How do you learn to fear the Lord?
In my last post I went over the commands to fear the Lord. But if we are expected to fear the Lord, how do we do that? Well, thankfully, the Bible tells us how.
I found 6 verses that mention learning to fear the Lord. In this post I will go over those verses with you in the order they appear in the Bible.
I encourage you to click the links to each verse and read the full context (chapter or section) around these verses. It will give you a fuller understanding and perhaps God will speak something to you that I did not pick up on.
Tithing
Deuteronomy 14:22-23 (ESV) You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year. And before the LORD your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.
This verse is part of a section on tithing (Deu 14:22-29).
Tithing is talked about as a social activity rather than just a simple giving away of possessions. It is described as something like a feast. The Bible says that the Israelites could turn their tithe into money and carry it with them on their journey, and then turn it back into whatever food their heart desired when they arrived. And they are told to eat with their family, the Levites, travelers, orphans, and widows.
How does tithing teach us to fear the Lord?
Tithing is one of the ways we learn to fear the Lord. It’s not just about giving, but it’s about sharing. Not that you’re giving up something, but that you’re inviting others to share in the blessings that God has given you. It teaches us to fear God (have a sacred respect and honor for Him) because it reminds us of all the blessings He has blessed us with. We have enough to tithe because God, out of his generosity, gives us all that we need and more.
We learn to fear God when we share his blessings with others.
Reading
Deuteronomy 17:18-19 (ESV) And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them,
This verse is part of a section on laws concerning Israel’s kings (Deu 17:14-20).
Even before they entered the promised land, God knew that Israel would ask to have a king over them. Through Moses, God commanded the king not only to read God’s word, but to write out his own copy and keep it with him all the days of his life - that he would learn to fear the Lord by keeping all the words of the law, and doing them.
If a king can learn to fear God by reading His word, then it stands that we all can. One thing that stands out to me in this passage is that the king was not only commanded to read God’s word, but to write out his own copy of it. I’ve heard that even today there are people who have hand copied the Bible, and it takes about 4 years to complete the whole thing.
How does reading the word teach us to fear the Lord?
God’s word is our main line of communication with Him. In it He teaches us everything He wants us to know about Him. Surely the more we read the Bible, the better we get to know God, and the more sacred honor and respect we have for Him.
We learn to fear God by reading His word.
Hearing
Deuteronomy 31:11-12 (ESV) when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law,
This verse is part of a section where Moses commanded the Levites to regularly read the law to the people of Israel (Deu 31:9-13). Moses gave the written laws to the Levite priests, and told them to read the law out loud to the whole nation every seven years at the Feast of Booths - that they may “hear and learn to fear the Lord your God”.
The written word is powerful, but there’s something even more powerful about the spoken word. God has written our names in His book, but He spoke creation into existence.
Today we have many different ways to hear God’s word. We can read it out loud to each other, listen to it on audio-book, hear it read aloud at church, or listen to sermons online.
How does hearing the word teach us to fear the Lord?
Just as reading God’s word teaches us about Him, hearing His word read aloud allows us to soak in His word through our ears, and hear other people’s perspectives, which might lead us into a deeper understanding of who God is - resulting in us have a deeper sense of reverence for our Lord.
We learn to fear God by hearing His word.
Learning From Others
2 Chronicles 26:3-5 (ESV) Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.
We can learn to fear God from our wise elders and leaders. King Uzziah was 16 years old when he became king in Jerusalem. He set himself to seek God, and Zechariah instructed him in the fear of the Lord.
Uzziah was rather young when he became king. His father had set a good example, but he still needed someone to teach him and mentor him. Zechariah was a priest and advisor to the king, and he taught him to fear God. Uzziah eventually became arrogant and fell out of favor with God, but “as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.”
How does learning from others teach us to fear the Lord?
We all need advisors and mentors when we take on important work. Sometimes the advisor might be someone you know, or someone you hire. Other times they might be an author of a book from another century. It all depends on what you’re trying to do, and how helpful the mentor is to you in that effort.
We are fortunate to have thousands of years worth of writings and teachings to lean on for guidance and insight in our walk with the Lord. All from people who lived, and died, by their faith in God. Not to mention the thousands of people who daily publish their walk with the Lord online for all of us to see and learn from.
We learn to fear God by learning from others who fear Him.
Being Righteous
Psalm 34:11 (ESV) Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
David says to listen to him and he will teach us the fear of the Lord. The rest of the Psalm goes on to say keep your tongue from speaking evil; turn away from evil; the Lord favors the righteous and is against those who do evil.
How does being righteous teach us to fear the Lord?
If you are doing evil, it is most likely because you are focused on yourself. Plain and simple, sin in born out of selfish desire. You can’t have a sacred respect for God if you are focusing on yourself, and putting yourself first before Him.
On the other hand, if you are being righteous it is most likely because you are focused on God, and on serving others. Righteousness is to love God with all you are, and love your neighbor as yourself.
Being righteous is no easy thing - and usually requires a great deal of reliance on, and submission to, God. The more you rely on Him, and surrender yourself to Him, well, you can’t help but have a deeper sense of reverence for Him.
We learn to fear God by keeping ourselves away from evil, and focusing on being righteous.
Father God, please use this article to instruct your children in fearing You. That, by fearing You, we may glorify You, and be pleasing to You. I thank You, God, that You have allowed me to learn more about the importance and blessing of fearing You. Please work within everyone who fears you, and shine your light through us for the advancement of your kingdom. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
με αγαπη,
BJ