The Fear Of The Lord
08 August 2021 | TRADITIONAL SERVICE
Rev Lilian Ang
Scripture Passage: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 (NIV)
WATCH | SERMON (VIDEO)
READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary | Taking a different perspective from earlier chapters, the Teacher encourages us to experience God’s presence to find true meaning and satisfaction in life. The passage appears to be a digression, but it alerts us to the meaning of the text – which is the imperative to fear God. This is the key attitude to inculcate in us.
Given the vanity of life, the Teacher argues it is very sensible to fear God, to have enjoyment in life. Ecclesiastes concludes that fearing the Lord and keeping His commandments is the duty for all mankind. (Ecc 12:13) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 9:10).
In the Old Testament, the fear of the Lord occurs in three distinct ways: (1) Religious piety and faith in God. It was a religious system of worship. (2) Personal piety and the act of worshipping and obeying God. (3) Identifier of a religious person, as a worshipper of God.
How do we cultivate the fear of the Lord?
Walk Carefully (v1) – God is the focus of worship. When we worship, we guard our steps, listen with reverence, pay attention to our demeanour, preparedness and readiness to obey. God cannot be approached casually. We are to grow in the fear of the Lord. We are to listen to God and rest in His presence, instead of merely wanting to be seen as offering sacrifices as part of a religious activity. God wants us to hear Him and respond. It is essential to prepare our hearts to respond to his Word. (Gen 22; Deut 10: 12-13, Acts 9:31, 10:1-2)
Talk Sparingly (v2-3) – Talk less and listen more, especially in our prayer lives. When we fear God, we are aware of God’s presence. We are cautious and will pause to listen. Let us not utter anything hastily before God, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matt 12:34) The words reveal the condition of our hearts. We are ultimately to account for what we say before God. (Matt 12: 35-37)
Vow Reverently (v4-7) – It is a matter of integrity to fulfil the vows made to God. It is better not to make a vow that we cannot keep. Failing to keep a solemn vow is a sign of insincerity. We are to take God and our actions seriously.
In Ecclesiastes, there is a tension between two competing world views. If there is no God, life has no value and it does not matter how we live. But if God exists, life has a purpose and meaning. We had better fear God and give priority to the worship of God. “The fear of God is the fear of a life without God”. (John Piper)
Does the fear of the Lord shape the way we live? Fearing God means to revere, honour, exalt, esteem, worship and obey God as Creator and Judge. It will cause us to draw near and listen and not be rash with our mouth. There are no lame excuses for failing to keep our promises. When we are convinced of who God is, we stand in awe of him.
(Sermon Notes by Denis Koh)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. What is your understanding of the fear of the Lord?
2. How is the fear of the Lord evidenced in your life personally?
3. Reflect on these 2 quotes:
- The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25 - NKJV).
- “We fear man so much, because we fear God so little.” (William Gurnall, author of The Christian in Complete Armour)
What areas in your life (marriage, parenting, job, etc) have been hindered because you have feared man over God? How can you eliminate your fear of man and increase your fear of the Lord?
4. What are some areas in your life (thought-life, relationships, speech, job, ministry, attitudes, etc) that are lacking in the fear of the Lord?
5. What changes do you need to make to walk in the fear of the Lord? List a few practical steps you can take to make the changes.