MEM

It is common to focus our attention on the love of God and not understand the desire of YHVH (The LORD) for us to fear Him with our whole heart. This is not just an Old Covenant desire but the very essence of YHVH’s revelation of Himself to us. The focus of this issue of the MEM is to touch on this important topic.

Deuteronomy 5:29 'Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever! (NAS unless indicated)

Deuteronomy 10:12 "And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the LORD's commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?

Deuteronomy 17:18 "Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, 20 that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left; in order that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel.

That we come to know Him; that we sin not; that our hope, our joy and blessings result in being YHVH fearers.

1Sam 12:24 "Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

907 Hebrew (yārē’) fear, be afraid, revere.

In this discussion, biblical usages of yārē’ are divided into five general categories:1) the emotion of fear, 2) the intellectual anticipation of evil without emphasis upon the emotional reaction, 3) reverence or awe, 4) righteous behaviour or piety, and 5) formal religious worship.

Gen 3:10 And he said, "I heard the sound of Thee in the garden, and I was afraid (Yare’) because I was naked; so I hid myself."

Deut 20:8 "Then the officers shall speak further to the people, and they shall say, 'Who is the man that is afraid and fainthearted? Let him depart and return to his house, so that he might not make his brothers' hearts melt like his heart.'

Exodus 20:20 And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin."

Deut 31:6 "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."

Jeremiah 1:8 "Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD.

Ps 56:11 In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Job 4:6 "Is not your fear of God your confidence, And the integrity of your ways your hope?

Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge.

2Chr 20:3 And Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the LORD; and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

Ps 56:3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee.

Ps 3:1 O Lord, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me.

Ps 3:2 Many are saying of my soul, "There is no deliverance for him in God." Selah.

Ps 3:3 But Thou, O LORD, art a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.

Ps 3:4 I was crying to the LORD with my voice, And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah.

Ps 3:5 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustains me.

Ps 3:6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me round about.

Ps 3:7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God! For Thou hast smitten all my enemies on the cheek; Thou hast shattered the teeth of the wicked.

Ps 3:8 Salvation belongs to the LORD; Thy blessing be upon Thy people! Selah.

Exod 14:13 But Moses said to the people, "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. … 31 And when Israel saw the great power which the LORD had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses.

Job 1:8 And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil."

Proverbs 8:13 "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way, And the perverted mouth, I hate.

Isa 11:2 And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. 3 And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make a decision by what His ears hear;

Jer 32:39 and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good, and for the good of their children after them. 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.

Vine - "reverential fear," of God, as a controlling motive of the life, in matters spiritual and moral, not a mere "fear" of His power and righteous retribution, but a wholesome dread of displeasing Him, a "fear" which banishes the terror that shrinks from His presence, Rom 8:15, and which influences the disposition and attitude of one whose circumstances are guided by trust in God, through the indwelling Spirit of God…

Luke 1:50 "And His mercy is upon generation after generation Toward those who fear Him.

John 9:31 "We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing, and does His will, He hears him.

Acts 9:31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and, going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

2Cor 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

1Pet 2:17 Honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

Rev 19:5 And a voice came from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great."

YHVH when we truly learn to fear You we will desire to walk in Your ways, for loves sake.

Proverbs 1:29 Because they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of the LORD.

Proverbs 10:24 What the wicked fears will come upon him…

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge…

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…

Proverbs 8:13 "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way…

Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence…

Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, That one may avoid the snares of death.

Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.

Proverbs 14:2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD…

Proverbs 16:6 … And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.

Proverbs 2:5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD, And discover the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 15:16 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure and turmoil with it.

Proverbs 23:17 … But live in the fear of the LORD always.

Eternal One because of proper fear we will gain life - May we fear You always.

Matt 5:23 "If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. 25 Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, in order that your opponent may not deliver you to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I say to you, you shall not come out of there, until you have paid up the last cent.

Yeshua we need to be those that, being attuned to Your Spirit, will quickly repent and make amends.

1. In Luke 4:41, who shouted, "You are the Son of God"?
2. Historically, the book of Ruth is connected with what other book?
3. In which two cities did David reign?
4. What reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses?
5. Which plague did the Egyptian magicians fail to duplicate?
6. Who tried to flee from YHVH (the LORD) by sailing to Tarshis?
7. Who said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household"?

(Lessons from humility and exaltation)

James 4:6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Father, You have provided the grace; our exaltation is being made like Yeshua.

Ps 141:2May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.

YHVH, for those that truly worship in spirit and truth, with their whole being, we ask that You bless them.

Material in this section is based on various prayer diaries.

Although the prophet ________

From Jezebel did flee,

He challenged all the false prophets,

So faithful and wise was he.

Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted.

Ps 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever…

Ps 25:14 The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant.

Ps 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness,

Ps 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.

Ps 34:9 O fear the LORD, you His saints; For to those who fear Him, there is no want.

Ps 60:4 Thou hast given a banner to those who fear Thee, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

Ps 111:5 He has given food to those who fear Him; He will remember His covenant forever.

Ps 115:11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield.

Ps 118:4 Oh let those who fear the LORD say, "His lovingkindness is everlasting."

Ps 119:63 I am a companion of all those who fear Thee, And of those who keep Thy precepts.

Ps 128:1 How blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways.

Ps 130:4 But there is forgiveness with Thee, That Thou mayest be feared.

Ps 145:19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them.

Ps 147:11 The LORD favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His lovingkindness.

Ps 86:11 Teach me Thy way, O LORD; I will walk in Thy truth; Unite my heart to fear Thy name.

Ps 96:4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.

Ps 103:13 Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

Ps 47:2 For the LORD Most High is to be feared, A great King over all the earth.

Ps 67:7 God blesses us, That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.

Ps 22:23 You who fear the LORD, praise Him…

FEAR A broad range of emotions that embrace both the secular and the religious worlds. Secular fear is the natural feeling of alarm caused by the expectation of imminent danger, pain, or disaster. Religious fear appears as the result of awe and reverence toward a supreme power.

Terminology The English word "fear" is used to translate several Hebrew and Greek words. In the Old Testament, the most common word used to express fear is yir’ ah, which means "fear," "terror" (Isa. 7:25; Jonah 1:10, 16). In the New Testament, the word used most often to express fear is phobos which means "fear," "dread," "terror" (Matt. 28:4; Luke 21:26).

Human Fear Animals fear humans (Gen. 9:2), and humans fear the animals (Amos 3:8); individuals fear individuals (Gen. 26:7), and nations fear nations (2 Sam. 10:19). People are afraid of wars (Ex. 14:10), of their enemies (Deut. 2:4), and of subjugation (Deut. 7:18; 28:10). People are afraid of death (Gen. 32:11), of disaster (Zeph. 3:15-16), of sudden panic (Prov. 3:25), of being overtaken by adversity (Job 6:21), and of the unknown (Gen. 19:30). Fear can reflect the limitations of life (Eccl. 12:5) as well as the unforeseen consequences of actions (1 Sam. 3:15).

Fear as consequence of sin Fear may come from a strong realization of sin and disobedience. Man and woman were afraid after their act of disobedience (Gen. 3:10). Abimelech was afraid when he realized that he had committed an offensive act by taking the wife of Abraham to be his wife (Gen. 20:8-9). This sense of estrangement and guilt that comes as consequence of sin produces in the heart of individuals the fear of the day of the Lord because they will appear before the judgment of God (Joel 2:1).

Freedom from fear Freedom from fear comes as individuals trust in the God who protects (Ps. 23:4) and helps them (Isa. 54:14). The New Testament teaches that perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). Christians are no longer slaves of fear, for Christ has given them not a spirit of timidity or cowardice, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-control (2 Tim. 1:7).

Fear of God A prominent element in Old Testament religion is the concept of the fear of God. Most often the sense of fear comes as individuals encounter the divine in the context of revelation. When God appears to a person, the person experiences the reality of God’s holiness. This self-disclosure of God points to the vast distinction between humans and God, to the mysterious characteristic of God that at the same time attracts and repels. There is a mystery in divine holiness that causes individuals to become overwhelmed with a sense of awe and fear. They respond by falling down or kneeling in reverence and worship, confessing sin, and seeking God’s will (Isa. 6).

God as a fearful God The God of Israel is an awe-producing God because of His majesty, His power, His works, His transcendence, and His holiness. Yahweh is a "great and terrible God" (Neh. 1:15); He is "fearful in praises, doing wonders" (Ex. 15:11); His name is "fearful" (Deut. 28:58) and "terrible" (Ps. 99:3). The fear of God comes as people experience God in a visible manifestation (Ex. 20:18), in dreams (Gen. 28:17), invisible form (Ex. 3:6), and in His work of salvation (Isa. 41:5). God’s work, His power, majesty, and holiness evoke fear and demand acknowledgment. The fear of God is not to be understood as the dread that comes out of fear of punishment, but as the reverential regard and the awe that comes out of recognition and submission to the divine. It is the revelation of God’s will to which the believer submits in obedience.

Fear as obedience Deuteronomy sets out a relationship between the fear of God and the observance of the demands of the covenant. To fear the Lord is one of the ways by which Israel expresses its obedience and loyalty to Yahweh and to His divine requirements: "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, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the Lord and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?" (Deut. 10:12-13). Fear becomes a demand that can be learned (Deut. 17:19). Fear of God was part of the religious life of every Israelite, where the acknowledgment of it required a specific behavior from each individual. Fear of God was a requirement demanded from every judge (Ex. 18:21). The kings of Israel should rule in the fear of the Lord (2 Sam. 23:3); even the messianic King would live in the fear of the Lord (Isa. 11:2). To fear God was the beginning of wisdom and thus of the pathway to true life (Prov. 1:7; 9:10; 15:33).

"Fear not" The expression "fear not" (also translated "do not fear" or "do not be afraid") is an invitation to confidence and trust. When used without religious connotation (15 times), "fear not" is an expression of comfort. These words come from an individual to another providing reassurance and encouragement (Gen. 50:21; Ruth 3:11; Ps. 49:16). When "fear not" is used in a religious context (60 times), the words are an invitation to trust in God. These words appear in the context of the fear and terror that follows divine revelation. God invites His people not to be afraid of Him (Gen. 15:1; 26:24); the angel of the Lord seeks to calm an individual before a divine message is communicated (Dan. 10:12,19; Luke 1:13,30); a person acting as a mediator of God invites the people to trust in God (Moses, Deut. 31:6; Joshua, Josh. 10:25).

The "God-fearers" The "God-fearers" were those who were faithful to God and obeyed His commandments (Job 1:1; Ps. 25:14; 33:18). Those who fear God are blessed (Ps. 112:1); they enjoy God’s goodness (Ps. 34:9) and God’s provision (Ps. 111:5). In the New Testament "God-fearers" became a technical term for uncircumcised Gentiles who worshiped in the Jewish synagogue.

Fear in the New Testament Some Christians tend to de-emphasize the fear of God in the New Testament by placing the love of God above the fear of God. There is indeed a greater emphasis on the love of God in the New Testament. However, the element of fear was part of the proclamation of the early church.

Paul admonished believers to work out their salvation "with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12). The early church grew in number as they lived "in the fear of the Lord" (Acts 9:31). The fear of God is related to the love of God. The revelation of God to people in the New Testament contains the element of God’s mysterious otherness calling for reverent obedience. The New Testament church stands in awe and fear in the presence of a holy God, for fear is "the whole duty of man" (Eccl. 12:13). Claude F. Mariottini; Holman Bible Dictionary.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Ps 32:11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones, And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.

With love in Christ
Michael Boldea Jr.
www handofhelp.com

The wisest people are the ones with the most life in their years

A gardener is one who believes that what goes down must come up

In the pot of life, if you want to keep cooking, you have to keep stirring

The longest distance between two points is an unfamiliar shortcut

When the going gets too easy, you may be going downhill

And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. (Deuteronomy 8:3, 4; ESV)

 
You may be aware of the miracles of the Messiah commonly known as the feedings of the 5000 and 4000. What you may not be aware of is how they are tied to this verse. Yeshua made explicit references to the manna not too long after the miracle, but there is more to it than that. The connection with this portion is found in a curious question Yeshua asked one of his disciples leading up to the miracle.
 
A large crowd had gathered, but they had nothing to eat. So Yeshua asked his disciple, Phillip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat? (John 6:5; ESV) - A fairly understandable question, until we read John's comment immediately following. He writes, "He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do" (John 6:6; ESV). "Test him"? What kind of test is this? He wasn't testing his knowledge of grocery stores and fast food outlets in the area. He and his disciples knew that there was nowhere to buy food, let alone have the amount of money to purchase it. It is clear from the interchange that follows that there was no anticipation on the disciples' part that a miracle was about to be performed. Yet John says Yeshua's question was a test.
 
The parallels between this situation and the verse from our Torah portion are striking. In both cases the people were purposely led by God into a situation where they had no food. Yeshua like Moses had a large crowd following him. In each case, they faced enormous need. Moses tells us that as God led the people in the wilderness, he was testing them to know what was in their heart. The purpose of this kind of testing is to demonstrate the quality of the thing tested. When our hearts are tested, we discover the kind of people we really are and where we are actually at in our relationship with God.
 
So like the people of Israel, Yeshua also tested Phillip in the wilderness. Phillip's heart was being tested by the Messiah. By this time, Phillip, like the people of Israel, had seen God's power by Yeshua's hand. But had Phillip come to a place of knowing Yeshua for who he really was? Obviously not.
 
You might want to come to Phillip's defense; I do. He didn't know what Yeshua was going to do. Yet it seems that Yeshua expected Phillip to trust him. If God is real, does he ever lead us into situations where he will not provide? Is that not one of the key lessons of the manna? Had not Yeshua already sufficiently demonstrated that? So why tell Yeshua what can't be done? Shouldn't knowing him always result in confident faith?
 
My sympathy for Phillip in this situation reveals the condition of my own heart. When I face difficult problems, I, like Phillip, think first of my lack of ability to resolve it. I easily get anxious and overwhelmed by difficult situations. But for those who know God, is anxiety and being overwhelmed ever an appropriate response? My heart has been tested, and I have been found wanting.
 
But, thankfully, that is not the end of it. God knows our lack of faith better than we do. He tests us to cause us to face reality. Unless we are honest about the condition of our hearts and lives, we won't become the people God calls us to be.
 
Both through Moses and Yeshua, God teaches us to focus not on our needs and the normal processes of life ("man does not live by bread alone"), but instead to be attentive to everything he says to us ("but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD"). As he tests us, we have the opportunity to learn this lesson.

*(This document may be edited for length)

Praise the LORD! How blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who greatly delights in His commandments.
He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is upheld, he will not fear, Until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries.

Blessed be YHVH (Genesis 14:20 And blessed be God Most High…)

1. Demons - Luke 4:41

2. Judges

3. Hebron and Jerusalem - 1 Kings 2:11

4. Death - Romans 5:14

5. Third (gnats) - Exodus 8:18

6. Jonah - Jonah 1:3

7. Paul and Silas - Acts 16:31

Simple Quiz answer - "Elijah"