p. 8 | Fear, and Fear Not by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 9, 1902

Fear, and Fear Not

By John Norton Loughborough

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

“LET us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Eccl. 12:13, 14. “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32.

It is a matter of deep interest to notice the word “fear” as used in the Scriptures. It must be evident to any reader that the word does not have the same significance in every text. Even in the two quoted above one says “fear,” and the other says “fear not.” The word of the Lord is “not yea and nay.” So we know there is no contradiction in the scriptures quoted above. We therefore conclude that there is more than one kind of fear spoken of in the Word. Paul, when writing to the Hebrews, said, “Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Heb. 12:28. As this text speaks of godly fear, it is evident that there must be another kind of fear—one that is not godly.

This ungodly fear must be the kind referred to by the apostle John when he says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” I John 4:18. And then the fear spoken of by Peter at the house of Cornelius could not have been ungodly fear; for he said, “In every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”

The lexicons define the word “fear” as follows: “1. To regard with dread, fright, or terror; to be apprehensive or afraid of. 2. To look upon with awe or reverence; desire to avoid displeasing; venerate.”—Standard Dictionary.

“1. A painful emotion or passion excited by an expectation of evil, or the apprehension of impending danger. 2.

Apprehension of incurring, or solicitude to avoid, God’s wrath; the trembling and awful reverence felt toward the Supreme Being.”—Webster’s Unabridged.

This latter definition appears in the margin of 1 Peter 3:15: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear [“reverence,” margin].” Those actuated with such fear the Lord mentions by the prophet Isaiah, in these words: “To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” Isa. 66:2.

The Lord contrasts this reverential fear with the worldly fear, in these words: “Say ye not, A confederacy [combination for mutual protection], to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” Isa. 8:12, 13.

It may be of interest to note some of the Scripture statements respecting the fear of the Lord. We read, “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.” Ps. 89:7. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Prov. 1:7. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Ps. 111:10. “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.” Prov. 8:13. “By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.” Prov. 16:6. “The fear of the Lord tendeth to life.” Prov. 19:23. “The fear of the Lord prolongeth days.” Prov. 10:27. “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence [faith]; and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” Prov. 16:6. “The fear of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy.” Ps. 33:18.

Bible Definition of the Fear of the Lord

“Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.” Ps. 34:11–14. Samuel’s instruction to Israel is a good definition of the fear of the Lord. He said, “If ye will fear the Lord, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the Lord your God. . . . I will teach you the good and the right way: only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart.” I Sam. 12:14, 23, 24.

We see that the fear which the Word commends is the yielding of reverential submission, and obedience to all of God’s commands. If we thus stand, we shall not be of those mentioned by the psalmist, who had “not called upon God. There were they in great fear, where no fear was.” Ps. 53:4, 5. They had not the fear of God which would lead them to call upon him, and to trust in him, and so were left to the terror of coming doom.

Some in ancient times are spoken of as those who “feared the Lord, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations.” “These nations feared the Lord, and served their graven images.” 2 Kings 17:33, 41. This text brings to mind the answer of a Chinaman in San Francisco to some of us who were witnessing his worship of Joss. He was asked, “Is this your god?” Said the Chinaman, “No, he not my god, my god all the same as Melikan’s God. This is an image of my god.”

There came a necessity in this ancient time of worshiping God through idols, to have priests of Israel come to Samaria to teach “them how they should fear the Lord.” Verse 28. They must be instructed in true service and obedience to the Lord.

We find in Prov. 29:25 the kind of fear that the Lord condemns: “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” Again the Lord says, “Fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool.” Isa. 51:7, 8. “Who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; and forgettest the Lord thy maker?” Verses 12, 13.

The catalogue of sins enumerated in Revelation as leading to the lake of fire, starts with “the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers,” etc. Rev. 21:8. This class have not the fear of God that leads to faith, but that fearfulness that is followed by unbelief. Those of that character Christ reproved when he said, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” Matt. 8:26. The Lord grant that we may heed the admonition found in Prov. 23:17: “Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.”