GOD IS GREATLY TO BE FEARED

The psalmists had a deep sense of the reverence due to so great a God, v. 7. Long before their time, the patriarchs had known God as “the Fear”, Gen. 31. 53 R.V.

The tabernacle, and later the temple, inculcated this solemn truth by the meticulous ritual of approach, in the demands of holiness, as well as by the holy judgments exacted, Lev. 10. 13. “I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me” and “ye shall be holy; for I am holy” were the demands of unutterable holiness, Lev. 11. 44.

The Lord most high is terrible (awesome) in His sanctuary, for “holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever”, Psa. 93. 5. Hence, “Serve the Lord with fear”, Psa. 2. 11, and “be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord”, Isa. 52. 11.

In such collective worship, the psalmist would be a companion of all that fear the Lord, Psa. 119. 63. They would often speak together in reverence as they thought on His Name, Mal. 3. 16. In this exercise they would discover the truth that “the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him”, and what a rich heritage there is for those that fear the Lord’s Name, Psa. 25. 14; 61. 5. Moreover, their posture would indicate their spiritual state, and their careful use of the Name would show how holy and how greatly to be revered it is, 95. 6; 111. 9.

In N.T. times, there is no diminishing of the demands of the same fear of the Lord. The Father has been revealed, the Spirit of sonship has been given, and the believer encouraged to draw near with boldness into the holiest, even to the mercy seat, Heb. 10. 19; 4. 16. The new covenant has brought in full blessings, but an essential of that covenant is the fear of God in hearts, Jer. 32. 40.

Thus as pilgrims we are to pass the time of our sojourning in fear, even as we call on the Father, 1 Pet. 1. 17. Praying that His Name be hallowed, we are to perfect holiness in the same fear, and to work out our salvation in fear and trembling, 2 Cor. 7. 1; Phil. 2. 12.

“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire”, Heb. 12. 28-29.