what does YHVH your God require of you, but to fear YHVH your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve YHVH your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of YHVH and His statutes which I command you today for your good? (Deu 10:12-13)

The chapter containing the passage Yeshua (Jesus) quoted from when asked what the greatest commandment of all was Deuteronomy 6. It begins with these words.

“Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which YHVH your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, that you may fear YHVH your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. (Deu 6:1-2)

Then YHVH tells us how love Him.

You shall love YHVH your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. (Deu 6:5)

Fear and obedience comes before love and service.

Does the world fear YHVH today? Do those who say they are His people even fear Him? I would suggest that the majority of them do not; but instead fear mere men, far more.

The first angels message after the 144,000 servants of YHVH are sealed in Revelation 14 is “fear YHVH” for the hour of His judgment has come, not to love Him.

Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people–saying with a loud voice, “Fear YHVH and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” (Rev 14:6-7)

YHVH is on my side; I will not fear what can man do to me! (Psa 118:6)

The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in YHVH shall be safe. (Pro 29:25)

And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’ ” (Job 28:28)

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Mat 10:28)

We will all serve whoever we fear most. As we enter into these last days, what man commands versus what YHVH commands through Moses will make all the difference. Most will choose the broad way and preserve their flesh, for it is the way they have lived all their life. While many of the true people will realize their error and choose to lose their life in order to preserve it.

Right now is the time to choose who you will fear and who you will obey.

YHVH of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread. (Isa 8:13)

And YHVH commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear YHVH our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day. Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before YHVH our God, as He has commanded us.’ (Deu 6:24-25)

Go to Precept 7

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