In our world currently there is, for all practical purposes, no fear of God (Elohim – the lawmaker and judge); it has been changed to “reverence” or even “love.” To even promote an 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 Yehovah’s people.

David, the first king chosen by Yehovah because of the heart he had for His ways, said these word concerning the fear of God and the behavior of a wicked man.

An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. (Psa 36:1)

The wicked are trained to fear their elohim (their lawmakers and judges) and that miss-directed fear will result in their complete destruction in the end. But we. men in particular, must get the fear of God (our Elohim) instilled in our hearts if we want to find eternal life for ourselves and our families.

“Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’ Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. Yehovah of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread. (Isa 8:12-13)

Israel Understood The Fear Of God

Israel’s seed (beni Israel) “trembled“as they heard Yehovah speak to them from Mt. Sinai (and they were His chosen people whom He just brought out of Egypt with their families). Because of their fear they did not want to even hear Yehovah’s voice; they said they would hear (“shama” – hear and obey) His words from Moses instead.

Now all the people (these “people” were all Ezrach men) 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 Elohim speak with us, lest we die.” And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for Elohim has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” (Exo 20:18-20)

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

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

Fear Of God Leads To Obedience

The men who were brought out of Israel (with their families) all died in the wilderness because the feared the giants in the land of Canaan more than they feared Yehovah. And on the day Moses died he reminded their sons to always fear Yehovah and to teach their sons and their son’s sons to do the same.

“Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which Yehovah your Elohim  has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, that you may fear Yehovah your Elohim, 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 Yehovah tells us how love Him.

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

Fear of God and obedience always comes before love and service. Again, this is not politically correct but I will say it anyway. The relationship between a man and Yehovah is a mirror image with the relationship between a man and his woman (or women as the case may be). That said, and seen so often in Yehovah’s eternal and unchanging word, I must now say that as a man learns to fear and obey Yehovah before love and true service can grow, so must a woman learn to fear and obey her man before love and true service can blossom. Unfortunately, for most couple that will never happen. But for that rare couple who both desire to conform their life (she is he) to Yehovah’s created purpose their life together becomes a bright and shining star for all to see.

For as a young man marries [יבעל, masters] a virgin , so Thou shall marry [יבעלוך, baal – master] Thy sons; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall thy Elohim rejoice over you. (Isa 62:5)

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

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

“Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, you people in whose heart is My law. Do not fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool; but My righteousness will be forever, and My salvation from generation to generation.” (Isa 51:7-8)

The first message the 144,000(ish) servants of Yehovah will bring to the world after they are sealed in Revelation 14 is “fear Yehovah for the hour of His judgment has come,” not “love Yehovah.”

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 Yehovah 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)

We will all serve the one we fear most. As we enter into these last days, what man commands versus what Yehovah commands through Moses concerning a man and his woman 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. Yet many of the people will realize their error, return to their created purpose and choose to lose their life in order to preserve it. THAT is wisdom and That is understanding!

And unto man he said, Behold, fear of my Master, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. (Job 28:28)

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

Go to Precept 7 – Men And Women Are Not Equal