We are discussing the meaning of the word fear in Ps 103:11, 13, and 17.
The context of our discussion is that God's mercy has been preceeded by his anger (manifested at 3:00 PM about 2000 years ago).
The particular question is what is the nature of fear as found in Ps 103? Is it trembling or is it honor? or both?
On Sunday, we offered a strenuous argument that honor-fear has no meaning without trembling-fear and that probably the church today, and our church would be no exception, would prefer to think of fear as honor. I perceive that honor is safer commodity for us to dole out to God in manageable doses when we want. I think that we have God right where we want him - standing by for time of trouble - but not meddling with our daily priorities. I see honor today as a phony front that our politicians show to the American Taxpayer (gag me quick somebody) or a slick system of deceit which international emmissaries use to communicate without committment. So what is the depth our relationship to God if such examples are influencing our concept of honor? And where in the bible do we ever find honor without fear?
I don't want to hear it about the Magi - A sudden out of place star was a pretty fearsome thing for a pagan.
The paradoxical beauty of our fear-love relationship with God is that when the basis for fear is properly established and it produces fully functioning obedience in our lives, the trembling becomes attached to a real memory, not an imminent danger. And the honor probably looks more like awe, as an involuntary reaction to the immensity of all of His attributes, as opposed to a show of respect that we deign to bestow.
I am deliberately trying to overstate some of the views expressed in our class. I do not mean to put words in the mouths of those who expressed them or to offend with the hyperbole of these statements. I am certain that your statements in class were not meant to be as crass as I have portrayed them. But I am also certain that there are some for whom those statements would not sound extreme. Maybe each of us in the cycle of the privacy of our own sin and the public show of our churchgoing behave toward God in accordance with similar, yet unspoken, crassness.
I very definitely am trying to point out that our road to spiritual recovery which we must travel
everytime we sin must pass through key points.
David clearly takes ownership of his offense to God in Ps 51.
He acknowledges God's right to judge.
He requests forgiveness and cleansing.
In brokenness, he articulates his desire for the relationship to continue.
He states a determination to be a teacher of the God's truth to those in proximity watching the process he is experiencing. What an expression of honest confidence in God.
Finally in Ps 103, as we see a re-established confidence in his relationship with God, and a renewal of joy as He recounts all that has ocurred, we see a leader who is determined to influence those around him to structure a life -not just a Sunday morning- which looks and feels like kneeling before Him in worship.
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I pulled a definition of fear below. It seems to me that all aspects of fear are appropriate in terms of our relationship to God and His to us. Further down, the definition of honor. Honor seems to be a higher level response based on our understanding of another's worth, value, or position. Honor can be paid without fear it seems. I do not think they can be used interchangeably in all situations. It seems “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” means we relate at the very basic level with the power and holiness of God; this is the beginning of wisdom. The meaning changes if we say “the honoring of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. Still true, but honor seems weak. Honor involves our intellectual recognition, where fear is a deeper response to a realization of our relationship and position, and total lack of power in relation to an all powerful, all knowing, God. Honor almost states, “hey God look at me acknowledging you” where fear is more subdued, quiet, humble. For me, and my feeble understanding of God and his attributes, fear is the better word and position for us now. Honor comes as a result of fear, I cannot picture the reverse.
Definition of Fear
Pronunciation: fērd
n. 1. A variant of Fere, a mate, a companion.
1. A painful emotion or passion excited by the expectation of evil, or the apprehension of impending danger; apprehension; anxiety; solicitude; alarm; dread.
Fear is an uneasiness of the mind, upon the thought of future evil likely to befall us.
- Locke.
Where no hope is left, is left no fear.
- Milton.
2. (Script.) Apprehension of incurring, or solicitude to avoid, God's wrath; the trembling and awful reverence felt toward the Supreme Being.
I will put my fear in their hearts.
- Jer. xxxii. 40.
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
- Ps. xxxiv. 11.
Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due . . . fear to whom fear.
- Rom. xiii. 7.
3. That which causes, or which is the object of, apprehension or alarm; source or occasion of terror; danger; dreadfulness.
There were they in great fear, where no fear was.
- Ps. liii. 5.
The fear of your adventure would counsel you to a more equal enterprise.
- Shak.
For fear
in apprehension lest.
- Shak.
v. t. 1. To feel a painful apprehension of; to be afraid of; to consider or expect with emotion of alarm or solicitude.
[imp. & p. p. Feared (fērd); p. pr. & vb. n. Fearing.]
I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.
- Ps. xxiii. 4.
2. To have a reverential awe of; to be solicitous to avoid the displeasure of.
Leave them to God above; him serve and fear.
- Milton.
3. To be anxious or solicitous for; now replaced by fear for.
The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children, therefore . . . I fear you.
- Shak.
4. To suspect; to doubt.
Ay what else, fear you not her courage?
- Shak.
5. To affright; to terrify; to drive away or prevent approach of by fear.
Fear their people from doing evil.
- Robynson (More's Utopia).
Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs.
- Shak.
v. i. 1. To be in apprehension of evil; to be afraid; to feel anxiety on account of some expected evil.
I exceedingly fear and quake.
- Heb. xii. 21
Honor \Hon"or\, n. [OE. honor, honour, onour, onur, OF. honor, onor, honur, onur, honour, onour, F. honneur, fr. L. honor, honos.]
[Written also honour.]
1. Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence.
A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country. --Matt. xiii. 57.
2. That which rightfully attracts esteem, respect, or consideration; self-respect; dignity; courage; fidelity; especially, excellence of character; high moral worth; virtue; nobleness; specif., in men, integrity; uprightness; trustworthness; in women, purity; chastity.
If she have forgot Honor and virtue. --Shak.
Godlike erect, with native honor clad. --Milton.
3. A nice sense of what is right, just, and true, with course of life correspondent thereto; strict conformity to the duty imposed by conscience, position, or privilege.
Say, what is honor? 'T is the finest sense Of justice which the human mind can frame, Intent each lurking frailty to disclaim, And guard the way of life from all offense Suffered or done. --Wordsworth.
I could not love thee, dear, so much, Loved I not honor more. --Lovelace.
4. That to which esteem or consideration is paid; distinguished position; high rank. ``Restored me to my honors.'' --Shak.
I have given thee . . . both riches, and honor. --1 Kings iii. 13.
Thou art clothed with honor and majesty. --Ps. civ. 1.
5. Fame; reputation; credit.
Some in theiractions do woo, and affect honor and reputation. --Bacon.
If my honor is meant anything distinct from conscience, 't is no more than a regard to the censure and esteem of the world. --Rogers.
6. A token of esteem paid to worth; a mark of respect; a ceremonial sign of consideration; as, he wore an honor on his breast; military honors; civil honors. ``Their funeral honors.'' --Dryden.
7. A cause of respect and fame; a glory; an excellency; an ornament; as, he is an honor to his nation.
8. A title applied to the holders of certain honorable civil offices, or to persons of rank; as, His Honor the Mayor. See Note under Honorable.
9. (Feud. Law) A seigniory or lordship held of the king, on which other lordships and manors depended. --Cowell.
10. pl. Academic or university prizes or distinctions; as, honors in classics.
When I think of the Fear of the Lord in the Old Testament. I think of people keeping His commands. People who had seen the Judgment of God and lived like it. They Remembered Korah's Rebellion and how the angered of the Lord burned against Uzzah.
I also think of Aslan in the Chronicles of Narnia. When Lucy asks Mr. Beaver if Aslan is safe. Mr. Beaver replies "Course he's not safe. But he is good. he is the King I tell you."
This is in response to some of the discussion yesterday about anger vs honor in Sunday, Jan. 25th’s Sunday School class. As believers we tread a very dangerous ground when we try to separate the character & attributes of God and bring them down to a bite sized manageable thing for us to understand. He is wholly who He says He is. He starts Ps. 103 with a reminder of His holiness. There is no one else that can claim that apart from God. I think His holiness wraps a cloak around all of the other attributes of God. Can we fully grasp the meaning of His holiness apart from fearing Him? Can we even get a small taste of His redeeming us without accepting His role & right as Judge? Can we even appreciate His graciousness, compassion & loving kindness without realizing those only come because of His choice to be slow to anger & patient with us? Love is an attribute of His, yet His love does not come with out great sacrifice, that sacrifice does not come without great demand on the part of a holy God, one whom we should fear. To separate his love & judgment cheapens His love. Churches that separate the attributes of God and focus mainly on those that are manageable or “nice”, do not preach the whole truth of who He is. Whether it be only preaching His love or His anger. If we as believers do not start with the fear of God & recognize that, combined with all His other attributes, we are being deceived.
That is one way Satan deceives us. He does not want us to see God for wholly who He is. Is this to say that we should be so afraid of Him that we don’t run to Him? For me personally, as a woman, I think of it in this manner. As a wife, I am in a covenant relationship with my husband. He is the head of this relationship. He has certain things that he expects of me, yet he gives me much freedom & free will. When I willfully do things that are contrary to what he desires, I have a healthy fear. Now, mind you, my husband is one of the kindest most loving men you would meet. He wants the total best for me and our relationship. He would lay down his life for me. He provides over & above what I need. He is quick to forgive. He is very slow to anger, yet I know that when I do something that might bring shame to his name, I am afraid. Is it a run from him & hide in the closet for fear he might find me fear? By no means! It is a fear of respect, because of his position in our family. I know that even in my shame & fear, I can go to him, seek forgiveness and he will open his arms pull me close, wrap his loving arms around me and forgive me. That is just a small taste of the relationship that we as believers have with Christ.
About 21 years ago, I met a couple (the state rep. for the oarbc at that time) whose four children were all walking with the Lord and serving him faithfully. I asked what they felt was the key to raising godly children and they said, "Raise them in the fear and admonition of the Lord." I too have found that people look at the "fear of God" as more of an "honoring him" philosophy...especially in the raising of children. Anyone who studies the Old Testament and much of the NT, should aquire a healthy fear of God, but it is also balanced out by his love, kindness and sacrifice for us that is just as evident (if not even more-so) as the "fear-inducing" qualities of God. Combined, one should come away with a healthy need to fear and honor God at all times, but we certainly cannot equate fear with honor, when it comes to the God of the Bible.
I think we need to be so careful that we don't fall into line with non-believers who don't fear anything! It's funny...we live in such a scary time where there is plenty to be "afraid" of and yet, it isn't "cool" to be afraid or talk about the dangers around us. It simply isn't the thing to talk about and quite honestly people don't want to hear about fearing the Lord as a means of introducing them to Salvation. It has been my experience that people want to be coddled by Scripture and not hear what sinners we all are. I think our society has gone way too far in accenting the positive...when it is the negative that shows us how desperately wicked we are and in need of a Savior. The teaching seems to be all one sided. Do we even speak about hell in church?? It's real...but noone wants to hear about it when we can focus on how good, merciful, loving, kind...God is! I was taught many years ago to have a healthy fear of the Lord...so in that light, there is something to fear. Fear produces positive results! We teach our children to stay away from the road and other dangers. That healthy fear will deter them from getting hurt (hopefully!)and teach them respect and obedience. In the same way, our fear-and I think it is the trembling kind-will teach us to obey our heavenly Father and prevent us too from going astray and eternal seperation from Him. I appreciate the definition Minime shared, but can't help but wonder...what do people honor these days?? Do you think that is a lost response? I think when you get down to it, we honor the wrong things. I appreciate so much this discussion and am grateful to be challenged each and every week. That's what we need! We don't need to be coddled and stroked...we need to be challenged by the Word of God and allow the Spirit to change us to be the people He desires us to be. We've been praying for revival...we need to be on our knees asking Him to change us and start loving and forgiving each other as we're called to do. That should put a healthy fear into each and every one of us.
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