Fear of God

"Fear of God" - Deuteronomy 13:1-9 Moses warns the people against the danger of idolatry and incites them (forcefully inducing someone to action) to put an end quickly to every outbreak of such evil, wherever it may come from.

I. When prophet or dreamer rises in your midst.

A. Proclaiming signs or wonders.

1. Saying loudly and publicly, solemnly (grandiose, ceremonious, imposing) as a prophet in your midst, and dreamer of dreams, and being able to announce signs and wonders (extraordinary and wonderful event).

2. Being able to say to go after other gods, that you did not know, and let us serve them.

3. (Vs. 1-2) A strange assumption (give for sure, suspicion), this was not what they knew.

4. It is really strange that there should arise among themselves someone who, pretending to have had some prophetic vision, could persuade, induce to go after other gods and serve them.

5. Was it possible for one of God's elects to lead the people to such ungodliness?

6. We can see these days, without it being strange to us; for we see multitudes who profess to believe and practice Christianity, and yet encourage themselves and others, not only to worship God by means of images, of themselves (which induce such worship).

7. So, Moses wants to strengthen them against the dangers of impostures (deception with the appearance of truth) and lying wonders.

8. Do not listen to temptation. You shall not heed the words of such a prophet.

9. Not only will you not do what the tempter tells you, but you will not even stop to listen to what he tells you, but you will reject it with the utmost disdain (indifference, contempt) and loathing.

10. Do your duty faithfully, and you will be safe from harm.

11. God will never forsake us if we do not first leave Him.

12. (vs. 5) Have no compassion on the tempter.

13. The spread of the infection must be prevented, and for that it is necessary to amputate the gangrenous limb soon; for, with cases as dangerous as this, all the necessary measures must be taken quickly.

14. (Deuteronomy 10:12) It is a most urgent exhortation that we be passionate about obeying.

15. Here we are confronted directly with our duties to God, to our neighbor, and to ourselves.

16. We are first taught our duties to God.

17. We must fear Jehovah our God.

18. Fear Him as a great God and Lord and love Him as a good God and Father.

19. We are only to serve Him (Vs. 20), with all our heart and with all our soul.

20. Everything we have to do for Him, we have to do joyfully and willingly (not because He obliges us, it is that it is pleasant to do so).

21. (Joshua 24:14) The remembrance "of all His favors that God has given us we must fear Him and serve God in gratitude for so many favors."

22. God's people in Israel exhort him, "Fear the Lord."

23. To serve Him with integrity (right) and in truth; And remove from among you the gods whom our fathers served on the other side of the river.

24. Some of them secretly kept in their dwellings the images that their parents had brought in secret from Egypt.

25. Joshua's fear of Jehovah knew the danger they were exposing themselves to idolatry, Joshua severely urged them to remove them from their midst.

26. (Ecclesiastes 12:13) The conclusion of the whole speech is this: If we set aside all debatable matters, to be religious is "fear of God and keeping His commandments”.

27. The root of piety (devotion to God) is the fear of God that reigns in the heart: a respect for His majestic holiness, a deference (respect, veneration) to His sovereign authority, and a deep fear of His terrible wrath.

28. The fruit of godliness is seen in the observance of God's commandments.

29. (Isaiah 8:13) He was to instigate them (think as desired) to have a holy fear: To Jehovah, Lord of Hosts, to Him sanctify, that is, to Him you must give the glory of being our only Saviour, without fear of any other.

30. "Reverential fear of God is the best preservative against 'disturbing fear of men’.

31. (Matthew 10:28) To kill the body is to free oneself from pain, a problem when man is killed.

32. Physical death is not the ultimate tragedy for the Christian.

33. To die is to be with Christ; And it is, therefore, much better.

34. The disciples should not fear men but should have a reverent fear of "Him who can destroy soul and body in hell."

35. This is the greatest loss, the "eternal separation from God and Christ and from all hope."

36. Spiritual death is that loss that cannot be measured and a fate "that must be avoided at all costs."

37. John Knox: (epitaph) says: Here lies "one who feared God" so much that he never "feared any man."

38. (1 Peter 1:17) A respectful fear, a deep appreciation of who God is.

39. It especially means being aware that the One to whom we turn as Father is the Same One who judges His children impartially, "according to the work done by each one."

40. We must spend the "time of our pilgrimage" on earth in fear.

41. We Christians are not comfortable in this world.

42. We are living in a strange country, exiled from heaven.

43. (1 Peter 2:17) Fear God.

44. We fear Him when we revere Him as Supreme Lord.

45. Glorifying Him then becomes our first priority.

46. We are afraid to do anything that displeases Him, and we are afraid to give a false presentation of Him to men. Amen.